Rock Island Today

Jeffery Orton’s re-election run for the Henry County board is about continuing the responsibility that he believes belongs to every resident.

“The responsibility of giving something back, I think, is a job every citizen should have,” Orton, running as a Republican, told Rock Island Today. “I’m concerned about the financial situation of this county. I’m trying to leave things in a better position than when I came on board, which is a great challenge given the current economy of Western Illinois. I want to serve my neighbors. I’m a native of Illinois and I care deeply about how the state is poised and positioned.”

Orton said two of his primary issues are trying to generate more revenue for the county by working to create a friendlier business atmosphere and looking into providing a measure of tax relief for residents across the state who already pay some of the highest rates in the country.

“We have to have less regulations if we’re going to attract more businesses,” he said.

On the issue of taxes, Orton admitted the situation becomes a bit trickier.

“No one likes to pay taxes and I would definitely like to see the taxes already being collected well spent and not a waste of taxpayer’s hard-earned money,” he said. “At the same time, I’m a former teacher, and I know that the school system is able to operate from taxes being paid. So, I just can’t say that all taxes are bad.”

Henry County is nestled in Northwestern Illinois and is primarily composed of rolling farmland and agricultural cultivation. The area is also known for its corn, soybean and cattle production.

Orton resides in Geneseo with his wife, Mary; son, Adam; and daughter, Rachel. He was first elected to the District 1 board in November 2014, giving Republicans an overall 13-7 majority on the Henry County board.