Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker continued a statewide tour announcing his reelection bid for a third term on Friday 鈥� and pitched Metro East residents on his record of state investments in the region.
Speaking to a crowd at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, the Democratic governor touted his administration鈥檚 funding of a handful of projects:
- New public safety center in East St. Louis.
- Southwestern Illinois Justice & Workforce Development .
- Repairs to Interstate 270 and the in Madison County.
- Terminal expansion at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in St. Clair County.
- Construction of the new Madison County Transit headquarters in Pontoon Beach.
- Expansion of a copper plant in East Alton with state incentives.
- Repairs to Cahokia Heights鈥� decrepit stormwater and sewer system.
鈥淚t's been a lot of years since we've seen this many big projects happening in this region, and I'm so proud of that,鈥� Pritzker said. 鈥淚t's happened because of all of you. You've expressed the need for it. It's been realized and recognized by the people you sent to Springfield, and then we delivered on it. That's how state government ought to work.鈥�
Friday鈥檚 appearance in Belleville marked the governor鈥檚 fifth stop across the state since he announced Thursday that he鈥檇 seek a third term.
鈥淏elleville, SWIC and Metro East, all you who are here today, it would be my honor to serve you for another four years,鈥� the two-term governor said to applause.
After Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton for Sen. Dick Durbin鈥檚 seat, Pritzker has yet to name a running mate for this election cycle, though he鈥檚 said he will make that decision by the end of July.
Pritzker鈥檚 decision to run for a third term comes as many speculate he could have .
The Belleville News-Democrat's Joshua Carter contributed to this report.
