Two new candidates have announced election plans to try to replace retiring State Rep. Bill Mitchell of Forsyth.
Piatt County Board Chair Randy Keith said he will run for state representative as a Republican in the 101st Illinois House District that covers portions of McLean, Champaign, Piatt, Macon, and DeWitt counties.If he had been in the Illinois General Assembly this year, Keith said he would have voted against the state budget and tax bill. Mitchell supported the budget. Keith said he was encouraged how the General Assembly worked out the final school funding bill.
“These people haven’t compromised on much in the last two years. Whether it’s a good bill or a bad bill, time will tell. But at least they compromised. That’s step one," said Keith.
If elected, Keith said he will only serve four years, or two terms. He retired from Kraft in 2011 and lives in rural Monticello.
The other candidate announcing Tuesday is Dan Caulkins of Decatur. Caulkins is a businessman who said his experience in business and government make him the best candidate. Caulkins is a former member of the Decatur City Council and current member of the Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees.
Caulkins said if he was in the General Assembly this year, he would have voted for the final school funding reform bill, but against the budget that was passed over the governor’s veto.
“We need structural reform in Springfield. We need a way to stop spending money. We need people that are willing to go there and stand up for what’s right and for the taxpayers, said Caulkins”
Along with Keith and Caulkins, Cerro Gordo School Board President Todd Hendricks is also running for the Republican nomination for the 101st State House seat. Clinton Republican Joe Alexander, a former congressional aide, is also considering a run.
So far, the Democrats have not fielded a candidate.
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