The challenges we face won’t be solved by the same parties that created them.
It’s time for common-sense leadership that puts people over politics.

The Challenges we face in the 54th.

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I believe the main goal of government is to empower people, individuals, families, and small businesses so we have the tools, freedom, and opportunity to succeed.

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Across Central Illinois, we are working hard and doing everything we can to make ends meet, but too often it feels like the system is stacked against us. The cost of living keeps going up — from groceries and gas to property taxes, and especially utilities — and it’s stretching family budgets and squeezing small businesses to the breaking point. Utility rates have soared to the point where many households and local employers are paying double what they were just a few years ago. We cannot simply accept this as “the new normal.” It’s time for common sense solutions that bring these costs down, like stronger oversight of utility rate hikes, rolling back excessive fees, and demanding transparency so we know exactly what we’re paying each month.

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Too many of our kids are leaving home, not because they want to, but because they don’t see opportunity. Let’s change that by growing local jobs, expanding broadband, and investing in the kind of communities where families can plant roots and prosper.

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Public safety is also a top priority. Our volunteer firefighters and first responders are essential, but we need support. It’s just common sense to increase incentives, improve training, and invest in the equipment that keeps us and our communities safe. That also means addressing mental health — both for the first responders themselves and for the people they serve. Our police officers, firefighters, and EMTs face high-stress situations every day, and they need access to counseling, peer support, and wellness programs. At the same time, they need the tools and training to respond effectively to mental health crises in the community so that residents get the help they need, not just a quick fix.

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Meanwhile, our roads, bridges, and water systems are aging fast. Infrastructure funding has to reach every corner of the state, not just the big cities. We need to make sure rural communities get our fair share.

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Healthcare is another growing concern, especially in rural communities where access is limited and providers are stretched thin. We need to make it easier for nurses and doctors to work in our area, expand telehealth, and support local clinics. We also need to connect that with stronger education and training programs, especially in high demand fields like nursing, teaching, and skilled trades, so our young people can build a future here instead of somewhere else.

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Our local governments are doing our best, but the state keeps piling on mandates without giving us the tools to succeed. We need to reduce that burden and provide resources to help our towns run efficiently, from cutting red tape to modernizing how we access funding.

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And to make any of this work, we have to break the political gridlock in Springfield. That means term limits for legislative leaders and genuine bipartisan cooperation. Enough of the party games; both sides helped create this mess. What we need now is independent, common sense leadership focused on real people, not politics.

Let’s get back to what matters: helping families, supporting small businesses, protecting our communities, and building a stronger future for Central Illinois together.