CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A former state lawmaker and marine is launching his Republican bid for governor on this President’s Day.
Former Waterloo State Senator Paul Schimpf said he’s spent much of his life in service to the people of this country, and he’s running for governor, because people are fleeing Illinois because of corruption, high taxes, and excessive government regulation.
"Today's announcement is not something I have spent my lifetime planning - far from it. Instead, this is a decision I came to over the course of the past year as I watched our state deteriorate," he said.
"My vision for Illinois involved a return to responsible government, safe community, and economic growth through the free market."
The former military lawyer ran for Illinois Attorney General in 2014, but dropped out for lack of money to get his message out. He says that’s not a problem now.
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The Illinois Democratic Party has already reacted to Schimpf’s candidacy, calling him an acolyte of Bruce Rauner and Donald Trump - both disastrous elected officials.
But Schimpf said for too long the state has had governors who are either career politicians or wealthy businessmen. He said he is neither.