Metro East Sun

Jason Madlock has grown tired, and ironically enough, that's given him strength, he says.

“I’m tired of all the corruption, tired of non-caring people having no respect for the citizens they’re supposed to represent, tired of career politicians making their top job getting rich off others' misery,” Madlock told the Metro East Sun. “I’m just tired of seeing people suffer, tired of hearing people in the community complain about taxes being more than their mortgage, tired of hearing people who have paid for their homes now talk about how they can’t afford to pay the taxes. It's time someone stepped up to change things."

With that, the Centreville Township assessor recently launched his campaign to unseat Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) at a spirited rally where he pronounced himself “the voice of the people.”

Jason Madlock

Madlock's father, Gregory Branson, was a longtime campaign manager, and Madlock, 30, said he revels in the idea of following in his footsteps and serving the people of East St. Louis, Centreville, Washington Park and Alorton.

“I can go anywhere, but this is home,” the Cahokia High School grad said. “I am an Illinois resident, and it means everything to me to be able to serve the people of the community where I come from. Politics should not be about what I can get but what I can do for others.”

Madlock plans to focus on a platform of bringing back jobs, lowering property taxes and putting term limits in place, he said.

“I’m tired of no jobs,” he said. “We have land and resources in Illinois to produce jobs. Politicians are being paid, but they don’t have to work anymore. They’re making enough where they don’t have to struggle and don’t know what hard work is. A lot of people feel the same way I feel.”

Madlock said he doesn't think Greenwood takes her position seriously enough.

“Until recently she had three different jobs,” he said. “This is an all or nothing position. You owe that to the people.”

Madlock said he plans to campaign all over the region to make sure people know that he will represent them on a full-time basis.

“I want them to know they have someone that represents them,” he said. “I want them to know their voice will be heard. I give my cell number to people and tell them to call me when they have an issue. There’s no reason an elected official should not be able to be reached by the people they represent.”