East Central Reporter

House candidates Dwight Kay and Blaine Wilhour recently joined Reps. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) and Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) to sign a pledge to refuse a legislative pension if elected. 

Ives said the candidates who signed the pledge on Aug. 22 are the type of lawmakers the state needs. 

“We need wholesale pension reform,” Ives said. “It begins with legislators.” 

Ken Idstein

Wilhour, a Republican businessman and farmer who is running in District 107, said the state faced a crisis and the status quo was only going to cause more damage. 

“I got into this race determined that I was going to do my best to make a difference,” he said. “If you’re going to make a difference you have to have some tough conversations. This is a tough conversation that affects a lot of people.”  

Kay, a Republican running for the 112th District seat, said the state cannot afford to pay more pensions.

“The truth is structurally we are bankrupt,” Kay stated. “Yet, throughout State of Illinois campaigning is not about pensions. It’s not about jobs. And it’s not about reforms. It’s about who can run the best smear campaign."

The pledge was created by the economic, business and policy journal Wirepoints. Other candidates who have signed included: Darren Bailey, House District 109; Dan Caulkins, House District 101; Alyssia Benford, House District 98; Ken Idstein, House District 62; Jillian Bernas, House District 56; Marilyn Smolenski, House District 55; Tonia Khouri, House District 49; Jay Kinzler, House District 46; Amy Grant, House District 42; Ammie Kessem, House District 19; and Craig Wilcox, Senate District 32.