Metro East Sun

Doug Jameson would like to see state lawmakers exert more of the force that should be theirs.

“Some executive agency in state government should have a role in monitoring all of this,” Jameson told the Metro East Sun of the sexual assault scandal now paralyzing the Chicago Public School system after a Chicago Tribune investigation found numerous students were sexually preyed upon by school district employees over a prolonged period after at least some of them were only submitted to minimal background checks.

“Legislators have a longtime and ongoing relationship with top CPS brass; as part of that, they should be exercising more diligence in monitoring the way the system operates,” Jameson, a Belleville Republican who is challenging Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) in the 113th District, said. “We should demand a system be put in place to protect children at all cost.”

Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea)

Jameson said ultimately anything short of that breeds the same kind of abusive culture that is now plaguing Springfield, where at least four of Madigan’s close associates have recently been ensnared in an ongoing sexual assault scandal, including his second in command, Rep. Lou Lang (R-Skokie).

“I think children and those within the CPS should have access to something like a hotline where anyone feeling abuse can instantly call and report any complaints they have,” he said.

Jameson added he stands in support of proposals like House Bill 5914 put forth by Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills), which would require the Illinois State Board of Education to “be aware of and monitor, the process of each individual background check” conducted by school districts and also make the act of an authority figure engaging in a sexual relationship with a student a criminal act, regardless of age.

“I’m in favor of anything that stands to do more to improve the lot of those that are being victimized,” Jameson said. “That’s where my focus is and that’s what we all need to be zeroing in on.”