Shared from the 6/17/2020 Jacksonville Journal Courier eEdition

Adams to vie for Davidsmeyer’s seat

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Davidsmeyer

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Adams

Assistant Republican Leader C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, will be defending his position as state representative in the upcoming election.

City of Jacksonville Ward 3 Alderman Brandon Adams will be vying for Davidsmeyer’s seat.

Adams, a Democrat, said he is passionate about healthcare, fiber optics and cannabis and plans to use those among his main discussion points to win votes on Election Day, Nov. 3.

“Healthcare has always been big on my list,” Adams said during a phone interview. Adams was in a coma for two months after being infected with West Nile virus. When he woke, he said, he was presented with a $321, 639 intensive care bill.

“I want to make sure people don’t have to go through what I went through,” he said.

That was the turning point for Adams to venture into politics, he said.

“Since becoming alderman, I have been outspoken on behalf of this country’s low-income working class, poor and disabled, like myself. I receive Medicare, Medicaid, and SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). I know how important a strong safety net is for many Americans. I am proud to support the Morgan County Democrats since 2015,” Adams said.

Education is another topic that hits home with Adams and why he wants to push for fiber optics so all homes will have access to internet for students of all ages.

“Education is important,” he said, adding that he believes internet should be offered the same he believes internet should be offered the same way as water and electricity.

“We just need to treat it as a utility,” he said.

Adams said his successful legislative achievement was to spearhead the recreational and medical cannabis initiative, which made Jacksonville the first community in Illinois to have on-site cannabis consumption legislation. The ordinance allows for well-regulated cannabis industries of all types, including a local small-business opportunity for a farm-to-table establishment.

Republican Davidsmeyer plans to keep his seat and continue to fight to keep the money people earn out of Springfield and in the pockets of his constituents, he said.

“My job is to be a good steward to the taxpayers … I think it should stay in people’s pockets,” said Davidsmeyer, who has served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives since his appointment in December 2012.

Davidsmeyer believes the state’s current financial situation is lagging behind other states and keeping people in Illinois should be a priority rather than placing the financial burden on others with higher taxes.

“We’re pushing people out of Illinois,” he said.

Healthcare and education are at the top of Davidsmeyer’s agenda, he said.

“We deal with a lot of healthcare issues and we work with insurance companies to make sure people are covered,” he said.

Davidsmeyer also wants legislators to propose bills that have a pay-as-you-go plan. He wants to make sure pension payments are a priority and there shouldn’t be any unfunded mandates.

“They have to show how things are going to get paid,” Davidsmeyer said.

Both Davidsmeyer and Adams were born in Jacksonville and continue to live in the city.

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