Will County Gazette

Tom Gilligan says he's groomed himself for this moment.

The Bolingbrook resident recently announced his plans to bring Republican representation to Will County Board District 4 and his overall goal to restore order to state government. As a 12-year veteran of the Army National Guard, he said he knows something about responsibility.

“My skills are designed for county government,” Gilligan told the Will County Gazette.  “I commanded 130 soldiers and was responsible for our budget and logistical effort. I learned to be accountable, learned to make sure every dollar was wisely spent because it was tied to the well-being and safety of the soldiers.”

Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield)

Gilligan is running on a platform of limiting government and reducing the tax burden on all Will County residents.

"In Bolingbrook, the tax burden is too high,” he said. “We also have to learn how to keep projects in line with the costs we’ve allocated for them. That’s a big reason why taxes continue to rise.”

Gilligan, who ran for the same office in 2016, launched his campaign at a $35-per-person ‘Elect a Veteran Fundraiser’ attended by lawmakers David Olsen (R-Downers Grove) and Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield).

He said has been attending county board meetings on a regular basis for the last two years.

“I’ve always found discipline to be a good thing,” Gilligan said. “In government, no one sits down together anymore to talk with one another. Right now, everyone pretty much agrees the problem is, we don’t have enough money, but the sides just can’t bring themselves to work together.”

Gilligan argued that compromise has to be a big part of the county board.

"In the military, everyone has an opinion, and in the end we sit down and come up with a solution that’s for the common good," he said. "That’s what government needs right now.”