Kane County Reporter

Republican state Senate hopeful Jeanette Ward longs to see Gov. J.B. Pritzker do his job with the empathy she thinks it should demand.

“Once again, the Democrat governor is making edicts without input from the legislature,” Ward told the Kane County Reporter. “This decision devastates the economy in our district.”

With coronavirus cases on the rise across much of the state, Will County is one of three counties set to face stiffer restrictions after eclipsing positivity rates of as high as 8% over up to a three-day period. The enhanced restrictions, which include bans on indoor dining and caps most gatherings at 25 people, are set to immediately go into effect.   

Running against incumbent state Sen. Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) in the 25th District, Ward argues more shutdown restrictions are not the answer.

“There is no science proving that restaurants and bars are the driving source of increased positives,” she added. “Where is Karina Villa on this?”

Since launching her campaign, Ward hasn’t been shy about taking on the governor, previously speaking out when he threatened to shut down other counties in the midst of raised infection rates. 

“I think business owners in Illinois have sacrificed enough,” she said. “Illinois has had among the longest and most restrictive rules put on them in the nation.”

While Ward said she doesn’t think the governor has given nearly enough thought to the damage his shutdown actions have caused, she thinks there may be a method to all his madness.

“I think he appears intent on causing Illinois to go into bankruptcy so we can receive a federal bailout,” she said. "To quarantine the healthy does not make sense. I’m very concerned about rises in suicides, depression, domestic abuse and child abuse that lockdowns bring.”