Chris Bos | File photo
Chris Bos | File photo
Republican state House candidate Chris Bos is convinced Gov. J.B. Pritzker needs an updated job description.
“He keeps trying to govern through dictatorship and not based on his authority as governor,” Bos told the Lake County Gazette. “This continuation of trying to run the state based on fear, intimidation and arrogance instead of with the help of other lawmakers is almost doing more harm than good.”
Bos argues he doesn’t have to look far or wide for examples.
The governor recently advanced a rule that would allow businesses to be fined up to $2,500 for failure to enforce regulations for face coverings and social distancing. As Republicans have quickly voiced their opposition to the proposal, the governor has defended his position by arguing the change will aid law enforcement, local boards of health, school districts and the public in enforcing the use of face coverings and social-gathering restrictions.
“Gov. Pritzker needs to do a better job of allowing representatives to represent the people they were elected to instead of trying to rule everything with iron hand,” added Bos, who is now running against incumbent state Rep. Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville) in the 51st District.
Since the crisis hit, Bos argues many of the governor’s moves and policies have seemingly targeted the small business industry.
“He’s already shut down their businesses and now this move is again showing that he doesn’t care about them,” he said. “They’ve been forced to shut down for months while the likes of the Walmarts of the world have been freely allowed to operate. It just doesn’t seem fair, so many of them are still struggling to keep their doors open and this happens.”
In May, Pritzker tried enacting similar legislation, but withdrew it amid much criticism before a planned Joint Commission on Administrative Rules hearing.
Bos hopes the reaction is the same this time around.
“We need to let legislators legislate and people who know their communities best have a voice instead of having the governor just trying to run everything,” he said.
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