Rockford Sun

Republican state House candidate Kathie Hansen fears Illinois residents – including high school and middle school student-athletes – are being forced to pay a heavy price for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s tyrannical nature.

“With him everything is about control and he doesn’t care who it impacts as long as he gets his way,” Hansen told the Rockford Sun. “That’s the Springfield we live in under J.B. Pritzker.”

Hansen points to the growing debate over the governor’s decision not to allow most student-athletes to compete this fall over concerns about COVID-19. Pritzker recently doubled down on his decision, prompting parents, coaches and students alike to take to the streets in protest in hopes of persuading him to reconsider.

“Our kids need to be back and school and we need to working to make life for them as normal as we can,” added Hansen, who is now running against Democrat Maurice West Jr. in the 67th District. “Right now, there are no winners.”

The Illinois High School Association fired off a letter to Pritzker requesting that they be allowed “to resume control over determining the resumption of sports and activities.” Currently, the two sides are allowing teams across the state to practice this month under specific COVID-19 guidelines. Chicago Public Schools are not a part of that agreement, however, and some fear even if the governor were to change his mind they still may not be able to start play in time for the fall.

When it comes to Pritzker, Hansen said she wonders how much of his disconnect stems from him not being able to relate to how many kids stand to lose out on things like college scholarships and other opportunities from not being able to play.

“He simply can’t relate,” she said. “He’s never had to worry about anything like that a day in his life.”