Lithuanian World Center in Lemont welcomed Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey

Darren Bailey spoke to the Lithuanian community at the Lithuanian World Center in Lemont on Sunday, October 24.

Photo: Darren Bailey spoke at the Lithuanian World Center in Lemont. Courtesy of Natalia Dagenhart

The popularity of Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey is growing on a daily basis. Why? Because he wants to hear our voices. He wants to hear our concerns about problems and issues in Illinois. He knows how to help us improve our lives. He knows how to fix things in Illinois. He fights for us and for the future of our children. He is one of us. He cares.

People of different nationalities and with different backgrounds who live in Illinois see Darren Bailey as the candidate who is capable of saving our state. People, especially those who came to this country for a better life, are deeply disappointed by what is happening in this state and in this country. They want the right people to be elected. The representatives of the Lithuanian community were happy to invite Darren Bailey to the meet & greet event that took place at the Lithuanian World Center in Lemont on Sunday, October 24.

Today the Chicago area is home for the largest Lithuanian community outside Lithuania, who have dubbed the city as Little Lithuania, and many Lithuanian Americans refer to it as the second capital of Lithuania. The presence of Lithuanians in Chicago and the nearby metropolitan area goes back over a hundred years.

Intelligent and hardworking, Lithuanian Americans love their culture and history and want to pass it to their children born in the United States. They want them to be happy. It’s possible only with one condition - if we are free to make our own choices, if our constitutional rights are protected, and if we create a bright and safe future for our children. Beata Ivanauskiene, an active member of the local Lithuanian community and America loving concerned mother, opened the event.

Photo: Beata Ivanauskiene, an active member of the local Lithuanian community and America loving concerned mother. Courtesy of Darren Bailey (image from Bailey's Facebook page).

“You represent us. I appreciate your actions,” said Beata during her emotional speech that touched everyone. She spoke a lot about her being impressed by Darren Bailey and his stand against our current government. Beata also brought up an interesting point - imagine that we all move to Florida because things are so bad in Illinois. But what will happen if everything falls and Florida will be next? “We passionately support you,” added Beata. “You are our hope being the number one [candidate] whom we trust to represent us.”

Darren Bailey was warmly greeted by the attendees. Currently the Republican member of the Illinois Senate for the 55th district, Bailey is a husband, a father, a grandfather and a proud third-generation farmer. He also has extensive experience with public and private education. Darren served 17 years on the North Clay Unit 25 Board of Education in Louisville. In 2016, along with running the family farm, Darren and his wife Cindy founded Full Armor Christian Academy, a preschool through grade 12 school. For Darren, the future of the Illinois children is the strongest motivation to keep fighting.

During his speech, he underlined the importance of local elected officials, their decisions, and their actions. He recommended people learn about their state representatives, members of school boards and county clerks. It’s important to check their work and actions and to contact state legislators if there are any concerns about controversial bills that can become laws in our state if we don’t step in. Darren also recommended people sign up as election judges and poll watchers. “Get involved locally,” he said.

Photo: Darren Bailey and his wife Cindy standing next to the wall with Darren's signature at the Lithuanian World Center in Lemont. Courtesy of Darren Bailey (image from Bailey's Facebook page).

Darren mentioned the importance of election integrity in our state. It includes annual cleaning of voter rolls, digital tracking of every ballot for individuals, regular audits of the Illinois election system, and mandatory voter ID. He also spoke about the Illinois pension crisis and the massive and constantly growing pension debt.

Photo: Darren Bailey. Courtesy: Natalia Dagenhart

“It takes all of us if we want to change something. We have an amazing opportunity to do something here, in Illinois,” said Darren. Talking about our beautiful Windy City, Darren added: “I am committed to making Chicago the greatest city in the USA.”

At the moment, Darren Bailey is the front-runner among the Republican gubernatorial candidates. If the Illinois Republican Party unites around him and supports him, we will have a Republican governor in 2022. Our state needs a positive change. Illinois needs to be saved. Let’s save it together; and as we see, these representatives of the Lithuanian community choose Darren Bailey. They know what can happen if we don’t vote right. It’s worth listening to them.

Natalia Dagenhart

10/25/2021

This article can also be found here: https://patch.com/illinois/lemont/darren-bailey-spoke-lithuanian-world-center-lemont

Photo: Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, his wife Cindy, and independent journalist Natalia Dagenhart. Courtesy of Darren Bailey (image from Bailey's Facebook page).

Photo: Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, his wife Cindy, Beata Ivanauskiene, an active member of the local Lithuanian community, and Asta Zimkus, Director of the Lithuanian Museum of Art, where the event took place. Courtesy of Darren Bailey (image from Bailey's Facebook page).

Photo: Darren Bailey is leaving his signature at the Lithuanian World Center in Lemont. Courtesy of Darren Bailey (image from Bailey's Facebook page).