South Central Reporter

Two prominent Illinois Democrats had no public reaction to the use of a gay slur by Brian Stout, a fellow Democrat and state Senate candidate in the 54th District.

Neither gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker nor state Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) returned calls from the South Central Reporter seeking comment on Stout calling a Vandalia resident a “little faggot” during a  feud between the two that started three years ago.

“It’s a typical double standard going on,” Seth McMillan, the Republican challenging Manar for his Senate seat, told the South Central Reporter. “If a Republican candidate had used those words, the Democrats would have been all over him.”

Andy Manar

McMillan added that Pritzker’s and Manar’s silence is akin to the Democrats in Springfield attempting to cover up numerous sexual harassment complaints within the General Assembly.

“Manar worked for (Senate President John) Cullerton who failed to fill the Inspector General’s position,” McMillan said. “A lot of complaints were never investigated.”

Democratic leadership in Springfield allowed the Legislative Inspector General (LIG) position to remain vacant for two years. They appointed attorney Julie Porter interim LIG in November 2017 a week after state Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago), a member of Senate leadership, was accused of harassment. Silverstein lost his March 20 primary race.

McMillan, 34, who refers to himself as a conservative, said that since Manar, 42, was first elected to the 48th district in 2012 his voting record has failed to match the wishes of voters in the district – “the most Republican Senate district in Illinois represented by a Democrat.”

“He pushes the liberal social agenda in Springfield,” McMillan said. “He voted for HB 40, the bill that publicly funds abortions. I’m completely against it.”

McMillan is also pro-Second Amendment and wants to bring a pro-growth agenda back to Springfield.

He is the founder of McMillan Landscaping and is chairman of the Christian County Republican Party. He and his wife, Mellisa, live in rural Taylorville with their two children.

The 48th includes a large section of central Illinois, stretching from the east side of Springfield to Decatur, then heading south to include Christian and Montgomery counties, and portions of Macoupin and northern Madison counties.