After working for the Obama campaign and other democratic candidates, a Rock Falls man is knocking on doors to get his own name on the ballot. Sean Sanders is running for state representative in Illinois' 71st district.
WVIK's Michelle O'Neill reports Tuesday was the first day for candidates to circulate nominating petitions for the spring primary election.
Sanders decided to run for office last year, after former State Representative Mike Smiddy lost to republican Tony McCombie, and Donald Trump won the White House.
The democrat's top priority is tax reform. Sanders says for too long, the working and middle classes have borne the brunt of Illinois' flat income tax, and it's failure to generate enough revenue. He's also convinced the lack of funding for education and Illinois' pension problems are the result of failed tax policy.
The Rock Falls democrat also says teachers should be treated as professionals, just like lawyers and doctors. And paying them less will just drive good teachers out of Illinois.
After candidates gather their nominating petitions, they can file them with election authorities the last week of November. The primary election will be held in mid-March.
