Rock Island Today

A new ad campaign is encouraging voters to choose political newcomers for the state legislature when they go to the polls for the general election next month.

The ads, paid for by Liberty Principles PAC, feature "Kathleen," a single mother who lives in Illinois, pleading to voters in the state to select Republican candidates to change the power dynamics of the Democrat-controlled General Assembly.

"I'm a single mom of two elementary school children. I grew up in Illinois, I went to college here, I work here, we want to stay here," Kathleen says in one ad version. "It's our home but we can't afford to be here if things don't change. I need affordable schools for my kids and good jobs for them after college. They'll have neither if we don't change state government. We need to send career politicians packing so we can stay."

In another ad Kathleen says, "I teach my two kids to think for themselves, to dream big and to take responsibility for their actions. In Illinois, we adults need to start living the lessons we teach our kids." Kathleen asks why Illinoisans continue to vote for career politicians who are beholden to Chicago bosses.

"Why do we give into the cynicism that there's nothing we can do?" she asks. "There is something we can do. We can send career politicians packing so we can stay."

The ad campaign, which also includes mailers with the same theme, is one of a number of political advertisements paid for this election season by Liberty Principles PAC.

"We launched this campaign as part of our final argument on behalf of the legislative candidates we're supporting because we need to combat the fatalism that is so prevalent in Illinois," Liberty Principles PAC's Chairperson and Treasurer Dan Proft told the Rock Island Today. "We want voters to stop plotting their exit strategy. We want to remind them that their home is in our great state and all that is required to make Illinois more inhabitable is different policy makers making different policy decisions on the matters that impact our quality of life."

Proft, a conservative radio talk show host, senior fellow at the Chicago-based conservative think tank Illinois Policy Institute and co-founder of the nonprofit Illinois Opportunity Project, said there are solutions to the problems Illinoisans face.

"If we change the balance of power in Springfield and change out sycophants for independent thinkers," Proft said. "People should believe that they are in charge of their destiny, they can improve their lives and that starts with the decisions they make on Nov. 8."

The ad campaign concentrates on the PAC's slate of politicians it has endorsed for this year's election season, particularly a wide field of political newcomers, including working mother and activist Brandi McGuire.

McGuire, the Milan Republican who is challenging Democrat Mike Halpin of Moline for the 72nd District state House seat, is best known for her legal battle against the Sherrard School District. The school district's response to her daughter, Kellsey, who has epilepsy, and her service dog, Jasper, became McGuire's raison d'être to run in the 72nd District. The school district eventually settled, and McGuire announced her campaign for the state House last fall.

McGuire and Halpin are running for the state House seat occupied by state Rep. Pat Verschoore (D-Milan). The 72-year-old Verschoore, who has represented the 72nd District since he was appointed March 29, 2003, will retire after completing his present term.

Versions of the ads also support Tony McCombie, a Republican seeking the District 71 state House seat, acting mayor of Savanna and a real estate businesswoman.

McCombie has vowed to restore accountability in Springfield by enacting term limits and allowing redistricting. The candidate views Illinois’ current system as “broken” by virtue of having allowed career politicians to remain in power for decades on end. McCombie also supported State Comptroller Leslie Munger’s proposed “No Budget No Pay” measure.

"Career politicians have made a mess in Springfield, and it is going to take term limits and independent redistricting to clean it up,” McCombie said earlier this year. “As your next state representative, I will be a strong voice for the political reforms we need to get our government working for us again."

Other candidates endorsed by Liberty Principles PAC who are mentioned in the ads include Jerry Long of Streator, who is challenging state Rep. Andy Skoog (D-LaSalle); Michael Amrozowicz of Grayslake, who is challenging state Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake); Jillian Bernas of Schaumburg, who is challenging state Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg); Rod Drobinski of Wauconda, who is challenging state Rep. Sam Yingling (D-Grayslake); and Dawn Abernathy of Mundelein, who is challenging state Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills).

Proft is a principal of Local Government Information Services (LGIS), which owns Rock Island Today.