Senate Candidate Walker Promotes Workers’ Rights

FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE APPLAUDS LEDBETTER’S MESSAGE TO JOHN A. LOGAN COLLEGE

RED BUD, IL – Illinois State Senate candidate Jeremy Walker applauded equal pay advocate Lilly Ledbetter’s visit to John A. Logan College yesterday.

Ledbetter’s speech was part of the college’s Constitution Day Celebration with a focus on equal pay for equal work. Although Walker was unable to attend the event, the first-time candidate echoed Ledbetter’s message of promoting workers’ rights in Southern Illinois and pointed to his opponent’s dismal voting record for supporting working families in the district.

“This is about respect for all people and the hard work they do every day,” Walker said. “My opponent has grown out-of-touch with working families here in Southern Illinois. He was one of only six senators who did not support the Illinois Equal Pay Act and he voted against increasing the minimum wage three separate times.”

According to the Illinois AFL-CIO, the fifteen-year incumbent state senator, Dave Luechtefeld, voted against Illinois working families 73 percent of the time. Three years ago, the AFL-CIO rated Luechtefeld as the fourth-worst statewide official (out of 183) for his lack of support or opposition to their job-related policy positions.

“In times like these, every worker is struggling to make sure they can put food on the table and provide for their families,” Walker added. “All work should be valued and equally respected.”

About Jeremy Walker – Jeremy Walker is a first-time candidate for the Illinois State Senate. He is running against fifteen-year incumbent Senator Dave Luechtefeld. Jeremy grew up on his family’s farm in rural Illinois. After graduating from Red Bud High School, Jeremy attended Belleville Area College (now SWIC) where he received his associate’s degree. Jeremy later attended SIU-C and received his bachelor’s degree in political science and minored in agribusiness before receiving his law degree from SIU-C as well. Jeremy lives in Red Bud with his wife, Jennie, and their newborn, Grayson Glenn.