South Central Reporter

James Jones is urging Illinois voters not to take the upcoming April 6 elections for granted.

“Too many people ignore these upcoming elections because they don’t consider them of value,” Jones, a local activist, told the South Central Reporter. “I guess they’ve never heard that all politics are local or they don’t understand the power of their vote. That is a shame.”

A 71-year-old retired U.S. Navy officer, Jones isn’t shy about sharing his feelings, especially when it comes to expressing what he thinks is needed to get Illinois back on track.  

In the last year, he’s joined a growing number of conservative voices calling for the recall of Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“I believe that J.B. is in over his head and has no idea what he’s doing,” he told the told the South Central Reporter. “Either that or he doesn’t care, which would be worse.”

In Illinois, recalling a governor requires the support of at least 10 state senators and 20 state representatives — with no more than half from each house from a single party. Among other thresholds, signatures are required from at least 25 counties and from at least 15% of the voters who took part in the most recent general election.

With the approval of a majority of voters, the governor is then removed and the lieutenant governor is named acting governor. A special election is scheduled to complete the current term.

Jones just wishes more voters would do their homework prior to Election Day in settling on a candidate and actually stick to a plan that results in them definitely casting their ballot.

“I wish I knew what to do about it but short of a threat of bodily harm for not voting or a monetary reward for voting, I am at a loss,” he said.