Beecher City, IL-(Effingham Radio)- On Monday, Blaine Wilhour, candidate for State Representative in the 107th district, joined a coalition of conservative reform candidates and legislators representing a new generation of leadership.
Wilhour demanded accountability for the politicians in Springfield and a change to the corrupt culture that has spread for decades. Referring to the ongoing allegations of harassment and abuse against Speaker Madigan, Blaine Wilhour said:
“The people of Illinois deserve leadership that is above reproach on these serious issues. Speaker Madigan’s organization has been clearly lacking and that is not acceptable. We should demand better. It is time for Madigan to do the right, respectable thing and resign his position as Speaker of the House and head of the Democrat Party and allow Illinois to move forward with a renewed credibility.”
Wilhour, a small business owner and farmer, called for three key reforms as a commonsense starting point: Speaker Mike Madigan’s resignation, the appointment of an independent Legislative Inspector General, and significant reforms to the process for ethic complaints to be filed and investigated.
“The only way to change the culture is by changing the leaders. Madigan is the one at the top and his lack of action, combined with his failure to address the systemic culture of abuse, intimidation & disrespect that has been fostered by his organizations are cause for legitimate concern.”
Wilhour’s renewed call comes after Madigan’s chief of staff Tim Mapes resigned in the fifth serious allegation of sexual harassment to hit Madigan’s organization in seven months. Mapes resignation comes one week after Madigan’s Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang gave up his leadership role amid allegations on bullying and abuse.
“If we are going to restore Illinois to what it could be and should be, Mike Madigan and his culture of corruption and intimidation has to go. I’m running to create a culture of honesty and accountability to restore trust in state government.”