Will County Gazette

The Joliet and Plainfield Township Republican Organizations are hosting a meet and greet with gubernatorial candidate Sen. Darren Bailey in Rockdale on Dec. 5.

The meet and greet will take place at Syl’s Restaurant in Rockdale from 7-8:30 p.m. Admission to the event is free. Contact Tim Hendricks at JTROdesk@gmail.com with questions or to RSVP. 

“The Joliet & Plainfield Township Republican Organizations will host Sen. Darren Bailey on Sunday Dec. 5 @ 7 p.m.! Join us for a great evening filled with awesome people…” the Will County Republican Central Committee said in a post to its official Facebook account. 

Bailey discusses his background and issue stances on his official campaign website.

“Today, there is a political class that is ignoring our values and harming American families," Bailey said on the site. "Illinois needs a leader that is one of us.”

Bailey is a third generation farmer who believes in hard work, individual liberty, and social responsibility, according to his campaign. Bailey supports fully reopening schools and the economy, pro-life values and legislation, the Second Amendment, access to quality education, fiscal responsibility, agriculture and government transparency.

According to his campaign's official website, Bailey is from Louisville and values his family life. The Senator continues to operate the Bailey Family Farm, where he grew up, and the farm grows corn, wheat and soybeans. Bailey believes freedom and other American values are threatened by an encroaching government. 

Bailey graduated from North Clay High School and Lake Land College. In 2016 he founded a school of his own, Full Armor Christian Academy. He has also served 17 years on North Clay's board of education, with 12 years as the chair. 

Bailey was originally elected to the state legislature in 2018 with tax cuts as his top priority. The State senator affiliates himself with a variety of organizations including the Louisville Rotary Club, the Illinois Independent Business Federation, the Illinois Wheat Association, the National and State Corn Growers Association, the National and State Soybean Association, the Fellowship of Christian Farmers, the NRA and the Farm Bureau. Bailey has been married to his wife, Cindy, for 35 years and attends Crossroots Church, according to his site.