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 Republican candidates for office were out in full force on Monday, July 5th for the annual Steeleville Independence Day Parade. Nearly 100 supporters walked in the parade alongside 8 of the 12 Republican candidates and cur-rent office-holders that will be on the ballot in Randolph County in November. According to Rick Hall, the Ran-dolph County Republican County Chair, “Our candidates have widespread support, and the warm welcome we received today in Steeleville proves that the citizens in Randolph County are eager to embrace a new direction and new ideas for our county, region, and state.”
The Republican Party offers several experienced and qualified candidates for county-wide office, in-cluding Sheriff Candidate Mike Hoelscher. A Viet-nam Veteran who has made it his career to protect citizens and teach our youth about the dangers of drug use, Hoelscher noted, “I want to bring integrity to the office of Sherriff in our county. Our citizens deserve an experienced Sherriff who will protect and serve, and I know I’ll bring those qualities to that of-fice.”
While county candidates were well-represented, the opportunity to meet voters didn’t escape several re-gional and state Republican candidates. Alongside the Republican supporters was Okawville-native State Senator David Luechtefeld. “It’s no secret the State of Illinois is near bankruptcy. Hopefully voters remember who has been in absolute control in Springfield over the past eight years,” says the Senator.
Other candidates and office-holders who greeted voters along the parade route included County Board Candidate David Holder, County Clerk Candidate James Odom, Regional Superintendent of Education Dr. Marc Kiehna, State Representative Candidate Glen Farley, U.S. Congressional Candidate Teri Davis-Newman, Lt. Governor Candidate Jason Plummer, along with several volunteers from the campaign of Governor candidate Bill Brady.
Republican Lieutenant Governor candidate Jason Plummer visited with voters in Red Bud Saturday evening. Plummer, an Edwardsville resident, arrived at the picnic in the early evening on Saturday, June 26th and spoke with voters throughout the night. Plummer attended the event with family, supporters, and members of the Randolph County Young Republicans.
According to Plummer, “Senator Brady and I understand the issues facing downstate Illinois. As businessmen, we know that reviving areas like Randolph County are the key to turning our great state around. The number one issue facing the residents of our state is a lack of quality jobs.” Plummer is campaigning with State Senator Bill Brady of Bloomington, Republican candidate for Governor.
Both candidates are opposed to tax increases being proposed by the current administration. Plummer said, “Illinois has lost around 230,000 jobs in just the 15 months since Governor Quinn took over from his partner, Rod Blagojevich. Together, over the eight years of their administrations, Illinois has lost over 700,000 jobs. The answer is not increasing taxes at least 33% on the hardworking people and businesses of this state, as Governor Quinn proposes – the answer is increasing the tax base. Senator Brady and I are going to work hard to provide an environment where business in Illinois can thrive and the citizens of our state can find quality jobs and career growth. That is how we are going to turn this state around.”
“It is a welcome change to have statewide candidates recognize the importance of towns like Red Bud,” claimed Randolph County Young Republicans President Eric Robert. “Finally Illinoisans have the chance to send honest, Southern Illinois-based conservatives like Jason Plummer to clean up the Democrats’ mess in Springfield.”
Jason Plummer is an executive at RP Lumber, his family-owned construction supply business. Mr. Plummer also serves as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Navy Reserves. After graduating from the University of Illinois, Plummer worked at the Heritage Foundation – the conservative think-tank and public policy institute in Washington, D.C. He has been involved in numerous campaigns and causes, including serving as an intern to former U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald.
The Randolph County Young Republicans (RCYR) provides vital grassroots support for conservative candidates and issues on the local, state, and national level. RCYR presents an opportunity to reform Randolph County communities through campaign organization, political activism, charitable projects, and fundraising. For more information contact Eric Robert at (618) 971-7882 or visit http://randolphyoungrepublicans.com.
 For the last three decades, Illinois legislators have created districts that ensure their re-election by drawing their own legislative maps behind closed doors. Randolph County Young Republicans (RCYR) hopes to put a stop to this unethical redistricting process by supporting the Illinois Fair Map Amendment. RCYR is collecting signatures for the Illinois Fair Map Amendment petition through March 27th.
“Ninety-eight percent of elections for the Illinois legislature are won by the incumbent. This is indicative of a legislative mapping process that is broken and unfair to voters,” said Eric Robert, President of Randolph County Young Republicans. “The Illinois Fair Map Amendment represents an opportunity to effectively change the culture of corruption that haunts Illinois.”
The Illinois Fair Map Amendment is based on a proposal put forth by the bipartisan Illinois Reform Commission. The Amendment would allow for an independent commission to draw the state’s legislative district boundaries in an open and transparent process after the 2010 census.
Legislative boundaries are currently drawn by the General Assembly and its leaders, with partisan control literally picked out of a hat, every ten years. “In Illinois, incumbents become more entrenched with districts drawn to protect those legislators who are loyal; competition is squelched and politicians choose their voters. The result is the lack of courage and failure in leadership we’re seeing today. The Illinois Fair Map Amendment is the opportunity people have been waiting for to take back Illinois,” claimed Jan Czarnik, Executive Director of the Illinois League of Women Voters, another group supporting the Amendment.
If you’re not happy with corruption in Illinois government and would like to support the Amendment, you can sign the petition by contacting RCYR online at or calling at (618) 971-7882.
The Randolph County Young Republicans (RCYR) provides vital, grassroots support for conservative candidates and issues on the local, state, and national level. RCYR presents an opportunity for Republicans and conservatives between the ages of 18 and 40 to improve and reform Randolph County communities through campaign organization, political activism, charitable projects, and fundraising. RCYR events provide the opportunity to exchange ideas, create friendships, and connect with conservatives in the Randolph County area.
RCYR supports the Illinois Fair Map Amendment. Please help us ensure fair mapping of Illinois’ legislative districts by signing a Fair Map Amendment petition today! Contact RCYR to sign the petition!
From ILFairMap.com:
Redistricting Reform that Restores Democracy to Illinois
For the last three decades, legislators have created their own districts after drawing a name out of a hat!
Illinois is the ONLY state in the nation that allows this magic trick to determine such an important issue.
We need your help to change this process and take it from the legislators and put it in the hands of an independent commission in order to make redistricting more transparent, fair, and accessible to the public.
In order to do this, we need to collect 500,000 signatures in Illinois by April 1, 2010!
Why Sign the Petition?
If you could do just ONE thing to help end corruption in Illinois, this is it!
For the last three decades, Illinois legislators have created districts that ensure their re-election by drawing their own maps behind closed doors.
The result is that 98% of elections for the Illinois legislature are won by the incumbent.
The legislature could change this process – but they haven’t – and they won’t.
It’s up to us, the people.
A fair map is the first step in taking Illinois back from the politicians.
If you’re not happy with Illinois government, contact RCYR today sign the petition.
 Southern Illinois-based ABC affiliate WSIL had the cameras rolling at the “Let Freedom Ring!” town hall forum sponsored by RCYR. WSIL used the footage in a feature on the Kormos – Newman race for the GOP nomination in the 12th US. Congressional District. Check out the article, or you can watch the newscast here.
Come to The V on January 18th at 7:30 PM for our January meeting! Grab some nachos and a drink while we recap the town hall and brainstorm some more events for after the primary.
This meeting is open to the public, so bring a friend. Dress casual and we’ll have a great evening!
More information is on our Facebook page (event link)
 Glenn Farley, Theresa Kormos, Teri Davis Newman, Dave Holder, Marc Kiehna, James Odom, Dave Luechtefeld, John Piazza, Mike Hoelscher Nearly 150 voters filled The Opera House in Red Bud on Tuesday evening, posing tough questions to a panel of national, state, and local candidates. The “Let Freedom Ring!” conservative town hall was hosted by the Randolph County Young Republicans and presented the opportunity for voters to directly ask candidates about issues facing the United States, Illinois, and local counties.
“To have well over 100 people show up in Southern Illinois to support conservative candidates is a harbinger of what’s to come in the 2010 midterms,” explained Eric Robert, an event organizer and officer of the Randolph County Young Republicans. “All of the candidates in attendance this evening are vying for seats held in traditionally Democratic strongholds. There is a groundswell of support rising underneath these candidates to bring real reform to Southern Illinois.”
Candidates in attendance included Illinois State Senator David Luechtefeld, 12th U.S. Congressional district candidates Theresa Kormos and Teri Davis Newman, 116th Illinois Congressional district candidates John Piazza and Glenn Farley, Randolph/Monroe County Regional Superintendent of Schools Marc Kiehna, Randolph County Sheriff candidate Mike Hoelscher, Randolph County Clerk candidate James Odom, and Randolph County Commissioner candidate Dave Holder. In the candidates’ absence, representatives were sent from Illinois Gubernatorial candidate Adam Andrzejewski’s campaign, Illinois Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate Jason Plummer’s campaign, and US Senate candidate Judge Don Lowery’s campaign.
A wide variety of issues were addressed at the town hall. Topics included regional unemployment, Illinois’ state budget gap, gun control, local election transparency, Illinois state government corruption, and the transfer of Guantanamo Bay prisoners to Illinois.
When commenting on the state government reform, state Senator David Luechtefeld said, “The situation in Illinois is worse than you can imagine, and it’s not getting better…It’s beyond the point where people can blame George Ryan. This has happened under the Democrats’ watch.”
In addition to state issues, a significant portion of the evening was spent on national dilemmas like government health care and corruption in Washington, D.C. Local topics focused on education, crime, and election transparency in Randolph County.
The Randolph County Young Republicans (RCYR) provides vital grassroots support for conservative candidates and issues on the local, state, and national level. RCYR presents an opportunity for Republicans and conservatives between the ages of 18 and 40 to improve and reform Randolph County communities through campaign organization, political activism, charitable projects, and fundraising. RCYR events provide the opportunity to exchange ideas, create friendships, and connect with conservatives in the Randolph County area.
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If you would like more information about this event, or to schedule an interview with an event organizer, please call Eric Robert at (618) 971-7882 or e-mail eric_robert@me.com.
Our story made the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s website!
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About RCYR Randolph County Young Republicans (RCYR) provides vital grassroots support for Republican candidates and conservative issues on the local, state and national level.
RCYR presents an opportunity for Republicans and conservatives between the ages of 18 and 40 to improve and reform Randolph County communities through campaign organization, political activism, charitable projects, and fundraising. RCYR events provide the opportunity to exchange ideas, create friendships, and connect with conservatives in the Randolph County area.
RCYR Contact Information Eric Robert - Officer
RCYoungGOP@gmail.com
(618) 971-7882
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