The Illinois Tea Party has announced its first endorsements, which include State Senate candidates Mike Connelly and John Bambenek, State Rep. candidate Danielle Rowe, and State Senator Sam McCann.
Illinois Tea Party's Denise Cattoni said the endorsements are based on the candidates willingness to "help stop wasteful spending, runaway deficits, and ObamaCare at the federal level." The reasoning for each endorsements is as follows:
Michael Connelly, then a newly elected State Representative, was the only elected official invited to speak at the first tea party held in Lisle on April 15, 2009. Denise Cattoni, who organized the event, said, "As more than a thousand concerned citizens drove many miles to our small town, we shared the stories with others who knew our country was on the wrong track with unsustainable spending. With passion in his voice, Mike Connelly spoke of serving his constituents by doing his part in bringing the country back to fiscal sanity and conservatives principles."
Connelly's record in the General Assembly has remained true to those principles, including being the Chief Sponsor of a bill to repeal the Democrats' tax increase, HB175. We have no doubt Mike will continue to fight for Illinois families as State Senator of the 21st District.
Danielle Rowe for State Representative, 52nd District
Danielle Rowe is a conservative leader and tireless tea party activist. Rowe's "Roadmap" of repealing the tax increase, reforming public sector pensions, reducing spending and restoring a climate friendly to small businesses is exactly what our state needs. Not only is Rowe leading by example on pension reform by refusing to accept a legislator pension, she has pledged to introduce legislation to eliminate legislator pensions completely.
"Danielle Rowe is the real tea party conservative running in the 52nd Illinois State Representative race," said Andrew Gasser, an Illinois Tea Party Leader from Fox River Grove. "Danielle is someone who understands what it means to practice fiscal responsibility, constitutional limited government, and free markets here in the 52nd district and in Springfield. Make no mistake, Ms. Rowe is not afraid to take on the special interest groups and is going to make an excellent state representative."
State Senator Sam McCann, 50th District, for Re-Election
Sam McCann was elected to the Senate in a Democratic district in 2010 with the help of the tea party and a strong grassroots campaign. He ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility and he has kept his promises. Senator McCann has been a champion of small business and a consistent voice against wasteful spending in the Senate.
Rhonda Linders, Alton Tea Party Coordinator, said, "We are all being taxed enough already in Illinois. This isn't about Republicans, Democrats or Independents, it's about voting for conservative and constitutional values. We continue to trust Senator McCann to represent us in the Senate."
John Bambenek for State Senator, 52nd District
John Bambenek is a conservative activist and leader who has pushed for fiscal responsibility, budget reform, pension reform and ending corruption. John authored a Constitutional amendment to enact term limits for state legislators, which is critically needed to reform our state. Bambenek recognizes the cause of our budget crisis is politicians continuing to spend money we don't have and he has pledged to only vote for budgets that are balanced.
Diane Benjamin, Regional Coordinator, Illinois Tea Party, said, "We endorse John Bambenek for State Senate because John understands the issues facing Illinois. Unlike most of the Illinois GOP currently holding elected office, John will be a Senator willing to stand for the citizens of Illinois instead of complacently waiting to be in the majority."
