Metro East Sun

Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton, who is vying for the 56th Senate District seat, said he has sat back like so many others believing the chaos in Springfield would work out. 

However, it hasn’t, according to the third-party candidate, who said in a recent Belleville-News Democrat video report that self-serving politicians have put the state in some of the worst pension deficits in the nation. 

“They have raised income taxes without balancing the budget and are raising interest penalties on nearly $15 billion in unpaid bills,” Patton said in the video.

Illinois State House Speaker Mike Madigan

He said legislative bodies across the nation that see similar challenges work together; however, that's not the case in Illinois. 

“Not in Springfield, where the powerful elite manipulates the broken system for their personal gain,” Patton said.

His 24 years of experience as a business owner and community servant make him an ideal candidate, according to Patton. 

“And as a mayor of a progressively growing community, (I) would be helpful in turning this around,” he said.

Patton insists his resolve has never been stronger since standing up to Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), who has attempted to keep him from running as the Republican Senate candidate for his district because he signed a re-election petition for Rep. Katie Stuart, an Edwardsville Democrat, which is against campaign rules.

Because of that, Patton started Downstate United, a new party, which he promises will bring back accountability to Springfield.