DeKalb Times

State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) believes the state deserves a treasurer "who's looking out for us" and hopes to be the man to take on the Democratic incumbent Michael Frerichs in the general election this November. 

Demmer took to social media to announce his bid for the state office. 

"Springfield politicians' answer to every problem is higher taxes and more spending. Our hard-working families have had enough! That's why I'm running for state treasurer, I will be a fiscal watchdog to help turn things around and get Illinois back on track," Demmer wrote in a Jan. 11 tweet.

He also shared a two-minute campaign ad in which he called the state's government "broken."

"It's a symptom of the larger issues in Springfield: greed, corruption, and the belief among politicians that it's more important to reward their special-interest allies than to look out for Illinois families," Demmer said in the ad.

Demmer said he's seen too many people leave the state for lower taxes and better opportunities. He also took aim at Frerichs, the man who's held the state Treasurer title since 2015.

"Throughout his 15 years as a Springfield politician, Mike Frerichs continually voted to raise your taxes and now he even wants to tax your retirement," Demmer said in the campaign video. "The state treasurer is supposed to protect our retirement savings not tax them. That's why I'm giving you a choice."

In the video, Demmer also vowed to fight to cut taxes on middle-class Illinoisans, put families first, and help clean up corruption.

Demmer has been a part of the General Assembly for nine years and serves as the director of strategic planning at Katherine Shaw Bethea Hospital in Dixon. Before that he was also a member of the Lee County Board.

In November, Demmer proposed tax credits to reduce the impacts of inflation on Illinois families, the Illinois Valley Times reported.