From The Chairman
I look forward to seeing you at our annual Lincoln Day Gala on Feb 11th! This year, the Gala will salute our military veterans and is being held at the Regency Convention Center in O’Fallon. The social hour will begin at 5PM with dinner being served at 6PM. Tickets must be purchased by Feb 4th by calling our office at 618-416-7370 or by visiting Lincoln Day Gala Tickets.
I also wanted to introduce two new members of our executive committee, Melanie Schaltenbrand and Wavey Lester. Melanie will be responsible for fundraising, and Wavey will be responsible for working with our Precinct Committeemen (PCs). These are two critical roles for our Party’s long-term success, and we look forward to the work that Melanie and Wavey will do for us in these areas.
Thanks for all of your support in turning St. Clair County red!
Cheryl Mathews
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Our Thoughts On St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson’s Statement After HB 5471 Was Signed Into Law
Following JB Pritzker and the IL Democrat Party’s attack on St. Clair County citizens’ 2nd Amendment rights, St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson sent out a wishy-washy claim of disappointment in the signing of IL HB 5471 into law.
“I am extremely disappointed in the passage and enactment of HB 5471, that further regulates and limited the variety of weapons for lawful gun owners. I have opposed this legislation throughout its development and remain opposed to the bill as passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Governor JB Pritzker.”
– Rick Watson
Other local sheriffs that actually support southern IL values including the 2nd Amendment, like Monroe County Sheriff Neil Rohlfing, have made it clear that they, nor their departments, will take any law enforcement action due to the new law.
“Therefore, as the custodian of the jail and chief law enforcement official for Monroe County, that neither myself nor my office will be checking to ensure that lawful gun owners register their weapons with the State, nor will we be arresting or housing law abiding individuals that have been arrested solely with non-compliance of this Act.” – Sheriff Neil Rohlfing
Of course, St. Clair County Democrats like Rick Watson openly support Democrat state legislators like Chris Belt, LaToya Greenwood, Jay Hoffman, and Katie Stuart who then go to Springfield and vote against our 2nd Amendment rights.
It’s past time to vote people into office in St. Clair County who will ensure that our values aren’t trampled in Springfield by IL Democrat Party.
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New Dates For Our Central Committee Meetings In 2023
This year, our Central Committee Meetings are being held on the second Thursday of each month. Our next Central Committee meeting in 2023 will be held on Thursday, February 9 at 7PM in the north hall at the Shiloh Eagles Club.
All Precinct Committeemen are expected to attend and participate in our Central Committee Meetings. Please adjust your calendars accordingly.
The Central Committee Meetings are open to all Republicans in St. Clair County. The Eagles Club prepares a wonderful fried chicken buffet dinner every Thursday, from 5PM-7PM, so please take the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful meal and attend our meetings.
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St Clair County Board Appoints County Recorder of Deeds and Board of Review Member
The St. Clair County Board has appointed two people to hear property owners’ tax assessment appeals and to manage property ownership records. These were vacant elected positions that the appointees will fill until the 2024 General Election.
Michael P. Crockett Jr. was sworn in as the new St. Clair County Recorder of Deeds to manage property ownership records, including deeds and mortgages. Irma G. Golliday was sworn in as a St. Clair County Board of Review member to make decisions about tax appeals on residential, commercial, industrial and condominium property as well as vacant land.
Crockett is finishing Democrat Michael Costello’s term as county recorder after Costello died in November at 77 years old. Golliday is finishing Democrat Kinnis Williams Sr.’s term as a county board of review member. Williams resigned in November after he was elected St. Clair County Circuit Clerk.
In 2016, Crockett was one of nine public officials charged in a joint state and federal corruption investigation. He was accused of taking a bribe to lower someone’s tax assessment. A St. Clair County judge dismissed three charges against Crockett and found him not guilty on two others, saying there was “not a scintilla of proof.”
County Board Chairman Mark Kern described Crockett as an honest government worker. “I’ve known Mr. Crockett for a long time, and he’s an upstanding, honest, hardworking public servant and he’ll continue to be so,” Kern said.
We clearly don’t want unelected appointees making important decisions for County citizens so we’re looking forward to making our case for Republican candidates for these Countywide jobs in 2024.
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IL Consolidated Election – April 4th
Please plan to vote in the IL Consolidated Election on April 4th! The IL Consolidated Election is focused on non-partisan elected offices in school districts, cities, villages, city wards, park districts, library districts, water districts and the Regional Board of Education.
Given the impact each of these elected offices have on our communities and families, it’s critical that we elect conservative members of the community to these offices to ensure our values are represented. If we ignore these elections, we’re opening our communities to far left ideologies and events such as Drag Queen Storytime at the Caseyville Public Library.
Early voting at the County courthouse will start on March 1st, and Vote By Mail (VBM) ballots can be requested online on the County Clerk Website. Please make sure that you vote early, VBM, or vote on Election Day! If there’s any question in your ability to vote on Election Day, please take advantage of early voting or VBM!
You can find the set of offices up for election in St. Clair County on April 4th at the St. Clair County Clerk’s website. If you have any questions about the candidates running for these offices, please call our office at 618-416-7370 or send an email to officemanager@scilgop.com.
Finally, we’re looking for election judges to work at the County courthouse as the VBM ballots are being returned. This is a paid position. Please contact chairman@scilgop.com for information.
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Illinois Battle Over National Sex Education Standards Continues
Proposed legislation in Springfield would mandate the standards for schools. Currently, school districts can opt out and a large majority have. According to Awake-Illinois, only 25 schools have adopted some or all of the National Sex Education Standards, while 548 have opted out.
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Critics have said the curriculum is too much, too soon for younger children. In accordance with the National Sex Education Standards, the Illinois State Board of Education said elementary students, including kindergartners, will learn about consent, gender identity, hormone blockers and healthy relationships. Middle schoolers will learn about dating violence prevention, different types of sex and sexual harassment. High schoolers will learn more about their bodies, pregnancy and sexual health.
The latest version of the proposed legislation never made it to the floor for a vote during the January lame duck session. However, it is expected to be resurrected by IL Democrats in the 2023 legislative session.
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Multiple Lawsuits Filed Against IL Gun Ban – Temporary Restraining Order Upheld
Two Second Amendment lawyers who helped win a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that struck down a New York concealed carry gun law are now challenging the constitutionality of Illinois’ assault weapons ban – with help from the National Rifle Association.
Paul Clement, who successfully argued the New York case, is one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs in the latest federal lawsuit seeking to overturn Illinois’ two-week old ban.
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Clement is a former partner in Kirkland & Ellis’ Washington, D.C., office who served as solicitor general of the United States, representing the government in cases before the nation’s top court from 2004 to 2008, during the George W. Bush Administration.
Although it’s the first linked to the NRA, the federal lawsuit is far from the first challenge to Illinois’ new weapons ban, known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act. The Illinois State Rifle Association filed its own federal lawsuit last week. And at least three suits have been filed in county courts downstate. The Fifth District Appellate Court of Illinois recently upheld a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by an Effingham County judge based on a lawsuit filed by attorney Thomas DeVore.
The federal suit filed argues that the law violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments. It also argues that the measure is unconstitutional because the types of weapons banned are commonly used by law-abiding citizens. It largely argues that the government cannot ban weapons that are in common use today for self-defense, a case made clear in the Bruen decision.
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Elimination Of Cash Bail In SAFE-T Act Ruled Unconstitutional
The Pretrial Fairness Act, the portion of the SAFE-T Act which eliminates cash bail, was deemed unconstitutional by Kankakee County judge Thomas Cunnington following a class-action lawsuit from several jurisdictions in the state. The IL Supreme Court subsequently halted the Pretrial Fairness Act statewide.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has appealed the decision to the State Supreme Court. Oral arguments are expected in March.
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