RUSHVILLE, Ill. (NEWS3) — In less than 30 days, some Illinois residents will head to the polls to vote in the primary election. Two men are battling in the 93rd district to see who will receive the ballot spot against Republican incumbent State Rep. Norine Hammond in November.
NEWS3 recently talked with both democratic candidates who are trying to campaign hard before the March primary. Scott Stoll explained why he chose to run and why voters should elect him into office.
“I just think everybody has their calling. For me, it was the calling to serve people and help people,” Stoll said.
Helping all people is what 40-year-old Scott Stoll is campaigning on.
“I want to do what’s right for the people,” he said.
Stoll lives Rushville, where he’s an alderman and sits on multiple city and county boards. He also is the chief operating officer for Moreland and Devitt Pharmacy company in Rushville, where he’s worked 11 years.
“For me it’s all about the experience,” he said. “The experience I have, the experience I’m bringing to the table.”
Stoll said he wants people in the 93rd district to know he has the experience to go to bat in Springfield with his 20 years of working in business.
“We want somebody that’s going to take action,” he said. “Somebody that’s going to go out there and be an active participant.”
Stoll said his mind is set on moving the district forward by including everyone, no matter what side of the aisle.
“Do the right thing for all the people,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what your political party is when it comes to the health of the people in your community; when it comes to the housing, and just the good will of people in your community.”
Rushville resident Joe Ackman said it’s time for a change and Stoll is the person he wants in office because he says he knows what it takes to serve communities.
“I think we do need some fresh blood, we need some younger people in office, that have different views or new views or ideas about what the smaller communities are getting involved in,” Ackman said.
Stoll said he’s fighting for a lot of what his opponent cares about, but he says there still are differences that set him apart.
“He’s a working families first candidate, and I wouldn’t say I’m not,” Still said. “I’ve talked through legislation as it relates to pharmacy before, I can’t say that he has.”
Stoll said his priorities are economic development, healthcare and education.
“There are opportunities to increase not only the jobs that we get through industries, but also our businesses in our towns,” Stoll said. “I can’t personally say that Representative Hammond has been active in all of our communities. I think she’s active in the groups she wants to be active in.”
Stoll said his goal is to make life better for all people.
“I want to help people try to get TIF dollars; get grants; improve their communities,” he said. “I can take some of the things I’ve learned along the way and impart that on to these towns.”
Stoll is originally from Durand, Ill., but has lived in Rushville for more than 10 years with his wife and three daughters. He graduated from Rockford University in 2001 with a Bachelor’s degree in business management. He currently is the Second Ward Alderman on the Rushville City Council. Stoll is the founder of the Rushville Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the chamber’s board. He also is also part of the Rushville Coordinating Council Board and Brown/Schuyler County CEO Board of Directors.
Stoll is running against Bushnell native, Emiliano Vera, in the March 17 primary election.
Both candidates will be live in our NEWS3 studio on February 26. The League of Women Voters will host a candidate debate forum at 7 p.m. NEWS3 will carry the forum live that night on our YouTube channel NEWS3 WIU.
