Among registered voters, private sector taxpayers outnumber state and local public sector workers and pensioners over nine to one in the 89th Illinois House district, according to a Rock Island Today analysis.
The 89th District covers parts of Carroll, Jo Daviess, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties in Illinois, including Freeport. It is represented in Springfield by Republican Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Freeport).
As of the March 2016 primary election, there were 75,589 registered voters in the 89th District; 69,551 are private sector taxpayers and 6,038 state or local government employees or pensioners.
The analysis comes amidst a raging debate over rising state and local government payroll spending and massive public pension debts, incurred unbeknownst to many local elected officials and taxpayers.
While they represent a small percentage of the overall vote, state and local government employees and pensioners do vote at higher rate than the average voter.
According to the analysis, voter turnout in 2014 was 47 percent for all voters. It was 64 percent for public employees and 77 percent for public pensioners.
In 2012, voter turnout was 63 percent. But 46 percent of public employees turned out, and 85 percent of public pensioners.
The numbers- Illinois District 89
| Registered Voters: | 75,589 | |
| Government Employees | 3,518 | 4.5% |
| Government Pensioner | 2,520 | 3.5% |
| TOTAL: | 6,038 | 8% |
| 2014 Votes: | 35,893 | |
| Government Employees | 2,244 | 6% |
| Government Pensioners | 1,947 | 5.5% |
| TOTAL: | 4,191 | 11.5% |
| 2012 Votes: | 47,400 | |
| Government Employees | 2,706 | 5.5% |
| Government Pensioners | 2,148 | 4.5% |
| TOTAL: | 4,854 | 10% |
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