MORRIS – Grundy County State’s Attorney Jason Helland has announced his campaign to run against democratic Secretary of State Jesse White.
“I’m dedicated to being part of the solution for Illinois,” Helland said. “For too long, we’ve had politicians who are only out for themselves.”
He said it's time for the people of Illinois to take the state back.
"You'd be hard pressed to find a harder worker than Jason Helland," Grundy County Republican chairman said. "I'm confident that he has the talent, energy and know how to be a leader at the state level."
A political newcomer Josh Griffin has also been looking for support to run for the position as a Republican.
Regardless of which candidate wins the primary it may prove a difficult task to win against the incumbent Secretary of State Jesse White who has won five consecutive terms.
Helland said he is running to offer his knowledge, experience, and ability to the state.
"We have record outward migration, a stagnant economy," he said.
He also said White is part of a system in Illinois politicians where corruption is rampant as ever.
Republican Rep. David Welter of the 75th district which includes much of Grundy County where he and Helland met said he believes Helland will make an excellent Secretary of State.
"His years of experience as a prosecutor and his time as states attorney make him uniquely qualified to run the office," Welter said.
Welter, who formerly served as Grundy County chairman, said Helland has always put the community and tax payers first.
Helland said the people in Springfield continue to raise taxes and fees to the people of the state of Illinois and he plans to work hard to improve upon lowering the costs of the office as well as lessening the red tape while serving as Secretary of State.
"He has fought to rid Grundy County of corruption and has made tremendous improvements to the office he currently holds," Welter said. "Jason is just what we need in Springfield, a political outsider with a track record of helping improve local government."
Hansen said Madigan's Chicago democrats have been in control of that office for nearly 20 years now and he thinks Helland would be a positive change to the office.
Helland has been Grundy County States Attorney in Grundy County since 2012 and worked in the Kankakee State's Attorney's office for eight years prior to that.
He was also an adjunct professor at the University of St. Francis in Joliet.
Calls to Republican Grundy County resident and state senator Sue Rezin for comment were not returned