Murphysboro….State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) won re-election to her seat in the Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday, with returns showing Bryant cruising to a comfortable double digit victory. Bryant spent Election evening at the Murphysboro Elks, where she thanked her supporters and congratulated her opponent on a hard fought race.

“This has been a long and tough campaign,” Bryant said. “But tonight, I am proud to announce that with your support I will once again have the honor of Representing your interests in Springfield. I want to congratulate Marsha on a hard fought battle, and I want to ensure you all that in Springfield I vote my district and will continue to do so.”

Throughout the campaign, Bryant picked up key endorsements that helped build coalitions across the district. First, it was Congressman Mike Bost, who handily won his race for Congress and then it was the Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR, the National Rifle Association, the Illinois State Rifle Association, and the Illinois Federation for Right to Life and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police.

“I want to thank Congressman Bost for stepping out to endorse me in my campaign,” Bryant said. “He earned a huge victory tonight. I am also proud to have earned the endorsements of members of the agriculture, law enforcement, pro-life, pro 2nd Amendment, pro gun rights, business, and labor communities. I look forward to continuing to represent the best interests of Southern Illinois in Springfield.”

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Highlights of Terri Bryant’s first term:

• As a Freshman in the legislature,Terri Bryant authored six bills that were signed into law, the most of any other Freshman.

• Bryant helped secure the most money for district public schools in seven years.

• Bryant sponsored and passed Molly’s Law to extend the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits and increased penalties for government agencies for failing to release case-related information in a timely manner.

• Bryant was a sponsor of the bill and voted to reopen the Hardin County Work Camp, and most recently secured the reopening of the shuttered Murphysboro Youth Center.

CONGRESSMAN MIKE BOST ENDORSES TERRI BRYANT FOR RE-ELECTION

Carbondale….With just over one month to go before Election Day, State Representative Terri Bryant earned a major endorsement in the race for 115^th district State Representative. Congressman Mike Bost joined Bryant for a Thursday press conference at Com-Pac international in Carbondale to offer his endorsement for Bryant for State Representative.

“It is such an honor to be here with Mike Bost today and to join with friends, family, and supporters of my campaign at one of the great manufacturing operations in the all of Southern Illinois,” Bryant said. “To have Congressman Bost’s endorsement in this race means a great deal. He has been an outstanding representative in Washington, carrying with him the values that hard working Southern Illinois families share.”

Bost served as 115^th State Representative in Springfield until 2015 and endorsed Bryant for the seat he vacated to run for 12^th District US Representative during her 2014 campaign against Bill Kilquist. Bost and Bryant both hail from Murphysboro and both were successful in their 2014 bids. Now as 12^th district Congressman, Bost says he once again believes Bryant is best suited to serve Southern Illinois in Springfield.

“It is my honor today to offer my full endorsement for Terri Bryant for re-election as 115^th district State Representative,” Bost said. “As a resident of Terri’s district, and as a concerned citizen of the State of Illinois, I am proud to say Terri Bryant went to Springfield and got things done under difficult circumstances.”

“Terri Bryant has served with honor and distinction, and she’s accomplished a lot in a short period of time,” Bost continued. “The climate in Springfield is very divided, almost as much as it is in Washington, but Terri passed six bills into law as a Freshman legislator. SIU got $100 million and public schools in her district opened on time and with more money for this school year than any in the past seven years. She already has a long record of success, but Terri Bryant can get a lot more done for a State that has a lot of work to do.”

Bryant and Bost were joined by Com-Pac CEO Greg Sprehe, employees of Com-Pac International, and local government and party officials for the endorsement announcement.

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Murphysboro....First-term State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) received the honor of being named a "Friend of Agriculture" by the Illinois Farm Bureau this week. Representative Bryant was also endorsed for re-election by the Illinois Farm Bureau ACTIVATOR. 

"Agriculture is Illinois' number one industry." Bryant said. "Southern Illinois' farmers grow the food that feeds the world. It is a tremendous honor for me to receive the Friend of Agriculture award and to be endorsed for re-election by the Farm Bureau."

Bryant noted that the 115th district is home to some of the richest farm ground in the entire world, and made special mention of the wide variety of products and services supported by Illinois' agriculture industry. 

"The farmers in my district grow some of the best beans, corn, and wheat in the world," Bryant said. "The climate for grape cultivation in Southern Illinois places us among the number one regions in the entire world for grape growing and wine production. Our wineries win international competitions for their wines. Southern Illinois is blessed with fertile soil and hard-working family farmers. Having the support of the agricultural community means the world to me. I want to thank the Illinois Farm Bureau and all of its members for their continued support."

Representative Bryant was presented the Friend of Agriculture Award during the opening night of the Murphysboro Apple Fest. Jackson County Farm Bureau Manager Jessica Grammer was on hand to present Representative Bryant with the award. 

2016 Friend of Agriculture Award Presented to State Representative Terri Bryant 

Wow, what a week! This week in review will cover a big recent endorsement, the DuQuoin State Fair Parade, and two major events in Mt. Vernon. Many of you have reached out to the campaign wishing for a yard sign. If you have a sign, great! If you want one, or if you want MORE, please call our campaign office at (618) 204-5686 and a volunteer will deliver it to you!

ABATE Endorsement!

The campaign started out the week by receiving the endorsement from ABATE PAC. I am honored to have the support of motorcycle enthusiasts and activists. A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois, Inc is organized for charitable, educational, civic, benevolent, social, and athletic purposes, including such purposes as the promotion of motorcycle use, acceptance, safety, and enjoyment. Thank you to ABATE PAC for your support!

DUQUOIN STATE FAIR TWILIGHT PARADE - Calling all volunteers and parade walkers! 

Next Friday August 26th, my campaign will be marching in the DuQuoin State Fair Twilight Parade. I would love to have you join us as the campaign season begins in earnest. I will have t shirts and plenty of candy available. If you wish to walk in the parade with us, please check out the details below. For more information please call (618) 204-5686 or email [email protected]. I hope to see you there!

WHAT: DuQuoin State Fair Twilight Parade

WHEN/WHERE: Friday, August 26th - Line up begins at 5:00 PM in the section of town by Banterra Bank and the MotoMart off Rte. 51. in DuQuoin and the Twilight Parade begins at 6:00 PM. 

BIG NEWS IN MT. VERNON THIS WEEK - NEW HIGH SCHOOL RIBBON CUTTING AND DNR GRANTS AWARDED

I was very proud to participate in two very big announcements and ceremonies in the city of Mt. Vernon this week. First, Mayor Mary Jane Chesley and I announced the long-awaited release of critical grant funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. In total, Mt. Vernon will be receiving $1.9 million in grant funding to make improvements to the old Armory Building to make it a multi-use community facility. Another grant will make improvements to existing structures that are part of the city's parks system.

  
It is important to note that these DNR grants can not be used for other purposes such as balancing the budget. I will continue to fight to bring state funding to Southern Illinois to put people to work and improve our communities.

MT. VERNON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL RIBBON CUTTING AND DEDICATION
It was a beautiful morning in Southern Illinois on Friday for the Ribbon Cutting and Dedication of Mt. Vernon's newly built high school. I had an opportunity to tour the new school and was impressed with the size and scope of the project. Students at MVTHS will have access to so many educational and technological tools in a beautiful new facility. Congratulations to the Mt. Vernon Township High School Board, faculty, staff, and members of the community that raised funds, and helped make this tremendous undertaking a success. Below are photos from the event and a picture of the front of the new Mt. Vernon Township High School.

 

Bryant: Molly’s Law Headed to Governor’s Desk

Springfield….An intiative driven by State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) to change the statute of limitations to sue for wrongful death and to add stiffer financial penalties to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act for non-compliance has passed both the House and Senate and now heads to the Governor for his signature. The package of bills deemed by Bryant as “Molly’s Law” cleared a final hurdle on Tuesday evening.

““Today’s unanimous passage of HB 6083 out of the House is a victory for the Young family and I want to thank Molly Young’s father, Mr. Larry Young, and the entire Justice for Molly movement for their support for this bill and for their efforts to lobby their own elected officials to ensure that this bill passed,” Bryant said. “I worked hard to compromise with those that wanted to make some minor changes to this bill in the Senate, and I am very proud to announce it received unanimous support from my House colleagues this evening.

HB 6083 extends the statute of limitations for wrongful death cases to 5 years, instead of 2 as is the current law. Bryant says this change is important for families that are trying to get their day in court.

Earlier this week, the other piece of Molly’s Law, HB 4715, passed the House and moved to the Governor’s desk. That bill increases the maximum fine for public bodies that refuse to turn over documents under the Freedom of Information Act by order of a court to $10,000 and adds a fine of $1000 per day for every day the public agency is not compliant.

Bryant thanked her legislative colleagues, Molly Young’s family, and members of the Justice for Molly movement. Bryant says she plans to lobby the Governor hard to get his signature on the bills very quickly.

“I want to thank my colleagues in the House, and especially Senate Republican Leader Radogno for her leadership and for sponsoring these measures in the Senate,” Bryant said. “After introducing these bills I received multiple requests to make changes and have been up against the House calendar with regard to today being the last scheduled day of session. The members of Justice for Molly, and the family and friends of Molly Young worked tirelessly to promote this bill’s passage and they deserve much credit. I’ll be speaking with the Governor and his staff about signing these bills as quickly as possible.”