Metro East Sun

St. Clair County Chairman Doug Jameson wants to get his run for state representative on course – literally.

Jameson will host the Friends of Jameson Golf Tournament on Sept. 29 as a fundraiser for his campaign in the 113th District against Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea). He has pledged to use all proceeds to continue spreading his platform message of lower property taxes, workers' compensation reform and more business-friendly policies. 

James announced his candidacy on D-Day in early June and said that things at the state level have only gotten worse in the past three months. 

Doug Jameson

“Since then, we’ve seen income taxes dramatically increased and had a 5-cents gas tax imposed as part of the new state budget and a beverage tax added that everyone just hates,” Jameson told the Metro East Sun. “It’s all given us more momentum in our drive to drive (House Speaker Mike) Madigan from the House. That includes Hoffman, as the assistant majority leader he owns everything that’s passed and is now hurting taxpayers, small-business owners and homeowners.”

Jameson added that the “outrageous” $36 billion spending plan that recently became law is made even more egregious by the fact that none of the added revenue is being used to pay down the state’s massive debt.

“It’s already spent on things like pension liability,” he said. “As for the beverage tax fiasco, that’s gotten he kind of response from taxpayers and the government it deserved for being such a poorly thought-out plan. It’s just another example of government meddling with the free marketplace.”

A retired Army veteran, Jameson has said his discipline as a military man and career in public service make him a natural for the job of state representative.

“We have to do something to break the cycle of families and businesses fleeing Illinois because so much is going wrong,” he said. “And that starts with removing Mike Madigan and Jay Hoffman from power.”

Jameson’s campaign manager, Daniel O’Keefe, said the theme of the golf event will be “flipping nine seats in the House.”

“We’re hoping to see at least that happen,” he said. “Voters can’t keep making the same mistake and expect to see different results.”

The Sept. 29 fundraiser will be held at the Clinton Hills Golf Course in Swansea. Check-in for the $100 per golfer event, which includes breakfast, drinks and lunch, kicks off at 8 a.m. Sponsorships ranging from $100 to $1,000 are also available.