East Central Reporter

Republican House candidate Chris Miller isn’t surprised that a growing number of residents seem to be throwing in the towel on Illinois.

“After being forced to endure (House Speaker Mike) Madigan’s 34-year losing streak, how can you really blame them,” Miller told the East Central Reporter. “It’s on his watch that we’ve been forced into bankruptcy, amassed all this massive debt and basically defied common sense in just about everything we’ve done.”

The current culture in Springfield has inspired Miller and a group of other conservative-minded GOP legislators and candidates to band together behind a goal of reforming state government.

Shirley Bell

Miller, running against Democrat Shirley Bell to represent the 110th District, said the group aims to enact the change he thinks is needed by putting government back in the hands of the people it’s supposed to be working for.

“It all starts with ousting Madigan,” he said. “He’s found a way to turn this great state into the laughingstock of the union. We need people to go out and vote for change against the status quo. Right now, our next generation is headed for economic bondage based on the moves of local government.”

Going forward, Miller said he has a clear vision of what he would like to see for Illinois.

“I like to observe what successful people are doing and I see border states thriving and think trying to mimic them wouldn’t be a bad idea,” he said. “Success is not a complicated thing. We just need to be open to doing the things that are needed.”

Miller points to Illinois’ tax system and business climate as areas that need reforming so that businesses will continue to operate in the state.

“For example, there is a company in my district that also has an almost identical facility in North Dakota,” he said. “In North Dakota, annual taxes for it are $2,200, while in Illinois they’re $28,000. That’s a real-life example of why so many businesses are leaving Illinois and none are coming back. Until you flip this hostile climate business face here, none of that is going to change.”

The 110th House District includes Coles, Clark, Cumberland and Crawford counties, as well as parts of Lawrence and Edgar counties.