Lake County Gazette

A new ad campaign is encouraging voters to choose political newcomers for the state legislature when they go to the polls for the general election next month.

The ads, paid for by Liberty Principles PAC, feature "Kathleen," a single mother who lives in Illinois, pleading to voters in the state to select Republican candidates to change the power dynamics of the Democrat-controlled General Assembly.

"I'm a single mom of two elementary school children. I grew up in Illinois, I went to college here, I work here, we want to stay here," Kathleen says in one ad version. "It's our home but we can't afford to be here if things don't change. I need affordable schools for my kids and good jobs for them after college. They'll have neither if we don't change state government. We need to send career politicians packing so we can stay."

In another ad Kathleen says, "I teach my two kids to think for themselves, to dream big and to take responsibility for their actions. In Illinois, we adults need to start living the lessons we teach our kids." Kathleen asks why Illinoisans continue to vote for career politicians who are beholden to Chicago bosses.

"Why do we give into the cynicism that there's nothing we can do?" she asks. "There is something we can do. We can send career politicians packing so we can stay."

The ad campaign, which also includes mailers with the same theme, is one of a number of political advertisements paid for this election season by Liberty Principles PAC.

"We launched this campaign as part of our final argument on behalf of the legislative candidates we're supporting because we need to combat the fatalism that is so prevalent in Illinois," Liberty Principles PAC's Chairperson and Treasurer Dan Proft told the Lake County Gazette. "We want voters to stop plotting their exit strategy. We want to remind them that their home is in our great state and all that is required to make Illinois more inhabitable is different policy makers making different policy decisions on the matters that impact our quality of life."

Proft, a conservative radio talk show host, senior fellow at the Chicago-based conservative think tank Illinois Policy Institute and co-founder of the nonprofit Illinois Opportunity Project, said there are solutions to the problems Illinoisans face.

"If we change the balance of power in Springfield and change out sycophants for independent thinkers," Proft said. "People should believe that they are in charge of their destiny, they can improve their lives and that starts with the decisions they make on Nov. 8."

The ad campaign concentrates on the PAC's slate of politicians it has endorsed for this year's election season, particularly a wide field of political newcomers, including Rod Drobinski, Republican candidate for the District 62 state House seat.

Running agains incumbent Democrat Sam Yingling, Drobinski was a Lake County prosecutor for over 14 years, was born to a blue-collar family, attended Notre Dame on a scholarship and obtained his law degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

“As the eldest son of immigrants, I learned that providing a better life for future generations must always be one of our greatest priorities,” Drobinski said. “The state of Illinois needs to re-focus its priorities … in Springfield to protect what we can offer our future generations.” 

Versions of the ads also support Dawn Abernathy, the Republican candidate for state Representative in District 59, running against Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills). Abernathy, a Mundelein village trustee since 2013, supports term limits for all government officials regardless of echelon and recently took a strong position on elected officials’ eligibility for legislative pensions and health care benefits, pledging that, if elected, she would refuse to accept either.

Also supported in the ads, Mike Amrozowicz, Republican candidate for the District 31 State Senate seat, echoed the ads press for change.

“Our campaign continues to gain strength throughout the community,” Amrozowicz told the Lake County Gazette. “This is an anti-incumbent year, and everyone is looking for a change. People are sick and tired of the status quo and the career politicians that have been protecting it for so long. Voters are angry and rightfully so.”

Amrozowicz, of Grayslake, is challenging state Sen. Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake).

Other candidates endorsed by Liberty Principles PAC who are mentioned in the ads include Jerry Long of Streator, who is challenging state Rep. Andy Skoog (D-LaSalle); Heidi Holan of Glen Ellyn, who is challenging state Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park); and Jillian Bernas of Schaumburg, who is challenging state Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg).

Proft is a principal of Local Government Information Services (LGIS), which owns Lake County Gazette.