South Central Reporter

James Jones wants to hear less talk and see more action.

The investigation into Gov. J.B. Pritzker for obtaining a reduced assessment on a second Gold Coast mansion is the latest example of a deeply corrupt system, Jones said.

Pritzker had five toilets removed in 2015, the house was declared vacant and the value was sharply reduced, saving the billionaire $330,000 in property taxes. The issue was raised during the 2018 gubernatorial race, causing Pritzker to pay the disputed amount, and it has risen to the surface again with reports that federal prosecutors are looking into it.

Pritzker repaid the tax break funds nearly two years ago, according to reports.

This comes on the heels of reports that Commonwealth Edison paid a $200 million fine and agreed to plead guilty to a count of bribery for attempting to influence longtime Speaker Mike Madigan. He has not been charged and has agreed to surrender documents and cooperate with the investigation, which now includes a look at the speaker and lobbyists with AT&T.

The end is not in sight, apparently. U.S. Attorney John Lausch said there is a lot more dirt to move and answers to find.

“Our investigation is ongoing” Lausch said. “It’s vibrant, and it will continue.”

Jones said it’s like watching a house on fire without anyone calling the fire department or reaching for a hose to battle the blaze.

“Illinoisans are tired of all the corruption but instead of doing anything about it they just shake their heads,” he told South Central Reporter. “They either move out or hunker down with the cloud over their heads. Voter apathy is a true kick in the pants.”

Jones said it’s not as if electing new leaders makes much of a difference.

“Every election cycle a new bunch of fed-up voters head to the polls and vote against business as usual in Illinois. After the election these fed up voters will come to realize that the voters north of I-80 outnumber them,” he said. “Add in voter corruption and these fed-up voters throw their hands in the air and join the ranks of those that have tried and failed in previous elections. The cry goes from ‘throw the bums out’ to ‘why bother.’”

But he said there might be an answer.

“If we could get the new fed-up bunch and the old fed-up bunch to all vote at the same time we might stand a chance of changing Illinois,” Jones said. “Voter apathy is like a disease that once it attacks you can’t get rid of.”

He said he blames entrenched Democratic leaders for much of Illinois' woes. 

Jones was a Democrat, largely due to his career path, he said.

“I voted for Barrack Obama in 2008. It took me until March of 2009 to realize that I had wasted my vote and a lot of years being a Democrat,” he said. “I guess it was because I never really paid attention to politics, going along with the union mantra that the Republicans will take your job. To me, Obama’s greatest accomplishment was waking me the hell up.

“I supported Romney in 2012. Of course, I support President Donald J. Trump and have since the day Ted Cruz dropped out of the running,” Jones said. “To be honest I would have supported anyone not named Hillary Clinton. The quagmire effecting my home state has really got me upset and I think that all of our problems can be traced directly to Michael Madigan.”

Jones retired nine years ago from Illinois Power Company, later Ameren Illinois, more than three decades on the job. Jones, who has five grown children, and his wife Leora married on Dec. 31, 2011 and live in Irving.