Rockford Sun

Former Republican state House candidate Kathie Hansen is leery of Democrats all of a sudden joining with Republicans to demand that Gov. J.B. Pritzker explain his handling of COVID-19.

“It’s horrible that anyone would be playing politics about something like this just before an election, but you have to wonder,” Hansen told the Rockford Sun. “It’s kind of like my opponent stepping up to say he will no longer back Mike Madigan as House Speaker a couple weeks before the election.”

Citing rising infection rates, the governor recently moved to reenact COVID-19 restrictions that include banning indoor bar and restaurant service in a flood of counties across the state, quickly raising the ire of many small business owners still reeling from the impact of the governor’s initial shutdown. The new restrictions have also prompted a growing number of lawmakers in Springfield to demand that the governor hold public hearings to justify his actions.

“The governor is being totally unconstitutional,” added Hansen, who lost to incumbent state Rep. Maurice West Jr. in the 67th District by a count of 19,384 votes (66.5%) to 9.762 (33.5%). “I actually think he thinks he’s an emperor instead of just an elected official.”

Hansen said she’s not surprised to see more state residents finally try to strike back.

“I’m pleased that they’re finally standing up for their rights,” she said. “This is about survival; this is about people trying to do all they can to save their businesses and their livelihoods. We’re talking about many people that have worked all their lives to build these businesses up only to have them put in jeopardy almost overnight.”

Hansen said she often wonders how much of that the governor takes into consideration in making all his costly decisions.

“It doesn’t seem like he’s considered them at all,” she said. “These people aren’t rich like the governor. For many of them, to have to close their doors again likely means having to close forever.”