Linda Curtin and Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Linda Curtin and Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Christian County Democrat power couple Ben and Linda Curtin are making a personal appeal to Illinoisans to vote to raise their own income taxes.
They will be featured in a television advertisement by pro-tax hike forces, soon to be broadcast across the state, sources tell the South Central Reporter.
Camera crews shot the commercial at the Curtin’s farm last week, located four miles south of Stonington.
Linda Curtin, 67, spent 12 years as the Christian County Clerk and now is a Democrat county board member.
She took over her seat from her husband, Ben, also 67, who spent six years on the board and now serves as Christian County Democrat Party Chairman.
Ben succeeded his uncle, John Curtin, who was Christian County Board chairman, retiring in 2011 after three decades in Democrat party politics.
Ben’s late father, Bill, also spent 30 years on the county board and eight years as party chairman.
If a tax hike is passed, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has promised to pass on increased tax revenue to public employees in the way of higher salaries and richer pensions.
Linda Curtin is a public pensioner currently collecting $2,051 per month, according to the Illinois Municipal Retirement fund (IMRF). She contributed $33,784 into the pension fund over her 19 year career with Christian County and has collected $112,741 thus far.
Over a 30 year retirement, Linda Curtain would $1,010,280.
A report by Moody’s on Friday estimated state taxpayers owe $420 billion in public pension debt.
The Curtins’ son, Jess, 37, is a maintenance worker with the Illinois Department of Corrections who earned $92,600 last year, according to the Illinois Comptroller. The job was originally created for him in 2005, after the Christian County Democrats backed Rod Blagojevich for Governor.
A Springfield State-Journal Register report itemized $54,000 in county party contributions directed to Blagojevich ahead of his election.
Linda Curtain drew attention in May, when she was one of only three county board members backing Pritzker’s Lockdown Order in Christian County.
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