South Central Reporter

Illinois State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, in a June 11 Facebook post endorsed State Sen. Darren Bailey for governor.

Wilhour has been active on Facebook in the months leading up to the primary later this month, noting that conservatives will no longer be told to “hold your nose, compromise your values and vote for the only one they say can win.”

“We are done with that,” he said on the social media site. “All it’s gotten us is higher taxes, lower wages, and less opportunity. The people are standing up to send the political elites in both parties packing.”

That wasn’t the first time the lawmaker used Facebook to sound off on issues. The East Central Reporter noted in June that Wilhour criticized state Democrats for “Democratic fueled inflation” and a lack of economic opportunity, in rural and urban areas.

“The blue-collar areas of this state that I represent, and that a lot of you are supposed to represent, they’re like ghost towns,” Wilhour said, according to the East Central Reporter. “They are a shell of what they once were and what they should be. And it's because of your policies. Working families, seniors, and folks on fixed incomes are getting hammered.”

In March, Wilhour applauded parents he said were putting their children first.

"God bless the parents who have risen up to defend the rights and best interests of their kids,” he posted on Facebook.  “Let's send a message in the June 28 primary. Any candidate that did not actively stand up and stand out - vote them out."

In March, the East Central Reporter noted that Wilhour filed a lawsuit against House Speaker Emanuel Welch, D-Westchester, after Wilhour was removed from the House chamber for refusing to wear a mask.

“I'm a sitting state representative and you want to kick me out of this body, but you won't confront me personally and you won't have a dialogue with me about this?" the lawmaker said in a video posted on his website, according to the East Central Reporter. "That's pretty weak. It's a total lack of common sense. It's a total lack of critical thought, and the people of Illinois are done with it. They're tired of it."

The East Central Reporter stated on its website that the lawsuit was filed by Attorney Thomas G. Devore, on behalf of the lawmaker and the attorney, who resides in District 107. The website noted that DeVore filed the lawsuit in Bond County courts.