Glen Evans, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary in House District 72, faces a major hurdle before he can declare his mission accomplished – defeating Rep. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) in November's election.
Evans, a Rock Island minister, said he launched his campaign in response to a number of conservative causes he mentions on his campaign’s Facebook page, including job growth and bringing about a change of the guard in Springfield.
“I am concerned about jobs leaving our community,” Evans wrote on his website. “I am concerned that many area residents, and especially young people, are not able to find jobs to support their families.”
Other issues he intends to focus on include voter fraud, fair job practices and fiscal accountability, his page states.
In written statements supplied to Rock Island Today, Evans said he was “committed to taking away Mike Madigan’s gavel,” referring to the Chicago Democrat and longtime House speaker, and “working to give the people of (Rock Island County) a voice.”
Evans said he has positioned himself as willing to reach across the aisle “to solve problems within our communities.”
Although Evans was willing to join the growing chorus pushing for Madigan’s ouster as House speaker, he took a middle-of-the-road stance when it came to endorsing a GOP candidate for governor, Gov. Bruce Rauner or Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton).
Evans said he felt “both candidates are qualified to be governor” and that “he is willing to support whoever the people choose to govern (the) state.”
One of the key issues facing Illinois voters (besides tax reform) is a proposal to change how the state is carved up into legislative districts, according to a report on the website ProgressIllinois.com. Back in 2016, the House approved a plan to allow a Supreme Court-appointed panel to redraw the districts. For its part, the Senate unveiled a plan to allow the House and Senate to have separate districts, based on public hearings.
Glen told Rock Island Today he supports a referendum on the issue.
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