East Central Reporter

Shelbyville, IL – Citing the need for meaningful tax, pension, ethics, and spending reforms, State Representative Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) announced today he is running for re-election in the newly drawn 107th District.

“There are many challenges facing our state right now,” Halbrook said. “We have not addressed pensions. We have done nothing to provide Illinois residents with any kind of meaningful tax relief. Spending is out of control, and we have failed to root out the culture of corruption in Illinois. We need a new approach and that can only happen if reform-minded candidates run for the statehouse and win. I am running to continue to keep fighting to turn our state around.”

During the last legislative session, Halbrook opposed the Illinois version of the Green New Deal, a measure to bring sex education into the classroom for kids as young as 5-years-old, a bill to eliminate the right of conscience for Illinois workers and a ban on parental notification of abortion. 

“Illinois may be a blue state and there is no question that the Legislature continues to lurch to the left but many of the bills the far left is pushing end up passing with just the bare minimum of votes needed,” Halbrook said. “It is discouraging to see these bills pass but if we had more common-sense conservatives elected, we could stop some of these measures from getting through the Legislature. We need to keep putting pressure on the leaders in the House and the Senate to focus on the right priorities. We need to lower taxes, create more jobs, and fix our pension system. Making Illinois the abortion capital of the Midwest does not accomplish any of these goals.”

Halbrook says the new legislative map does present challenges to conservative candidates, but he says there are opportunities to make progress in this election cycle because of the frustration of so many voters throughout the state.

“There were more than 50,000 residents who signed a petition against the bill to end the right of conscience for workers when it comes to Covid-19,” Halbrook said. “Voters are tired of being ignored. They are frustrated and their frustration crosses party line. We need qualified conservative candidates to run for office. I am running because I want to be a part of the solution – not a part of the problem."