Jim Fisher is running is the 91st legislative district and has lived in that district for the past 36 years.
“I live on a small farm outside of Hudson. The way the district was drawn, it’s kind of using some highways as its boundaries. The way they [had drawn the district] I’m in the district, but the town of Hudson is not in the district. I was talking to some people and said, ‘Hey I’ll give it a try.’ I’ve been going out and talking to a lot of people, it’s very interesting the conversations I’ve been having when knocking on doors. I’m very encouraged by it. I’m looking forward to a good race,” said Fisher.
The district is drawn to where it includes downtown Bloomington and downtown Normal. It then goes up 150 to 74. Then 74 over to Morton, but around Morton it doesn’t include the town. Then over into East Peoria and down into Bartonville. It goes up interstate route 39 to El Paso, but then again it gets a tiny little corner of the town. It doesn’t include the whole town. It goes over 24, it goes around Eureka, and it goes around Washington, then over to East Peoria.
Photo courtesy the McLean County Republican website
His Republican challenger is Scott Preston, a Normal Town Councilman.
Fisher said one of the biggest things he thinks is important whether you are a college student, starting a new family, whether you live in the country or small town is… taxes.
“That seems to be what Illinois is known for. Illinois is one of the highest states that people are leaving, because of taxes. Depending on which resource I look at, Illinois is one of the highest taxed states in the country. Even when I’m talking to college students, when they graduate they are going to be paying taxes. It’s important that we do something about the taxes. That’s one of the things I intend to do, trying to put a lid on taxes that Illinois imposes on its people,” said Fisher.
Fisher is running as a Republican.
“I am running as conservative Republican. ‘Conservative,’ to me there are some very important things there, taxes are a big part of that. Pro-life, I believe that life begins at conception. Second amendment, I am pro-second amendment. The things that the state of Illinois does for people that own firearms,” said Fisher. “For example, the FOID card I believe that in itself is an infringement on my second amendment. I shouldn’t have to pay the government, to exercise my second amendment, to own a firearm. That is something I feel is very important on a conservative side. That is something I will try to deal with if voted in.”
Fisher said Normal did increase taxes on residents of Normal.
“Another thing that Scott voted for was increasing the gas tax. When I heard that on the news, guess where I’m buying my gas, I’ll drive all the way to Bloomington if I have to,” said Fisher.
Opposing the increase were council members Kathleen Lorenz, Stan Nord, and Scott Preston. Councilmember Scott Preston, in a 2020 September meeting had stated he has heard from many residents who don’t want a tax increase during a global pandemic and cannot support this Ordinance.
However in 2015, Scott Preston made the motion and voted to charge the first gas tax. He also voted against limiting the town to spend gas tax money only on the roads and bridges. Then he voted to divert gas tax money to build new recreational bike trails instead of fixing roads. Pam’s paragraph at the bottom also states the road fund dollars are being diverted to the trail.
A Fun fact about Fisher is that he shared the same home town as President Ronald Reagan.
“I was born in Dixon. I am a military veteran. I am proud to say that Ronald Reagan was my commander in chief. The four years that I was in active duty, having Ronald Reagan as my commander in chief that gave me pride,” said Fisher.
Fisher is a military veteran who came back to Illinois and bought a small farm in Hudson.
“I worked here, I’ve had a couple jobs indeed in the Bloomington-Normal area. I had two daughters that I raised here. They went through all of the schools here in Hudson then in Normal West. They graduated, went to college, then they moved to Texas. I have two grandchildren, daughters as well. Two granddaughters,” said Fisher
