Candidates for Illinois governor talk public safety at separate Tuesday events

A day after Labor Day, gubernatorial candidates Gov. JB Pritzker and GOP challenger Darren Bailey campaigned in downstate Illinois Tuesday to talk public safety.

Bailey, a state senator from Xenia, held a Tuesday afternoon press conference at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield where he again castigated Pritzker for rising crime rates and for "handcuffing" law enforcement in their response.

"We won't have peace in Illinois until we fire JB Pritzker," he said, standing before a backdrop of law enforcement officers.

With nine weeks remaining before the election, Bailey turned attention during much of the press conference to Jan. 1, 2023, when the SAFE-T Act ending cash bail will go into effect.

No cash bail practically already exists in Chicago, Bailey said, a city that has been a major flashpoint of his throughout the campaign. If elected governor, the Republican lawmaker wants to repeal the act as one of his law enforcement priorities.

"When (Cook County State's Attorney) Kim Foxx refuses to prosecute, essentially, no cash bail already exists now," he said, calling her, Pritzker, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot the "three musketeers of crime, chaos, and tragedy."

"When this is released all across the state, the whole state is going to face the same mayhem that Chicago has."

More:Springfield eligible for state funding to confront gun violence

While Bailey has received an endorsement from the Fraternal Order of Police, Pritzker's campaign has previously noted that Bailey voted against the 2023 fiscal budget which included major investments in law enforcement.

Included in that $45.98 billion budget are a $10 million investment in a law enforcement retention grant program and $8 million for equipment replacement.

“Bailey’s refusal to own up to the votes he’s taken against supporting law enforcement, coupled with his lack of real solutions and support for those who rioted on January 6th, shows you exactly the kind of “leader” he is –– one who can’t take accountability, no matter what,” a spokesperson for the campaign said in a released statement.

Responding to questions about his voting record Tuesday, Bailey blamed the bill's amendment process saying the Democrat super-majority General Assembly works into the morning hours before giving candidates very little time to review amended legislation.

Pritzker started his day in East St. Louis announcing a new home for the Illinois State Police Metro East Regional Headquarters -- a 62,500 square foot facility using approximately $55 million of the state's $45 billion Rebuild Illinois capital plan.

The governor's office said the building will be strategically-located to address public safety and to boost business investment in the area.

"It reflects what this region and all of Illinois deserve: communities where public safety works so all of our families can thrive," the governor told the crowd at the Jackie Joyner Kersee Center on Tuesday morning.

Communities like East St. Louis and Springfield also will be beneficiaries of a portion of $100 million in state anti-violence funding Pritzker announced last week. Non-profits and local governments in 16 municipalities with high rates of gun violence can apply for funding part of the Reimagine Public Safety Act.

Over three years, RSPA will dedicate about $240 million to boost youth development and violence prevention throughout the state.

Contact Patrick Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Election nine weeks away: Bailey, Pritzker focus on crime prevention