Jason Plummer feels privileged to be going to Springfield.
“I think the success of the campaign shows that voters are looking for types of reforms and policy positions my team put forth throughout our campaign,” Plummer told Metro East Sun, after beating Democrat Brian Stout in the 54th Senate District.
Plummer won with 70 percent of the vote, filling the seat of state Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon), who did not seek re-election. “My job now is to deliver the voice of the voter to everyone I can in Springfield,” he said
Plummer favors property tax reform and term limit restrictions and has vowed not to take a state pension.
“I don’t think part-time lawmakers should be a [taking] a full-time pension at the expense of taxpayers,” he said. “I know my taking a stance is just a drop in the bucket in terms of addressing the deficit, but hopefully it sends the message to these career politicians that we can and need to be more responsible.”
A senior executive at his family-owned lumber company, Plummer has pledged to focus on workforce development and promoting vocational skills training.
Plummer is thankful to have won despite what he sees as a national trend whereby Republicans were outspent by Democrats.
“Look at the governor’s race,” he said of the Illinois contest with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner losing to Democratic billionaire J.B. Pritzker.
“A lot of people had already predicted a tough race for Rauner, and it didn’t help that he was massively outspent.”
Plummer remains optimistic and hopeful about what he might be able to accomplish.
“Nothing’s changed,” he said. “The job was going to be hard no matter who was in the governor’s mansion because the state is in such a bad spot.”
The 54th District includes Bond, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Madison, Marion, St. Clair and Washington counties.
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