Five candidates vie for Illinois House seat representing part of Springfield

POLITICS | Neil Schneider

Five candidates are running, but only one will win the race to represent parts of Springfield and Decatur in the new 96th Representative District. The first leg of the race is the March 20 primary election that will eliminate all but two candidates. To this point the Republican candidates are running a clean campaign, while the Democratic side is getting dirtier each day.

The new district is part of the revised legislative maps created by majority Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly. It stretches from Springfield’s east side – including downtown and the Mid-Illinois Medical District – south to Kincaid and into most of Decatur, encompassing parts of Sangamon, Macon and Christian counties.

In the running are two Republicans – Jared Perry and Dennis Shackelford – and three Democrats – Springfield Ward 5 Ald. Sam Cahnman, Sue Scherer and Winston Taylor.

Some candidates have offered basic ideas of how to improve Illinois’ financial problems, while others have remained vague and offered few ideas on how to directly address issues fac ing

the 96th district.

To make sense of this five-way race, Illinois Times interviewed the four candidates who made themselves available to find out who they are, what they stand for, and what they want to do. Democratic candidate Sue Scherer of Decatur was not available.

Jared Perry (Republican): ‘Five goals in 100 days’

Jared Perry of Decatur began his career in Illinois politics in 2007 as campaign treasurer for Adam Brown, a Decatur Republican who was preparing at the time to run for a seat on the Decatur city council. Brown later went on to win a seat in the Illinois House.

Prior to being Brown’s campaign treasurer, Perry was in the Illinois Army National Guard from 2000 to 2006 and was later deployed to Iraq from 2003 to 2005. Perry said that his time in Iraq better prepared him for his campaign in the 96th district by teaching him to be ready for the “unknowns.”

“In Iraq, we had to be ready for improvised explosive devices or mortars, but it taught us to be instinctive,” Perry said. “If we got attacked, we pushed through the kill zone and finished our mission. In Illinois, we know there are problems, but we know what we are up against. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy. It’s going to be a challenge, but we must work to fix things.”

Perry, a truck dispatcher for Archer Daniels Midland in Decatur, said that the current Illinois pension system has been under-funded for years, but he believes it is not the responsibility of local school districts to pick up the payments.

“The Chicago Democrats are trying to force pension payments onto the local school districts, and that is just not an option,” Perry said. “That would mean another tax increase, which would be detrimental to our schools.”

Perry, who received a bachelor’s degree in arts management from the University of Illinois Springfield, favors repealing the income tax increase that took effect in early 2011. He believes repealing the tax increase would create

more jobs and provide a more business-friendly environment in Illinois. Perry is also a strong supporter of firearms, opposing recent Illinois legislation that would create a $65 firearm registration fee and an ammunition tax.

“When I was serving my country in Iraq, I lived with a weapon for a full year,” Perry said. “I believe it is our right to own a gun and I support conceal and carry.”

Perry’s campaign efforts consist of going door-to-door to citizens in the 96th district and handing out informational campaign fliers about where he stands on certain Illinois issues: jobs, firearms legislation, pension payments, income taxes and facility closures. Perry’s campaign flier also doubles as a survey, allowing citizens to check off the issues that are most important to them. Perry said that he has received many of the surveys back.

He said that his campaign has a “grassroots” feel to it, with local friends giving him small campaign donations and helping distribute fliers throughout the 96th district. The Illinois State Board of Elections website doesn’t have any financial contributions reported by Perry yet.

Perry said that he is not in support of the Quinn administration’s decision to close correctional facilities.

“They (Quinn’s administration) are taking about closing the Jacksonville Developmental Center and it feels like they are targeting the people that can’t help themselves,” Perry said. “That just isn’t right.”

Perry said that closing certain correctional facilities like the supermax prison at Tamms in southern Illinois could increase prison overcrowding and ultimately lead to an even more dangerous atmosphere for correctional facility employees.

If elected, Perry wants to act on five issues within his first 100 days in office. They include “repealing the 67 percent income tax hike on working families, implementing tax incentives to create and keep jobs in Illinois, reducing by 10 percent the pay of state elected officials, implementing term limits, not raising new taxes and fee increases and fighting to allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons.”

Perry does not have a campaign website.

Dennis Shackelford (Republican): ‘Making today’s goals tomorrow’s achievements’ Dennis Shackelford, owner of Judy’s Hallmark

Shops in Springfield, has wanted to run for public office for the past five years. But due to his children being “too young” and “having a bigger business,” he has been unable to run until now.

“When the new redistricting came along and there weren’t any incumbents in the district, I began to think ‘if I don’t do this now, I never will,’ ” Shackelford said.

Like Perry, Shackelford says he is running a “grassroots” campaign that includes going door-to-door in the 96th district and handing out informational fliers, while also holding a few small fundraisers within the district. He said that he has received help from friends, family and neighbors throughout his campaign.

Shackelford is endorsed by state representatives Raymond Poe, R-Springfield, and Rich Brauer, R-Springfield. Shackelford also said that he has received a couple of $1,000 campaign contributions, but he feels like asking for campaign contributions is the worst part of the political process.

“Before I accept a contribution, I’ve got to look the person in the eye and know exactly who the money is coming from,” Shackelford said. “I really don’t like coming up to people and asking them for money.”

Shackelford, who has a master’s degree in communication from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville, said that he is a strong supporter of gun rights and is opposed to recent proposed legislation concerning the proposed ammunition tax and firearm registration.

Shackelford would also like to see the state income tax increases rolled back, but didn’t suggest any specific changes he would like to see made to the income tax system. Additionally, Shackelford favors lowering the costs of pensions for future state employees, but doesn’t believe that current state workers should have their retirement benefits changed or cut.

If he is elected, Shackelford wants to focus on the Illinois budget, education, crime and pensions.

“They are all somewhat interrelated and intertwined,” Shackelford said. “I’m a business man. I know that jobs and job creation are important, and creating a business-friendly atmosphere is something that needs to be improved in this state.”

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