Jonas Petty to take on Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer in Illinois House primary

August 5, 2017 9

PITTSFIELD (Heartland Newsfeed) — Things are beginning to heat up in the Republican primary against C.D. Davidsmeyer in the 100th District of the Illinois House of Representatives, as Pittsfield businessman Jonas Petty has thrown his name into the ring in next spring’s primary.

pettydavidsmeyer — State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (right) will be facing a primary challenge next spring against Pittsfield businessman Jonas Petty (left) in the 100th District of the Illinois House of Representatives.

Petty, 38, is running to win and looks forward to bringing his conservative values to Springfield. “My values align with my actions,” he stated.

Petty and wife Jane Ann own and operate William Watson Hotel in Pittsfield and three Free Press Coffee House locations in Pittsfield, Mount Sterling and Springfield, where one location is currently open on Toronto Road with another set to open inside a former gas station on the corner of MacArthur Boulevard and South Grand Avenue. The Pettys also own and manage 69 commercial and residential real estate units, including eight residential and commercial units in the capital city.

Petty has a structural engineering degree from Southern Illinois University and previously worked with the Illinois Department of Transportation‘s Bureau of Bridges and Structures for 2 1/2 years.

In 2012, Petty was among people sought for appointment by Republican leaders to fill a vacancy created by former State Representative Jim Watson (R-Jacksonville), who vacated his seat due to becoming executive director of the Illinois Petroleum Council, and he presented himself as someone who would work hard and “get in the weeds on issues.

“You have politicians that absorb the talking points and go out and distribute those to their constituents, but then you have those guys and girls that work really hard to genuinely understand the issue,” Petty said, “and they’re the ones that end up with the voice.”

Citing Davidsmeyer crossing party lines to vote for budget and related tax hikes, Petty stated, “I don’t believe you can call yourself a conservative and vote for a tax hike with no reform.” A later response from Davidsmeyer fires back: “To say you’re a conservative and then stand by and not pay your bills is not a good thing either.” Davidsmeyer noted when he voted for the budget, it included an increase in the income tax on individuals from 3.75% to 4.95% and an increase in the income tax on businesses and corporations from 5.25% to 7%, that he was worried the state backlog of bills could grow from what was about $15 billion to $25 billion in addition to a potential state bond-rating downgrade to junk status, which Moody’s said was going to happen anyway based on the debt alone, regardless of a budget passage.

Davidsmeyer added that he voted against the veto override as a result of many conversations with constituents and agreed there was a need to spending reform to truly fix the state of Illinois.

Petty said this decision to run is entirely his own and will only accept contributions from individuals for his campaign.

On the issues, Petty holds a strong pro-life stance on abortion and a strong believer in the Second Amendment, citing that “personal accountability is first and foremost.”

“When it comes to the nitty gritty of talking about whether a gun should have 64 rounds or 120 rounds, I think the most important issue is what can I do to … stop that gun from being in the wrong hands,” he said, “and what can I do to give that person the desire to not do harm with a gun.”

A representative for the Illinois Republican Party, Aaron DeGroot, said the party is not involved with Petty’s campaign.

The 100th District includes all of Calhoun, Greene, Morgan, Pike, and Scott Counties, a portion of southwest Sangamon County, and parts of Jersey, Macoupin and Madison counties.

Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.