It‘s the artist vs. the lawman in the Illinois 105th House District race

CENTRAL ILLINOIS ( 25News Now ) - Incumbent State Rep. Dennis Tipsword (R-Metamora) and Democratic Party newcomer Morgan Phillips are competing this fall for the 105th State House District seat that covers many Central Illinois counties.

Phillips is a 25-year-old mural artist from Lostant, in LaSalle County. She served as campaign manager in 2022 for State Rep. Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa) in the 76th District.

"It's good to do lots of things," Phillips said. "It's the same reason that I'm running. Even being an artist, it's that idea that you want to have a wide range of people that you're pulling ideas from."

Phillips wants to concentrate on agricultural issues and getting young people engaged in the process.

"I see, sometimes, people my age feel disappointed in our government and what they've done or haven't done," Phillips said. "If I run, even if I don't win, if other young people in my area see that I'm active and doing something, then maybe that encourages them to also do things themselves, even if it's just voting."

Tipsword is seeking reelection, having also served in law enforcement for 30 years. He is the current Chief Deputy at the Woodford County Sheriff's Office.

"I will state openly, I think we needed to address cash bail," Tipsword said. "I sit on all of the criminal justice committees in Springfield, so I have that voice and all I can do is to continue to advocate and bring facts forward of how it's going, and hopefully persuade my colleagues across the aisle to revisit some of those items."

Tipsword knows how hard it is to get a bill passed with a super-majority on the other side of the aisle. He also takes pride in helping constituents with the problems they encounter on a day-to-day basis.

"I've been a small business owner all my life, an entrepreneur," Tipsword said. "I know what it's like to hire and retain people. I know what it's like to run a business in Illinois, so I think I can speak to those entrepreneurs in the district, and I feel their pain."

Neither candidate had anything negative to say about the other.

The 105th District covers parts of Peoria, Woodford, Tazewell, McLean, Livingston, Marshall, LaSalle, and all of Putnam County.