DeKalb Times

Dixon Mayor Liandro “Li” Arenallo supports a plan that would give voters the power to recall elected officials under the right circumstances.

“I think having that ability within certain strict parameters is a good idea,” Dixon told the DeKalb Times. “It stands to help keep politicians honest and gives voters more power. You want to make sure any movement has a big groundswell of support, but once it reaches that level voters should be able to take action.”

While the ability for voters to recall the governor has been on the books now for more than a decade, Dixon reasons all the chaos and corruption now gripping Springfield strongly point to the need for such powers to be extended.

Longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan now finds himself at the center of a still unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme where all the perks were allegedly steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation. At the same time, dissent about Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis is becoming more audible by the day.

“Right now, we’re obviously experiencing several huge crisis across the state,” Arenallo added. “There’s everything from the budget deficit that is affecting services to what’s happening with COVID and the economic crisis brought on by both of those situations. It’s a time where voters definitely need to have more of a voice.”

Put forth by Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) and state Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington), the proposal would require voters from at least 25 counties across the state signing off on a recall petition. In addition, a bipartisan group of current state representatives and senators must also endorse the action.

Finally, to start the recall process against statewide lawmakers, the plan would require signatures from 12% of the voters who cast votes for governor in the prior election. The issue would require the vote of at least 60% of all voters in order for an official to be shown the door via the recall process.