Good morning and Happy 4th of July.

Many of you already know me, but for those of you that don’t – and for a few that think they do – let me officially introduce myself.

My name is Joshua T. Atkinson.

I’m the guy who launched a campaign a year ago to become the next mayor of Freeport. We all know how that turned out.

I wanted to take a few minutes this morning to talk about who I really am, what I’ve learned, and where we’re going from here.

Let’s start with the basics. I’m a biracial man from Carmel, Indiana, raised by my white grandparents who shaped the man I am today – for better or worse. Those two hardworking, strict people sacrificed so much to teach me that at the end of the day, right is right and wrong is wrong. They always caught me if I fell, but they forced me to man up and succeed on my own.

“Mommy and Daddy aren’t going to do it for you.”

I’ve had an extraordinary 40 years full of ups and downs, triumphs and failures. And if I’m being honest, I’d like to bite the bullet and address the few things my opponents like to say about me:

• No, I don’t run an underground railroad for undocumented immigrants nor have I haven’t adopted any immigrant children or secret love children.

• Over a decade ago, I pled guilty to reckless driving after an engagement party. I also have never killed anyone in a car accident.

• Years ago, I informed an employer about suspected money and drug issues, and they offered me a severance package. I am also not personally or politically connected to anyone suspected of heading or participating in criminal activity such as the illegal drug, firearm and sex trade that has been left unchecked throughout District 45.

I share these things not because I think you care, but because I refuse to let anyone else tell my story. Especially when their accusations seem to be more like self admissions.

Now let’s talk about what really matters.

This past year taught me more than any other in my life. I learned about our community, the systems in place, and honestly – I learned a lot about myself. When someone suggested I run for mayor, I thought about it, poked around, and decided to step up.

Not because I had anything against the current mayor. As far as I knew, she was just trying to do her job.

But then I got involved. I went to the meetings, made phone calls, did the research. And I quickly saw she wasn’t the root of the problem. She was a cheerleader. A patsy. A distraction. A cover for things far more dangerous and sinister.

I discovered things that brought me to tears. Over and over I asked myself:

“How is this happening on a local level? Why has everyone just accepted this stuff? How can these people be so greedy and evil?”

And then it hit me: dig deeper and spread the truth.

That’s why the most effective attack against me was calling me an outsider. Because I asked and answered the questions. I didn’t just accept the lip service. And what I found was that Northwestern Illinois didn’t just become distressed and fall off the map – it was intentionally kept this way. Carefully planned so a select few could reign with little oversight and no outsiders’ eyes.

You might be asking “Where’s the proof?” The funny thing is, I’m nobody special. I just spent the past year focusing on exactly that. Finding it and sharing with anyone that was ready and able to hear it.

I promised from day one that: I would never lie for votes. Everything I’ve spoken or written about has been 100% factual, backed by recorded meetings and FOIA requests. That’s why not one of my statements has been challenged. Instead, they attack my character.

Every rabbit hole I’ve traveled down, ends with the same name: Chesney.

Steven Chesney’s money has built Andy up as some God’s gift to the Republican Party – a party that is supposed to represent small government, efficiency, low taxes, and fiscal responsibility. The problem is Andrew Chesney is not a Republican he’s MAGA. Republican senators don’t stand by, silently while their own backyards collapse:

• Residents in Shannon are scared to drink their water

• People in Freeport walk on slanted sidewalks and pay the same company over and over for the same roads to be “fixed”

• Property taxes from Galena to Roscoe keep rising, not because homes are worth more, but because people are leaving

• Local governments raise taxes with empty promise that are never kept meanwhile our dollars vanish

Hardworking families pay more and get less. Meanwhile, the well-connected good ol’ boys magically pay less and receive more. A real leader and a real Republican wouldn’t be able to make all of this noise about Illinois taxes while supporting local mayors and city officials taxing the hell out of us to cover their fiscal irresponsibility.

Here’s something else I’ve learned: both political parties are working together against the people. Neither are putting the people first. Many of you remember I ran as a Democrat. What you probably don’t know is that two months before that election, I fired the local party. Because I learned that they’re just as bad as the people I was running against. Neither party is committed to serving you. They’re focused on power, donations, and staying relevant. Making back room deals to stay in power to only enrich themselves and their friends.

That’s why I’m here today.

I am officially announcing my candidacy to become your next Illinois State Senator for District 45. And I’m asking for your support to not only get on the Republican primary ballot but to become your Republican nominee.

Why Republican? That’s a fair question. Many of you have seen what I had to say about MAGA Republicans attacking our capital on January 6th. As a navy veteran that fought and stood watch for this country, I continue to stand behind every word I said. I am just adult enough to realize that all Republicans aren’t MAGA, just like all Democrats aren’t snowflakes.

The answer is pretty simple. I want to be the first in the ring against Mr. Chesney. He’s nothing more than an ineffective blowhard with some serious daddy issues – a bully who needs to be taken care of.

Second – it doesn’t matter. Neither party has put the people of District 45 first. They say what you want to hear to take your dollar and your vote, then sit in back rooms making deals. Democrats secretly backing Republicans just to gain access to Rockford union money. Local Republicans raising taxes on the majority to compensate for shady deals benefitting their friends and family. Each side trying to convince us the other is evil.

Here’s the truth:
The real Republicans I know and love aren’t racists and homophobes.
The real Democrats I know aren’t lazy hippies.
They’re people who are tired of the sideshows and ultimately want the same thing – they just need to sit down and figure out how to get there.

But people like Chesney don’t want that. They keep us hating each other, because if we ever talked and God forbid worked together, he and his friends would be run out of town with pitchforks.

Look, I’m not perfect. I’ve never claimed to be. But I care.

And it’s high time District 45 had someone in office who fights more for the advancement and prosperity of each of our communities than checking kids’ genitals.

Because at the end of the day, just like my grandparents taught me:

Right is right. Wrong is wrong.

If you’re ready for real change, visit www.AtkinsonforSenate.com to find out what I will do as your next Senator to address our skyrocketing property taxes, hold local governments accountable, and bring Northwestern Illinois back into a community our kids want to stay in, people want to move to, and businesses want to open in.

Happy Independence Day. Let’s make it count.