Central IL statehouse race focuses on economic development, revitalization of district

DANVILLE, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — The race for the 104th Illinois House District is starting from an interesting position. Republican State Representative Brandun Schweizer is the incumbent for the seat, but he’s only held it for less than a year. Schweizer’s lack of time to establish himself as an incumbent means this race is much more similar to a race for an open seat.

Schweizer was appointed to the seat after former Rep. Mike Marron abruptly retired last year. The 21-year-veteran of the Marine Corps is the latest in a line of Republicans who held the seat, which includes Vermilion County and parts of Champaign County outside of the Champaign-Urbana Community.

“Twenty-one years in the Marine Corps, you know, I’ve interacted with a lot of different people from all different types of backgrounds,” Schweizer said.

Democrat Jarrett Clem is trying to break that trend and flip the district blue.

“I think we’ve seen that this district hasn’t had the access in Springfield and in the past,” Clem said. “And I think that I would be able to bring a new perspective and more access to the people here.”

Clem was born and raised in the district, and is a staunch labor advocate. He also previously served as a trustee at Parkland Community College. As the business manager with IBEW Local 601 in Champaign County, he is gearing his campaign towards creating jobs in the district that is in need of opportunity.

Labor Unions are also heavily backing Clem. Campaign finance disclosures routinely show contributions from political arms of different labor unions, as well as major contributions from the Illinois Democratic Party and the Illinois House Democrats.

House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch sees this seat as an opportunity to grow his already overwhelming supermajority. House Republicans and the Illinois GOP meanwhile, are trying to chip away at that power, and to do that, they need to hold on to the seats they already have.

Schweizer wants to see more economic development in the area, too. When asked what the biggest focuses he will have in the state house are if he is elected, he pointed to lowering the tax burden.

“You got to take care of, you know, the folks downstate,” Schweizer said. “You’ve got to take care of, you know, the middle class people and continue to tax the spend is not the way to do that.”

Lowering taxes is a staple of any Republican platform, but here in Illinois, little ground is ever actually made up because of the super minorities in both chambers. Schweizer says his one year in office has let him get a lay of the land.

“When I do want to get a bill passed, I can easily go down there and talk to these people, you know, the folks and say, hey, I want this bill to be called and this is why I want it to be done,” Schweizer said. “Not just, you know, putting the bill in there and hoping that it’s going to get called.”

Clem hasn’t held an office at the level of State Representative before, but he says his time as a Parkland Trustee and his time working on legislation with labor unions gives him experience that his opponent doesn’t have.

“You have as a legislator that’s in the seat now that doesn’t have a ton of experience. Well, doesn’t have any experience, not only in the state of Illinois, but in the political system,” Clem said. “So I think that definitely holds the district back”

Schweizer, meanwhile, sees a full term as a chance to push back against the same old, same old in the Capitol

“The people are getting sick and tired of it,” Schweizer said. “And I think having a strong voice to be able to go to Springfield and articulate that is what is what is needed.”

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