Mike Thoms, mayor of Rock Island and Republican candidate for State Senate District 36 | Provided Photo
Mike Thoms, mayor of Rock Island and Republican candidate for State Senate District 36 | Provided Photo
As he campaigns for Illinois State Senate, Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms is highlighting his accomplishments as mayor but also criticizing his opponent, Michael Halpin, for past voting decisions down in Springfield and his support for former Illinois Speaker of the House Mike Madigan, who was indicted on charges of bribery and racketeering.
"Western Illinois voters have the opportunity to punish corruption right here in the 36th District by choosing not to re-elect Michael Halpin," Thoms said in a news release. "As a state representative, Halpin voted several times to keep disgraced former Speaker Mike Madigan in power and willingly took over $1 million in campaign donations from Madigan and his allies."
Thoms said there are other "stark" differences between him and Halpin.
"Halpin has raised taxes and fees over 20 times and voted to end cash bail, making our towns less safe. I’ve delivered common-sense, bipartisan solutions that keep residents safe, without raising taxes," Thoms said. "As your state senator, I will fight to ensure Western Illinois families have a safe and prosperous place to call home."
Thoms ran for mayor of Rock Island in 2017, with the purpose of bringing about transparency in city hall and building a business environment that would promote better recruitment and retention. Thoms handidly won the 2017 election and was re-elected in 2021.
Halpin has been in office since 2017 serving as a state representative in District 72. Halpin has been practicing law at the Rock Island firm of McCarthy, Callas, & Feeney, P.C. for the past five years, with primary areas of practice being labor law and municipal law.
In an interview with WQAD 8, Halpin was asked a series of questions relating to important issues this election cycle. One question was why he voted for and supported the SAFE-T Act. Halpin expressed his continued support for the bill believing it "strikes the right balance" with criminal justice reform.
Thoms was interviewed in the same Your Voice Your Vote segment by WQAD 8 where he responded to the same questions Halpin was asked. Thoms said his position on the SAFE-T Act is that it "went too far" and that law enforcement and state’s attorneys have told him "they're concerned about it."
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