At coffee a large crowd was on hand
for the full hour. People from around the Mount Pulaski Community
stopped in enjoyed a free cup of coffee and a morning sweet while
chatting with the two public officials.
Turner is running for election in 2022, unopposed on the Republican
ticket. She accepted the appointment to the State Senate for the
44th District on January 26, 2021, replacing Bill Brady who had
resigned in December of 2020. This will be Turner’s first campaign
for the office of State Senator.
Formerly the Logan County Clerk, a native of the Beason area, Turner
is invested and concerned for the future of Logan County. She said
she has enjoyed representing her district and is invested in
continuing to represent the constituents of the 44th including the
residents of Logan County.
Turner was asked what her feelings were concerning the Republican
candidates for Governor. She said that she had respect for all the
candidates. But, she reminds everyone that the end game goal is to
select a candidate with the ability to defeat incumbent Democrat
J.B. Pritzker. She said she sat next to Darren Bailey in the senate
and has a good deal of respect for him, but in the long run, she
believes the candidate with the highest ability to defeat Pritzker
may very well be Richard Irvin. Turner said she doesn’t know Irvin
quite as well as she does Bailey, but what she does know of him she
likes where he stands on many issues impacting the state.
Representative Butler was also enjoying a time of visiting with
local constituents. Asked about his presence he said that first, he
is still the local representative and he wants to remain visible in
his district until he is no longer the representative.
The new mapping of districts within the state has had an impact on
both Turner and Butler, though Turner will remain a representative
of Logan County. Butler however will be leaving this district and
there are three candidates vying for the seat on the Republican
primary ticket.
Butler was asked if there was one candidate that he favored and
without hesitation he said he was endorsing Mary Burress. He knows
Burress well and says that they share the same values and stance on
the concerns of the constituents on the 87th District. He believes
that Burress will be a presence in her district and will work in the
best interest of her constituents.
Butler also mentioned that the mapping situation has rendered a
change in Congressional representation in Washington. He said that
he knows Rodney Davis, who is now running for election for the
United States Representative to Illinois’ 15th District, replacing
Darren LaHood. Butler respects Davis and believes he will be a good
representative for the district.
As guests arrived at the Market on the Hill they were asked to sign
in and if they did they were given a free Market on the Hill coffee
mug courtesy of Turner and Butler.
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At the back of the building, in the deli area, guests were being
served fresh coffee and a choice of sweet rolls or cookies also
courtesy of the Senator and Representative.
The primary election will be held on June 28th. Turner will be on
that ballot unopposed, thus assuring her name will also be on the
November General Election ballot. For the office of State
Representative, there are currently three candidates on the
Republican primary ballot - Joe Alexander, Mary Burgess and Bill
Hauter.
Another Coffee and Conversation event is being planned for May at
Mel-O-Crème Donuts in Lincoln.
[Nila Smith]
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