Story by Kevin Woodard
The 91st legislative district is heating up amidst an article published about Preston’s Campaign Treasurer being the treasurer for many other Republican campaigns.
The 91st District of the Illinois House has been redrawn. It covers parts of McLean, Woodford, Tazewell and Peoria counties. The seat is currently held by Republican Mark Luft of Pekin. Luft is not running for reelection.
Normal Town Councilmember Scott Preston, a Republican, announced he is running for the seat in January.
According to his campaign announcement he is running to “prioritize getting our economy back on track, investing in our educational institutions, and defeating efforts to defund or lessen the powers of law enforcement.”
Preston is on the boards of McLean County United Way and the Illinois State University (ISU) Alumni Association. He is the Vice-Chair of the McLean County Republican Party.
Challenging Preston in the Republican Primary is Jim Fisher who announced his candidacy in March. Fisher is a retired farmer and insurance claim representative.
In a phone interview with Cities Fisher said, “I am not going to vote for a tax increase no matter what.”
Fisher added that he will be “trying to find ways to reduce peoples’ taxes.” Fisher is on the McLean County Republican Party Executive Board, is a past member of the Unit 5 School Board and served as a Republican delegate at the 2016 National Republican Convention.
Last week Diane Benjamin published a story regarding the Preston campaign in BLN News. Benjamin wrote regarding her concerns that the IL State Republican Party might have too much influence on Scott Preston. Specifically Benjamin pointed out that Preston’s Campaign Treasurer is the treasurer for many other Republican campaigns.
David Krahn is Treasurer for a long list of GOP candidates.
Benjamin also questioned the accuracy of a mailing that was sent out concerning a reception that is being held for Preston on May 19.
She questioned whether or not the Host Committee members listed on the announcement had given permission for their names to be used on it. In addition Benjamin wrote she supported Fisher.
“Jim is not going to be bought off by the IL GOP for a career. He’s not flashy but he carefully thinks about his words and he is not going to just go along with whatever the GOP wants,” said Benjamin.
Attempts to attain comments from Preston or a member of the May 19 reception Host Committee were not successful.
There is also a contested race in the Democratic Primary for the 91st District seat. McLean County Board member Sharon Chung is running against Artistic Answers owner Karla Bailey-Smith.
