Taxpayer Money Deserves Transparency — Not Backroom Deals

For too long, Illinois has been run like an exclusive club — where political insiders cut deals behind closed doors, handing out taxpayer-funded contracts to their friends, donors, and campaign consultants. No competition. No oversight. No accountability.

Joshua T. Atkinson believes in open government and honest leadership. As a Navy veteran, business developer, and community advocate, he knows how damaging insider politics can be — especially when our roads crumble, services decline, and the same few names keep getting rich on the taxpayers’ dime.

The Problem: A Culture of Corruption

• Millions in taxpayer money are funneled into contracts without competitive bidding

• Political allies of entrenched incumbents get rewarded — not the best contractors or most qualified workers

• Small businesses and union shops get locked out while insiders cash in

• Career politicians like Andrew Chesney talk about “fiscal responsibility,” yet stay silent while their friends benefit from no-bid arrangements

• Communities like Freeport, already labeled “distressed,” see dollars flow out while little improves

This isn’t governance — it’s favoritism. And it’s broken trust with voters across party lines.

Atkinson’s Plan: Sunshine Over Shadow Deals

1. Require Full Transparency on All State Contracts

Joshua will push for legislation mandating online public access to all contract awards, including who got paid, how much, and why.

2. Ban No-Bid Contracts Except in True Emergencies

The only time a contract should skip the bidding process is in an immediate crisis — not because someone has the right last name or campaign donation record.

3. Eliminate Quality-Based Selection (QBS)

Illinois' current "Quality-Based Selection" process allows politically connected firms to secure public contracts based on vague qualifications rather than cost or competition. Joshua will fight to replace QBS with true competitive bidding that prioritizes value, experience, and community benefit — not backroom relationships.

4. Empower Local Businesses and Union Labor

Level the playing field. Atkinson will fight for competitive, merit-based bidding that gives hometown contractors — not out-of-town insiders — a fair shot.

5. Enforce Tougher Oversight

Demand strict audits, conflict-of-interest reviews, and penalties for those who abuse public trust.

A Clear Example: Fehr Graham, Krape Park, and the Chesneys

For years, firms like Fehr Graham have planted their flag across District 45. Town after town hears the same excuse — not just for writing a blank check, but for handing over the checkbook.

Our communities have become reliant on a single engineering firm making millions from state and federal grants. Meanwhile local tax dollars have been spent to design projects that rarely get built. Meanwhile:

• Roads labeled "finished" fall apart in months

• Slanted sidewalks fail ADA standards

• Entire towns fear drinking their tap water

This didn’t happen by accident. It happened by design. And time and again, that design traces back to the Chesney family’s pet projects.

One example? The highly controversial senior housing development being pushed by Steven Chesney—right next to Freeport’s most beloved asset, Krape Park. This project, like many others, has the Fehr Graham name stamped all over it. It’s not just bad planning — it’s cronyism in broad daylight, with political families enriching their friends and themselves at public expense.

Why is one company handed near-total control of public works in our district? It’s simple: political favoritism — and a refusal to challenge the status quo.

A Better Way Forward

This isn’t about partisanship. It’s about fairness, honesty, and smart government.

"This is simple: if you can’t win a job through fair competition, you don’t deserve the job. I don’t care how well-connected you are or what politician you supported. We’re not here to enrich the few — we’re here to serve the many."

— Joshua T. Atkinson

Let’s end the era of backroom deals and bring accountability back to Springfield.

Take Action

• Volunteer to help expose corruption and build honest government

• Donate to power a campaign that puts people over politics

• Talk to your neighbors about the cost of no-bid culture

• Vote for Joshua T. Atkinson in the Republican primary