DIXON, Ill. — The video attached originally aired on Feb. 22.
Illinois State Sen. Win Stoller (R - Germantown Hills) announced he wouldn't be running for reelection in August, leaving the seat open for the coming election.
Three Republican candidates have thrown their hat in the ring for the primary election on March 19.
Li Arellano is a businessman, veteran and the former mayor of Dixon. He ran in 2015 after the discovery of a $54 million embezzlement scheme in the town, the worst municipal fraud in American history. His second term finished last May.
He said he was motivated to run for the state senate by Illinois' increasing deficit.
He also said he'll take the lessons learned from cleaning up Dixon's debt with him to the state senate.
"If we get a stronger budget, and we have more money for early education, more money for mental health, more money for infrastructure, for economic development, that helps the whole state," Arellano said. "A rising tide lifts all ships."
Arellano has been endorsed by Stoller, Senate Republican Duty Leader Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and the Illinois Citizens for Life Pact.
Tim Yager worked in the telecom industry for 20 years before returning to his family's farm in 2014. He's a sixth-generation farmer.
He said he's for gun ownership rights, land ownership rights and local school control.
"I'm for getting solutions for the residents of the 37th district to make their daily lives better, whether it's the economy, or regulations, or schools, those are the things I'm concerned about, and I don't care if they're Republican or Democrat," Yager said.
Yager has been endorsed by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Peoria), State Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria), State Sen. Neil Anderson (R-Moline), State Rep. Dan Swanson (R-Alpha), The Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police.
Chris Bishop is a corporate agriculture representative, former teacher and a member of the Dixon City Council. He said his priority is to make sure rural voices are heard in Springfield, regardless of party affiliation.
"I think that's important no matter what position you're in, you have to listen, right?" Bishop said. "'Cause if you don't listen, you're just going to take things from your point of view."
Bishop continues to coach the high school wrestling team at Dixon Public Schools. He joined Dixon's city council in response to the embezzlement scheme in 2015.
Bishop does not have a publicly available list of endorsements.
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