Metro East Sun

Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton says Gov. Bruce Rauner has been doing a good overall job of tackling Illinois' problems.

“I do definitely support the approach the governor has taken in trying to fight bad legislation and decades of deficits and overspending in Springfield,” Patton told the Metro East Sun. “I still support Gov. Rauner and what he has done overall to stand up for conservative government in the state of Illinois and trying to avoid the overspending that we have seen continue to come out of Springfield.”

Speaking of Rauner's possible competition, Patton mentioned the potential of a run by Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton).

Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton

“She has the right to run for office, and certainly she will have some support out there,” he said, acknowledging that Rauner has faced some harsh criticism lately, particularly of his signing of HB40, which permits taxpayer-funded abortions during all stages of pregnancy.

“There are a lot of women’s health and overall health things in that bill,” Patton said. “Certainly as a staunch pro-life person, I am not for publically funded abortions, but I think that bill was a little bit more complicated.”

He also noted that challenges within the Republican party are just a part of politics.

“At the end of the day, we need to put our support behind people we may not agree with 100 percent of the time, but if we are in agreement 80, 90 percent of the time, I think that is just life and politics," Patton said. "We don’t always get our way.

“I would expect us to come together after the primary to support the Republican candidate and push that person to victory in November.”

Patton is running against Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton) in the 56th district, which covers O’Fallon, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Wood River, Alton and Godfrey.