A Galesburg lawyer hopes he can turn Illinois’ 74th House District from red to blue next year. Bill Butts is the only Democrat to file nominating petitions in the district currently represented by Don Moffitt (R-Gilson).
Moffitt is retiring at the end of his term next year.
Wayne Saline, Dan Swanson, and Michael DeSutter are the three Republicans seeking the GOP nomination in the March primary.
Butts said his main campaign issue is to reform the way Illinois draws its legislative districts. He is a supporter of the Independent Map Amendment, which aims to have an independent panel determine districts.
Butts said he doesn’t like how the current system splits counties and cities, causing residents on one side of town have one state representative while those on the other side of town are represented by someone else.
“This town is a community of interests. This town is a community of people that are involved with each other and do all sorts of things. And then when they get on the ballot, they have to choose between two different representatives from two different areas,” Butts said.
In Galesburg, State House Districts 74 and 93 represents portions of the city, along with State Senate Districts 37 and 47.
Butts said he also wants to address issues such as education funding and senior services. And he said the state needs to review its “business climate.”
“We shouldn’t have higher business taxes than other areas around us, that needs to be looked at,” Butts said.
Butts said he supports collective bargaining rights for unions, and the right to negotiate wages.
