Lake County Gazette

Deerfield attorney Bob Morgan sees himself as the change Illinois desperately needs.

“Springfield is broken, and we need new leaders to tackle the extraordinary challenges,” Morgan told the Lake County Gazette after announcing his plan to challenge Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood) for an Illinois House seat in 2018. "The 58th District needs leadership that will stand up for its progressive values and push for solutions to the crisis that is gripping our state.”

Running as a Democrat, Morgan enters the race intent on advancing an agenda of giving voice to those he sees as being ignored and mistreated.

Bob Morgan

“We need to break through the gridlock threatening our schools, social services and health care,” he said. “That means ending this charade the governor is playing (by) demanding reforms that are not part of the budget process – and won't save any money – and those that are assisting him by failing to come up with real solutions.”

While Drury is known in Springfield as one of the few Democratic legislators willing to challenge House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), Illinois Capital reported that Morgan told Drury that he’s “open” to standing with Madigan.

A health care and policy attorney by trade and the first statewide project coordinator of the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, Morgan insists the subject of Madigan never came up during a brief conversation he had with Drury. He said he told Drury, who has said he is considering a gubernatorial run, that he plans to back someone who shares the same progressive platform as he.

Illinois remains mired in dire financial straits after going two years without a balanced budget and seeing its unpaid debts climb into the billions.

“The current leaders cannot be trusted to successfully negotiate an end to this,” Morgan said. “It's up to the rank and file legislators to propose solutions that can pass both chambers over the governor until there is a new chief executive who is willing to work with both sides of the aisle for a solution.”

As for getting a handle on all the overriding debt, Morgan said he has a plan that calls for a united front.

“In the short term, the best thing we can do is stop adding to the mountain of debt caused by failing to pass a budget,” he said. “We have never before been in such a deep financial hole, and we need the leaders in Springfield to stop this dangerous and costly standoff.”