Illinois Governor Republican candidate Darren Bailey hosts a meet and greet in Lincoln

[April 12, 2022]  On Saturday, April 9, Darren Bailey, one of the Republican candidates for Illinois Governor, hosted a meet and greet at the Lincoln Banquet Center

After a donation only pork barbeque meal, Bailey addressed attendees about the future of the state and his ideas for change.



Cindy Gleason, who co-chairs the Darren Bailey for Logan County with Ardith Deters, welcomed everyone. Gleason is running for Chester Township Precinct Committeeperson and encouraged attendees to get involved in government.

Bailey’s campaign is described as grassroots, which is not adapted from or added to an existing operation but is new. Many of Bailey’s volunteers, including Gleason, have never been involved in a campaign.

Right now, Gleason is looking for volunteers who can spread the word about Bailey’s campaign through calls, flyers, yard signs and social media. Reaching out is the way to get campaign messages out. Gleason reminded everyone of the importance of voting in the upcoming elections this year and said every vote counts.

Led by a group of children everyone then said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the first verse of God Bless America.


87th District Candidate Joe Alexander, Logan County Clerk Incumbent Theresa Moore, 87th District Candidate Mary Burress, Logan County Treasurer Incumbent Penny Thomas, Cindy Gleason

Before welcoming Bailey to the stage Kate Wright of the Young Conservatives of Logan County introduced elected officials and candidates for 87th District Representatives who were in attendance. She thanked Bailey for taking the time out of his busy schedule to come to Logan County so people could get to know him.

Bailey and his wife Cindy have been married for 35 years. They have four children and eleven grandchildren. The Bailey family farm has 12,000 acres with corn and soybeans that his three sons help farm. The family also has a trucking company and excavating business. Several years ago, he and his wife opened Full Armor Christian Academy. Today it has over 360 students from preschool through high school. Their daughter co-administrates the academy with Bailey’s wife Cindy.

Over the years, Bailey has served in church and community leadership. He served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives for the 109th District in Southern Illinois from January 2019 to January 2021. Currently, Bailey is a Senator for the 55th District that includes several counties in the Southeastern corner of Illinois.



As he began speaking, Bailey thanked all who came out. He said it was an honor to have so many come out to show their support.

On Bailey’s journey to restore Illinois, he said God has opened doors. Sometimes people like Bailey’s wife have had to push people through those doors. He said God has brought many people together and feels that is the story of Illinois.

With upcoming changes in Lincoln at both Lincoln Christian University and Lincoln College, Bailey encouraged everyone to bind together. In Lincoln and the whole county, people must think and strategize how to help the area grow.

Elected officials, people in law enforcement and people who have served in our armed forces protect our freedoms. Bailey said, today, we the people have a duty to uphold our freedoms.

Five years ago, Bailey said you could not have paid him to come to a political rally. Because politicians lie, cheat and steal, Bailey would have nothing to do with that. He turned his back on politics.

Many across the land have turned their backs on politics and government. Therefore, Bailey feels we have let it go awry. He said we come here today concerned and worried about our future and the future of our children and our grandchildren.

In 2017, the Illinois General Assembly went into session on the July 4 weekend. That raised a red flag for Bailey. When government coming together over a major holiday or works all night passing a budget, Bailey feels something is not right.

 God began to spark an interest in Bailey to question what was going on.

When Bailey was on a school board years ago, he and his wife helped the state representative for their district get elected. Once the represented was elected, Bailey said they sent him to Springfield saying, “Go get them.” Bailey and his wife kind of checked out. He reminded attendees that elected officials need support.

We must stay in tune with these officials. We must talk to them and encourage them when they do something right. When we are frustrated with something, Bailey said we should be able to share our frustrations with them in kindness and love. However, we should also have their backs.

To Bailey, that is how government in our land is supposed to function. Bailey said when people check out of the process and then wake up and wonder what happened to our constitution, problems occur.

God keeps expanding Bailey’s territory and opening doors to opportunity. When Bailey became a State Representative, he planned to serve for 10 years and then go back and farm.

During Bailey’s service as a State Representative and later a Senator, he has seen much that was not right. He decided he had to do something about it.

Bailey began to realize the state lockdown, gas increases, and 2019 and 2020 budgets that were passed by both parties were not right. Bailey wondered why no one was saying anything and began to get emboldened.

It is not a job or career Bailey is here for. He is not here to be on a great journey and say “this is what I did.”

What Bailey wants to do is make a difference and protect the future for everyone. He said more people need to serve whether it is on a school board, county board, city council or even as State Representatives or State Senators. We need men and women who understand what a servant heart is like. We need people to stand up and fight.

With Governor JB Pritzker’s COVID related mandates, Bailey pushed back against them. He sued the Governor and got kicked out of the General Assembly for not wearing a mask.

After he pushed back, Bailey said people started asking if he was going to run for governor. Starting in July 2020, Bailey began to get invitations to speak all over the state of Illinois.

Before Bailey even decided to run for governor, he and his wife went throughout the state in almost every community. He was talking at various school rallies and church rallies.

Soon, Bailey began to realize God was planting a seed. He recognized that something was going on in the state of Illinois. Bailey and his wife had conversations with multiple people, some of whom are running for governor.

While serving as a State Representative for the 55th Senate District, Bailey served a district that covers the largest geographical area in Illinois. The people in the district have very conservative values. They do not like the ideologies that threaten our schools.
 

The Baileys soon realized he could be an anchor senator. By August 2020, the Baileys' began to have multiple conversations with people. They realized people need to compromise, get along and work together.

As of 11 p.m. this past Friday night, Bailey said the assembly had not even been presented with the state budget.

It is the fourth state budget Bailey has been involved with. People know what he stands for. Bailey said lobbyists come around and ask whether he would be interested in what they are supporting. These lobbyists tell Bailey if he supports a certain bill, they will do something for him. He said that is what is wrong.

Friday night, one of the Republican leaders came to Bailey. The leader said if Bailey voted yes for the budget, there would be a $10 M project for his district. Bailey has no problem exposing what is going on.

This year’s state budget is $46.5 billion, which is the largest in Illinois history. That is just the state part. The rest is federal money. Overall, Illinois functions off about $150 B.

In the past five years, Bailey has seen the budgets and taxes steadily increase. Over these years, Bailey said over $35 B of new money injected into the state.

Time is of the essence. Bailey said we cannot afford to elect someone we know nothing about. That has been done too often over the years. People need to think about how important it is to have someone who has been exemplifying leadership. Bailey said we need to elect someone who has been standing there against all odds. Bailey stood against the odds because he felt it was the right thing to do.

Whether it be through calls, texts or emails, Bailey wants to be available to people. He wants to know people’s questions, thoughts and ideas.

In the June primaries and November election, Bailey hopes to be victorious and uproot Governor Pritzker. Bailey said even people in Chicago want to get involved. He has been amazed at how many people want to be involved.

One goal Bailey has is to protect the integrity of elections. Poll watchers are needed to help stop election fraud.

Bailey said polling shows the four biggest concerns are public safety, failing school systems, taxes and voter integrity.

When Bailey finished speaking, he asked if anyone had questions.

One audience member asked about the chances of voter fraud again in Illinois.

If elected, Bailey said he would make sure there is voter ID. There is a mechanism in place to look out for signs of voter fraud. Several organizations are travelling through the state to train people what to look out for, what to do and how to stand our ground if voter fraud is suspected.

If poll watchers are doing their job with the process, they can root out and monitor fraud. There are over 10,800 precincts in the state of Illinois. In 2020, Bailey said less than 1,800 Republicans served as poll watchers and election judges.

The constitution says there must be a Republican and Democrat election judge. If there is not, the city bench judge assigns someone. Bailey said there needs to be more Republican poll watchers and election judges.

Another person asked Bailey how he would respond to and combat the super majorities in the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives.

For Bailey, communication in number one. People are here because they heard a message. Telling the truth and offering hope can help Republicans take the majority in the House of Representatives. Bailey said the Senate is more of a challenge.

Education is another key. Bailey said people are realizing what their representatives are doing.

With four seats in the House of Representatives, Bailey said Republicans could rid the super majority. Then [if serving as governor], Bailey could veto bills that could not be overridden.

In November 2020, Republicans helped vote down the Progressive Tax in a landslide victory. It was a constitutional amendment, which Bailey said needed 60 percent of the votes to pass. The exact opposite happened as 56 percent of the people voted no.

There are 118 State Representative Districts. Bailey said 45 State Representatives are Republicans. In 2020, 73 districts by majority vote said no to the progressive tax.

This year, Bailey said there are good Republican candidates running for almost every seat. If there is not a Republican candidate after the primary, Bailey said someone would be selected. That may help get rid of super majorities.

Thanking everyone for coming to the meet and greet, Bailey said we need to turn things around. What is taking place in this community and county emulates the story of Illinois.

In closing, Bailey said we need to elect people who stand for moral and fiscal integrity. We must elect people who will not become career politicians but will remain a servant. It is our responsibility hold elected officials accountable.

What is taking place is real. Bailey said it is a David and Goliath fight. Bailey feels when the election is over, what takes place in Illinois could send shockwaves from coast to coast. It could be a precursor to what may happen in 2024.

[Angela Reiners]