With political season in full swing, it can be difficult to reach out and communicate with voters amid all the sound bites, slogans, and quick-hitting TV ads. I’m glad to have the opportunity to share my thoughts with you in this column.

I’m often asked why I’m running for office. It’s not a hard question to answer. First, I know that if we continue to kick our problems down the road, my generation will end up paying the bills and bearing the burdens.

But more so, I’m running for state representative because I believe in Illinois. Despite all the negativity and cynicism you hear, Illinois has what it takes to deal with the problems at hand. We have a strong agricultural tradition, a well-connected network of roads and railways, great colleges and universities, and hardworking people.