NW Illinois News

Republican House candidate Andrew Chesney has scored the Illinois Farm Bureau Activator (IFB) endorsement in his run in the 89th District.

The Journal Standard reports IFB touts itself as being supportive of candidates who have an understanding of agricultural issues and are in step with the needs of the area's farm community, characteristics Chesney insists are directly in his wheelhouse.

“My family has owned farmland for decades,” he told the NW Illinois News. “Agriculture is the biggest industry in the area and I certainly want to give farmers a stronger voice in Springfield.”

Nick Hyde

In talking with area residents and farmers, Chesney, who is running against Democrat Nick Hyde to fill the seat left vacant by the retirement of Rep. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon), said he has come to internalize what the biggest issues are for area farmers.

“Infrastructure is a major concern and we have to do something about all these burdensome regulations that do nothing but drive up operational cost,” he said.

As for Hyde, whose campaign was recently rocked by allegations of misuse of government resources involving his mother, the elected city clerk of Galena, Chesney said he thinks his inexperience is starting to show.  

“He has no elected experience and minimum professional experience outside of college,” he said. “To be taxed with handling the responsibilities of state government, especially at a time that’s so critical to the survival of the state, I think voters expect and should demand a background that offers the likelihood of being able to bring about possible solutions. Nothing about his background or experiences suggests that he’s at such a point in his political life.”

The 89th House District includes parts or all of Jo Daviess, Stephenson, Winnebago, Carroll, Ogle and Whiteside counties.