NW Illinois News

Dixon Mayor Liandro Arellano says Illinois politicians aren't representing the concerns of their constituents.

"I was incredibly disappointed to see that the governor signed HB40 despite his promise in April to veto it," Arellano, who is running for the Senate from the 45th District, told NW Illinois News. "He is the first governor in the U.S. to sign such a broad taxpayer-funded abortion bill. Aside from my major moral opposition to this bill, it will also add millions in costs to a state that is already broke."

HB40 provides for Medicaid and state insurance coverage for abortions for any reason until the last day of a pregnancy. Previously, abortions were covered only in cases of rape, incest and when the health and life of the mother is at risk .

Liandro Arellano | Courtesy of Liandro Arellano.

"It was just terrible policy, and the governor should have vetoed it," Arellano said. 

Arellano also pointed to a controversial tax Cook County instituted in August on sweetened beverages. The 1-cent-per-ounce tax has been so reviled that the Cook County Board will vote on a repeal on Oct. 10.

"The pop tax is another in this long line of tax hikes, and if it goes unchecked it won't be long before Democrats try to impose such taxes statewide," Arellano said. 

As the Chicago Tribune has reported, many residents are now shopping outside of Cook County, and some small-business owners have contemplated closing shop due to the decrease in business, which upsets Arellano.

"For too long, liberals have relied on tax increases to solve every financial problem, and the result is that people have been leaving the state," Arellano said.

Though the election is next year, Arellano already has scored a victory. Last month, he was named the president of the Illinois Municipal League, an organization that represents more than 1,200 communities in Illinois. 

Arellano has also stayed busy traveling around the state for his campaign.

"Last Wednesday, I went up to Stockton, Illinois, to speak to the Jo Daviess County Republicans, which represent the far northwest part of the district," he said recently. "I spent Saturday walking precincts in Lee County with my door-to-door team. Sunday I'll be right back at canvassing voters door-to-door again, and then I'll spend the afternoon at the Lee County Republicans annual Oktoberfest."

Arellano is running to replace Tim Bivins (R-Dixon), who is retiring.

The 45th District covers all or part of Carroll, DeKalb, JoDaviess, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties.