Tony Holland sees his run for Rock Island County board as being the fulfillment of what he thinks he was meant to do.
“I personally believe that holding public office is a duty and a service, and should not be looked at as just a job,” Holland, running as a Republican in District 3, recently posted on Facebook. “I ran for office to begin the process of fixing the problems that this county has faced under one-party rule. I want to work hard for the residents of Rock Island County to help provide a way for everyone, including my family, to know not only how public offices are run, but why they are essential to the success of the county.”
A lifelong resident of Rock Island, Holland said the county’s ongoing one-party rule reminds him of lessons and values his father sought to instill in him while growing up.
Tony Holland
“I grew up learning from my father that for every kind of person, there needs to be a different kind of representation,” he added in his Facebook post. “He taught me that for there to be true leadership in any government entity, from local to federal, there has to be someone that can speak for others. My father’s ability to provide for such a large family has taught me a strong work ethic that I have carried through in my personal and professional lives.”
Holland describes his platform as centering on accountability, fiscal conservatism and representation.
“Open and honest government is accountable and transparent," he added in his post. “If they are tax dollars used, then taxpayers need to know what they are used for. I would agree with others who say that we need to put every dime, online, in real time.”
When it comes to fiscal responsibility, Holland added “there is severe lack of funds in this county for essential services, and one way to aide in the recovery of the fiscal situation is to apply conservative outlook to the funds. This comes down to elimination of waste and application of common sense solutions.”
Finally, Holland said the time for balance in local government is here and now.
“This has been a county of one-party rule for decades, and with nicknames such as 'Little Chicago' or 'Cook County West' there is a clear tie to corruption and scandal,” he added. “I believe that we have the chance to give Rock Island County a clean slate moving forward. With true and honest representation through the county as a whole, we can provide for every voice to be heard.”
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