Rockford Sun

State Rep. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) has announced his candidacy for Illinois State Senate District 45, after current Sen. Brian Stewart said he will not seek re-election

"Brian Stewart is my mentor and friend, a principled conservative and job creator. Instead of trying to be a career politician, he was a long-time public servant who focused on doing what was right for his constituents. Though we served in different chambers, our values were always aligned. I am proud to have his full support and endorsement of my candidacy in the 45th Senate District," said Chesney.

Chesney has been an advocate for local control in schools, sponsoring a bill that would give school boards the authority to determine when students and staff should be required to wear masks in schools.

"I don't believe that my local administrators are less qualified to make decisions about their students and their classrooms than the Chicago-based Superintendent of Schools for Illinois," Chesney said in a press release.

The aim of House Bill 4131 is to establish that only a school board or governing board at a public or nonpublic school has the power to determine, in consultation with the local health department, if and when to implement mask-wearing mandates for school staff, students, and visitors after the governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency related to COVID-19.

Chesney said, "I do not believe that IDPH knows more about proper mitigation protocols for local locations than the local health administrators who work and live here. We pay these people to apply their hard-earned first-hand knowledge to benefit our community and not to simply follow orders from bureaucrats outside our communities."

Chesney says that he hopes this bill is taken under consideration when the General Assembly reconvenes later this month.

Chesney has represented the 89th District since Dec. 5, 2018.

In June, Chesney filed legislation to keep the legislature from working and passing bills between midnight and 6 a.m. without the consent of the minority party's leader.