South Central Reporter

Although Illinois state Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) may lose a large portion of the Effingham County in the redistricting process, he is heartened by the prospect that State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield)  has announced his candidacy for the new district that includes portions of Effingham.

"I am comforted in knowing that my good friend, State Senator Steve  McClure,  has announced his intention to run for the potential 'new' district  that covers the portions of Effingham County that I would be  losing," Plummer said on Facebook. "You learn who your friends are during the toughest times and you learn a  person's character when they are under fire or when they have  difficult,  sometimes unpopular, decisions to make. Steve has been a leader in the Republican caucus and he has been on the front lines of  some of the most important issues facing our families and our communities, namely out of control crime in Illinois and taking a stand for our law enforcement community."

Plummer is a member of the Senate's Redistricting Committee but is not impressed with the work the Democrat-controlled panel is doing, he said.

"It's been a disgusting display of arrogance and lack of empathy - I have battled them every step of the way," he said on Facebook. "The  maps are in court and so no one knows what will happen. I pray that the courts side with the people and not the power-hungry politicians."

If new maps are ordered by the courts, "I might benefit politically or I might be harmed politically, but I do not care because I know the people and the state will benefit under a  new map," Plummer said. "That is what matters."

He praised Effingham County as vibrant and pro-business.

"The people there strongly support  the traditional values that have made this country great," the senator wrote. "Sure do not want to lose the honor and the opportunity to continue to fight for my friends in Effingham County. If it happens, though, I'm excited to see Steve step up and I know he will do a wonderful job. His values are Effingham County's values and he will make sure the people of Effingham County continue to have a strong voice in Springfield."