Chambana Sun

Danville resident Jacob Lane, a veteran of political campaigns and current Newsmax contributor, is considering for 104th House District.

“It’ll be an open seat because Mike Maron, who’s the current occupant of the seat, is retiring,” Lane told the Chambana Sun.

“It’s traditionally been a Republican seat. The Dems did a number to it in redistricting. So it’s going to be a slog. But the opportunity to go down to Springfield and promote limited government and make the state a little bit better place so the exodus of people outside of the state doesn’t continue – I’m all for that.”

“I think I would bring a lot to the caucus. I’m originally from the area. I was born and raised in Danville, but I worked for several years in D.C. for various nonprofits. Impacts some pretty big ones. In terms of going down to Springfield, I bring with me not only connections to folks outside of the state that I think could be helpful for the caucus. But I bring a different way of thinking. I also see too I’m only 35 and the majority of people in Springfield are much older than I am. So I bring much I don’t want to say a youthful perspective, but I bring a I bring a much different perspective to the caucus. So, and the other thing, too, is I’m not afraid. Look, you have to be honest with yourself going down there as a conservative Republican dealing with a supermajority in that chamber, you’re not going to make change overnight. So I don’t for one minute think that one person going down there is going to make a whole hill of beans of nothing but the one thing about me is, is that I don’t shut up, that there are so many issues going on in Illinois right now that they need to be exposed. And I’m not afraid to do that.”

Lane said he cut his political teeth working in Indiana which has a similar make-up to Illinois but completely different public policy outcomes.

“It’s similar in it’s economy, right?” he said. “It’s the economy, stupid. When you you compare the two states, Illinois and Indiana were similar in so many aspects in terms of climate, in terms of geography but one state attracts industry, attracts businesses and attracts folks and the other doesn’t.”

“And there’s a clear reason for that. It’s because the economic climate in a state like Indiana is just so much better than Illinois. Why would a business locate in Illinois right now? We have excessive regulations. We have excessive taxes. We’re one of the highest tax states in the nation to live in. So, we’re not really giving people a reason to come here. And then the legislator goes out and they pass the Safe-T Act that just went into effect because it has been on appeal. You’re not giving people a reason. First off, your taxes and now people don’t even feel safe to live here. You have to give people a reason to come here. And unfortunately, the Four Seasons just doesn’t do it. You have to make people’s lives a little bit easier. But unfortunately, we’re not doing that right now.”

As a contributor to Newsmax, Lane recently criticized Illinois’ SAFE-T Act, criticizing the law for creating ambiguity and potentially prioritizing the rights of the criminally accused over public safety concerns.

He highlighted concerns from law enforcement and suggested that the act may lead to a host of challenges and uncertainties, likening the situation to the dystopian thriller “The Purge.”

Lane ran for Danville mayor last year but was mysteriously stricken from the ballot.

Lane later raised issues regarding valid postmarks in municipal elections held earlier this year and overseen by the Danville Election Commission.

His concerns arose in the context of recent changes allowing permanent vote-by-mail in Illinois and ongoing worries about ballot integrity, including issues with mail-in ballots in past elections, Chambana Sun reported.