The mayor of Harrisburg wants to bring his business leadership experience to Springfield and represent the 59th district in the Illinois Senate.
Dale Fowler officially kicked off his campaign Thursday to run as a Republican against Democratic incumbent Gary Forby.
The Eldorado native says he took control of his family's packing company when he was 18 and has been interested in business ever since. He's also worked for the Secretary of State, Department of Corrections and an area bank.
Because of his business background, Fowler says one of his priorities is helping Illinois reform its poor business climate. He says that hit home recently when a friend told him he's thinking about moving his Saline County business to Kentucky.
"I said why? He said because I can save 7 ½ percent on my bottom line through worker's compensation...7 ½ percent. A lot of companies don't show a 10 percent profit at the end of the year and then to add another 7 ½ percent - on or off that - is tremendous. So I asked (him) I said please hang on, don't do that, don't do this yet. That's exactly what's happening, that's the reason companies are crossing state lines."
Fowler says creating jobs is important, but southern Illinois must start with retaining the jobs it already has.
Fowler says he will conduct a positive campaign.
"What I'm going to do is go out and promote southern Illinois with passion and enthusiasm. I'm going to work hard. You know I've had a great career. I have a great job. I'm the mayor of a city that's creating tremendous, tremendous more traffic flow, tremendously more jobs. You know that's what I want to do throughout southern Illinois."
Fowler says he supports Governor Rauner's reform proposals to improve the business climate in Illinois.
