The Privilege of Having Been There: My Eleven Years as an Illinois State Representative

By Jim Sacia

Starting in my first year as a State Representative I wrote an article every week within Illinois' 89th District. It was a great district with roughly 60-40 rural-to-urban making up the 105,000 citizens. My effort with these articles was simply to inform the citizens what was happening politically in their District. I started as a neophyte, and I wanted them to be informed with what I learned from serving. I saw the position as an opportunity to help the citizens of the district. I certainly lean conservative, but my efforts were always to represent the 89th district as best I could without political bias. When I started writing my articles, shortly after being elected in November 2002, I marveled at how well they were received. I was not aware of any representatives or senators who had a weekly column at that time, and I believe that mine were the impetus for several others in years to come. My effort with this book, and by utilizing the articles that I wrote throughout my eleven-year journey as a state representative, will be a "primer" for those wanting to gain knowledge of the position for whatever reason. My hope is also for you to understand why I literally loved my job. Having been an FBI Agent for 28 years prior to becoming a state representative I had always believed that I had had the best job in the world and my book "NOT IN MY WILDEST DREAMS, MEMOIRS OF A VETERAN FBI AGENT" I believe reflects my love for the job. But here I am, arguably loving this job even more than my years as a Special Agent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781736192887

Book preview

CONTENTS

Introduction

1. The Best Job In The World

2. The Need To Keep Constituents Up To Speed

3. How And Why Did I Become A State Representative?

4. So Just What Does A State Representative Do?

5. The Never-Ending Need For Legislation

6. Understanding Motor Fuel Tax Can Be Maddening

7. Our Tenth Special Session Costing You The Taxpayer $16,000 Per Day? Awe The Need For Levity, Welcome Representative Millner

8. The War And Its Toll On All Of Us

9. Sweet Home Chicago And We Wonder Why We Are Broke

10. Why Must It Be Partisan?

11. Great Opportunities Often Get Away

12. Agreeing To Disagree

13. The Importance Of Both Sides Of The Aisle Working Together

14. The Rift Between Chicago And The Rest Of Illinois

15. Funding Our Illinois State Police

16. Understanding Large Dairy Operations

17. Economic Development And Your Job As A Legislator; Get The Facts

18. A Representative’s Job Is To Be There For His Or Her Constituents Regardless Of Party Affiliation

19. The Way Our Citizens See Their Elected Representatives

20. The Importance Of Legislators Life Experience

21. How Foolish We Can Be

22. In Politics Your Words Often Get Twisted

23. Scam Artists

24. Defying The Constitution

25. Constitutional Convention

26. The Cost Of Running For State Representative

27. Passing A New Budget And Understanding Pork Springfield’s Toughest Job

28. The Arrest Of Governor Blagojevich

29. Horse Slaughter & Hsus Challenged By A State Agency

30. President Obama

31. Do Legislators Really Understand Money

32. The Shifting Sands Of Accepting Government Handouts

33. The Appointment Of Roland Burris To Fill President Barack Obama’s U.s. Senate Seat

34. Passing Agreed Bills & Shooting Ourselves In The Foot

35. The Vast Difference In Illinois Legislative Districts

36. Illinois, The Great State Of Socialism

37. The Retirement Of A Great Legislator – Bill Black

38. Prisoners Released And Their Victims

39. Bad Legislation By Any Other Name Is Still Bad Legislation

40. Spending Money We Don’t Have And The Threats That Come Our Way

41. The Continuing Saga Of Thomson Prison

42. Aligning Legislative Districts

43. More On Thomson Prison

44. Spending Money We Don’t Have On Ridiculous Projects

45. Learning From Constituents

46. The Never-Ending Budget Crisis

47. No You Can’t Legislate Morality

48. Never Donate To A Great Cause Until You Know Where The Money Goes

49. The Need To Fairly Address How Welfare Is Distributed

50. When The Governor Calls, You Go And Dedicated People With A Purpose Make Things Happen

51. Illinois Controlled By State Representative Mike Madigan

52. Ways To Fix Illinois’ Financial Crisis

53. Typical Politician Verses Positive Attitude And Approach

54. More On Why Illinois Is So Broke

55. Entrepreneurship Is Alive And Well

56. More On State’s Financial Crisis

57. An Explanation On How A Bill Progresses (Or Doesn’t) Through The System

58. The Fairness (Or Unfairness) Of Life

59. How Fair Is Our System Of Government?

60. Gun Control & Illinois

61. The Cost Of Waste In Illinois Government

62. The Meaning Of Thanksgiving

63. Contentious Bills Do Often Find A Path

64. Why Your State Representative Needs Your Input

65. Worker’s Compensation In Illinois Is An Embarrassment

66. More On A Bill Becoming A Law

67. Susana Mendoza

68. Stupid Studies To Determine A Tremendous Grasp Of The Obvious

69. Misconception Of Combat Vets

70. The Gift Of Traveling Life’s Highway

71. Illinois Corn Or Foreign Oil

72. The Old Union Vs Nonunion Issue

73. Milking The System For Personal Gain

74. No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

75. College Illinois

76. A Christmas Tree Bill – What Does It Mean

77. Illinois – A Tale Of Two Philosophies

78. The System Gets Bilked - Again

79. Ingenuity & Individual Freedom

80. Judging One Another

81. Three 800-Pound Gorillas In The Room

82. Politics & The Environment

83. Heater Bills

84. Free Health Care For Legislators

85. The Power Of Prayer

86. How Our Money Is Spent (Rather Dull But Very Important)

87. Marcy’s Law

88. Roger C. Marquardt – The Greatness Of A Man

89. Corporations Are People

90. Bilking The System

91. The Dignity Of Work

92. Juice On My Face

93. Taking The Hard Votes (Not Present Votes)

94. In Politics If You Disagree You May Be A Liar

95. Veterans You Carry The Title For Eternity

96. The Joy Of Living In A Country Where We Can Openly Share Our Views

97. The Blessings Of A Good Life

98. I Devoted All Of 2002 To Running For My First Term As A State Representative

99. More On Scams

100. My Trophy Wife

101. Education Must Always Be Number 1

102. Bill Gates Rules Of Life: Work For It

103. Concealed Carry And Same Sex Marriage

104. Can I Carry My Pet On My Lap?

105. We Are All In Favor Of Legitimate Welfare

106. Illinois Medicaid & The Rat In The System

107. Marveling At Efforts To Pierce The Veil Of Corporation Protection

108. Understanding Fracking And More On The Power Of Speaker Madigan

109. Our Daily Prayer As The House Comes To Order

110. The Life Of Democracy

111. The Brilliance Of Thomas Jefferson

112. Those Challenging The Brilliance Of Thomas Jefferson And Chastising Me For Quoting Him

113. Forgetting Our Tiny Rural Frontiers – East Dubuque

114. Studying The Lesson Of Race Relations

115. You Cannot Eliminate Poverty By Creating Dependency

116. Political Correctness

117. My Last Hurrah As A State Representative

118. Resigning Midway Through My Sixth Term – The Rest Of The Story

INTRODUCTION

Starting in my first year as a State Representative I wrote an article every week within the 89th District. My District included all or part of the five most northwestern counties of Illinois. It was bordered on the North by Wisconsin, on the West by Iowa, and on the East by Meridian Road in Winnebago County, Illinois. The Southern boundary was more irregular. It was a great district with roughly 60-40 rural-to-urban making up the 105,000 citizens. My effort with these articles was simply to inform the citizens what was happening politically in their District. I started as a neophyte, and I wanted them to be informed with what I learned from serving.

Each of the 118 legislative districts in Illinois was made up of 105,000 citizens when I was first elected in 2002. Multiplying that out gives you the just over 12 million citizens in Illinois.

By law there is redistricting every ten years to deal with the changing population. By the time I retired after eleven years we were closer to 109,000 citizens per district.

There are two representatives for each senatorial district. Accordingly, state senators serve double the citizens as a representative.

I saw the position as an opportunity to help the citizens of the district. I certainly lean conservative, but my efforts were always to represent the 89th district as best I could without political bias.

When I started writing my articles, shortly after being elected in November 2002, I marveled at how well they were received.

I was not aware of any representatives or senators who had a weekly column at that time, and I believe that mine were the impetus for several others in years to come.

My effort with this book, and by utilizing the articles that I wrote throughout my eleven-year journey as a state representative, will be a primer for those wanting to gain knowledge of the position for whatever reason.

My hope is also for you to understand why I literally loved my job.

Having been an FBI Agent for 28 years prior to becoming a state representative I had always believed that I had had the best job in the world and my book NOT IN MY WILDEST DREAMS, MEMOIRS OF A VETERAN FBI AGENT I believe reflects my love for the job.

But here I am, arguably loving this job even more than my years as a Special Agent.

No one can deny the unbelievable sense of accomplishment one feels when they are able to help someone who, in their mind, has exhausted all avenues of obtaining their objective.

I would argue that the position of state representative feels that accomplishment perhaps more than any other. It’s a discussion that could be had between many agencies but for Jim Sacia it was that epitome of a great honor.

Be it saying farewell to a deceased military member at their memorial on the Floor of the House of Representatives, to arguing for a piece of legislative needed in my district for those I represented will never be forgotten. The daily contact with the good folks in my district and being an advocate for them with issues seeming insurmountable to them, was truly the ICING ON THE CAKE.

The position of State Representative in Illinois is considered a part time position. Simply put, NO WAY. Yes, if you are only going to give the position lip service, it possibly will be only part-time and of course you will be voted out after two years.

If you are responsible to your constituents, I submit you will have a long and honorable service.

I firmly believe in term limits; accordingly, I told my constituents my first term that if I was fortunate enough to be reelected, I would serve no more than six terms (twelve years).

I was midway through my sixth tern, my eleventh year, when I resigned. With the benefit of hindsight, I would have served out my full term. I was roundly criticized and rightfully so.

I certainly did not set a precedent, but I did not live up to my obligation of serving out my term. I argued that it was my hope to run for a statewide office (Treasurer), but my republican leader Tom Cross announced he was running for the position shortly after I resigned.

My decision had been made; my paperwork had been submitted and accepted. There was no turning back now.

I’ve gone back through all my articles in an effort to develop a worthwhile book. But how can I talk about gun control in one chapter and truck licensing in Illinois in the next and chastise the Humane Society of the United States in the next. I’m not attempting to follow a pattern. I’m simply sharing the types of points that confront you as a state representative.

It’s an opportunity to share how facts can be spun into questions in order to achieve an objective. Conversely, to share how a questionable issue can be made to appear meritorious. Without doing your research you can be easily bamboozled and really let your constituents down.

Those recollections, along with great memories, create this book. The position was so fulfilling I was often asked how do you like your job? I always answered the same: on a 1 to 10 scale this job is a 26.

I am writing this introduction in 2023, ten years after I left the House of Representatives. Many of the chapters will appear dated. The reality is the information remains very similar.

This is my effort to share with you why that was, THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING BEEN THERE.

Chapter 1

THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD

My eleven years as an Illinois State Representative. I was asked often how I liked my job. As I stated in the introduction, my standard answer, and it never changed, on a scale of one to ten, this job is at least a twenty-six. I meant it sincerely. Reflecting over those years I certainly understand why. Every day, without exception, I had the opportunity to help someone, often many.

When I would arrive at my Freeport Office each morning, Sally Huggins and Barb Falk, my legislative assistants, would have my emails printed and on my desk. I would have been lost without Sally and Barb. They could sift through the volumes that arrived, get rid of the Viagra ads and all those with no meaning or need for response. They were near geniuses at being able to handle every issue that hit our office, either by email, telephone, or personal contact. Realty is that a significant percentage of contacts would only speak directly with The Representative. Sally, Barb, and I agreed that some simply wouldn’t deal with a woman (chauvinism does exist), but in fairness most just felt a need to speak directly with me. After several years Barb moved to the campaign side of my office.

There was always an extensive call list for me to return calls and again, even though Sally had the perfect answer. I wish to speak with the Representative would be honored. We were a great team for my entire tenure of eleven years.

My successor, Brian Stewart, very wisely kept Sally as his legislative assistant as well. Barb was ready to retire and did so.

I couldn’t begin to recall the number of times I alone, or Jenny and I, would be somewhere and someone would thank me for the resolution to their problem. Whatever it may have been, they had called our office and we got it resolved. Very often I wasn’t even aware of the issue but the State Representative Office of Jim Sacia got the credit. Very often, it was me personally who got the credit, and though embarrassingly, I accepted the credit even though truthfully, I didn’t recall it. Even more amazing was the number of times I would have someone say to me something along the lines of "it must be hard to be a republican legislator in a state that is solidly controlled by the democrats. Again, much like getting credit that I didn’t feel I deserved, I recognized early on that my politics mattered very little in helping citizens with their day-to-day problems. Maybe it would be something as simple as the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) was moving an elderly lady’s driveway. Sally or I could call IDOT and work out a reasonable compromise. We were heroes to that lady and her family. Political affiliation was not important in any way.

I always marveled at the fact that every state agency has an 800 number for a citizen to call and resolve an issue with that agency. It never took anyone long to figure out how useless that number really was. I don’t think I ever heard of anyone resolving an issue through one of those numbers.

I truly do applaud state government, in that it has the perfect solution. That solution is the position of State Representative. The word means just that, the person holding that seat or his or her assistant will resolve the issue dealing with state government for you.

It matters not who is in power, each agency is committed to working with their representatives and senators. The sense of personal satisfaction is nearly overwhelming. The issue may seem like no significant matter, but to that person and their family, nothing could have more meaning.

One incident stands out in my mind as so disappointing. One evening at an event I was visiting with a lady about an issue she was dealing with, and I assured her that if she’d call the office tomorrow Sally or I would be able to help her. She was accompanied by her friend who told me that she had had a very serious issue, but she didn’t contact me as she is a democrat. I was totally perplexed, and I told her so. I tried to make it very clear that political affiliation meant nothing. My job as a State Representative was to help my constituents. She was literally dumbfounded and shared with me that her son was incarcerated in Pinckneyville State Penitentiary which is in southern Illinois. She stated that he had been there for the past three years and was facing a ten-year incarceration. The very next day we went to work getting him transferred to Dixon. We were successful. The lady had wanted to ask three years earlier, but she was sure because she was a democrat, we wouldn’t help her. I wrote several weekly articles following that disappointing situation assuring my constituents that our office was there to help any Illinoisan who needed our assistance. Every state representative shares that view.

Chapter 2

THE NEED TO KEEP CONSTITUENTS UP TO SPEED

I gleaned it from General Colin Powell. Under the clear glass covering of his desk, he has a piece of paper reminding him of mandate to himself. I think that is a great idea. So, I copied him. Under the glass top to my desk, I have a piece of paper that simply says, write at least one hour each day.

I’ve violated that many times. Each day, as I sit behind my desk, it stings a little if I don’t comply. It was such a simple thing to do over the three years that it took to write my Memoirs Not in My Wildest Dreams Memoirs of a Veteran FBI Agent now available on all platforms. It wasn’t hard to do throughout my eleven years as an Illinois State Representative as weekly I wrote a column for area news outlets. I continue to write those columns, but I’ve found that area newspapers are not nearly as willing to publish them as when I was the area’s State Representative.

I certainly understand that. A dear friend, the late David Kris Kriskovitch, a fellow FBI Agent back in the day, stated to me several months after his retirement that he became just another guy with his hat in his hand. In other words, his status and the daily love of the job were gone.

I’ve never felt slighted in any way either after retiring from the FBI or from the Illinois General Assembly. What I have found, and it happens often, is people will say Jim we sure miss your articles in the paper.

Granted, I don’t write weekly as I did when I was a State Representative. I always write at least once a month and my area weekly newspapers continue to publish what I write.

In January 2019 I wrote several columns, and they didn’t appear in print I inquired. I was told that the policy is no more than once a month. I’m talking with the editor to see if he will change the policy. He sent me an email stating that was the paper’s policy. It sounded rather final, but I’ll keep trying.

The fact that many of you seem to appreciate what I have to say, whether you agree or not, is all I need to keep putting pen to paper.

Chapter 3

HOW AND WHY DID I BECOME A STATE REPRESENTATIVE?

It was late in 2001. A short two months earlier our great country suffered its worst attack since December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. This time, unlike the winds of war favoring us on that December day in 1941, when certainly there was great tension between Japan and America, we were caught completely flat footed. On September 11, 2001, two hijacked commercial airliners were deliberately flown into arguably the greatest example of American pride, the Twin Towers in New York City. The devastation was beyond comprehension. Synonymously with these two attacks a third hijacked airliner crashed into the ultimate sign of America’s military might, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

A fourth hijacked airliner believed to be headed for our nation’s capital was wrestled back from the hijackers by extremely brave passengers headed by, we believe, Todd Beamer who uttered the now famous line let’s roll and the plane ultimately crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania killing all on board. We will never have details of the struggle aboard that aircraft.

With the brilliance of hindsight, if someone had said on September 10, 2001, that an attack of that magnitude would take place the next day, that person would have at least been secured for observation.

I’m convinced, that in years to come, people will believe that the number for emergency calls 911 will be attributed to that attack. The reality is that that number became universal for emergency in 1968, but I digress. Yes, I, like every freedom loving person, not only in America but around the world was outraged and wanted to help.

By now, I was fifty-seven years old, had had a great career as an FBI Agent and was in the middle of building a farm equipment, truck, and trailer business, NITE (Northern Illinois Tractor and Equipment).

My State Representative was a good friend, David Winters, and I certainly wouldn’t run against him. But wait, it’s a ten-year redistricting and I’m no longer in Dave’s district. I’m now in Ron Lawfer’s district and he is retiring. The stars are starting to line up. On December 21, 2001, the Republican Party of Illinois interviewed the thirteen of us wanting to run for Ron’s upcoming vacancy. They were trying to thin the herd of those running.

To my good fortune, the party decided that I’d have the best chance and they broke tradition and endorsed me, something the party had not previously done for a primary.

I was, to say the least, a little overcome and flattered. Only later did I learn that one of those running like myself was long time good friend, and former Stephenson County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Stewart. Brian and I had worked many cases together during my FBI years and I held him in the highest esteem. Apparently during his interview, Brian told the party, I’ll drop out if you all get behind Sacia. That certainly was not expected, but safe to say, to have a prominent businessman like Brian Stewart behind me made a huge difference.

Brian was, and is, a commanding force in Stephenson County Illinois. Brian was a former Alderman in Freeport, had run for Mayor, and simply put, knew the political process inside and out. For the next eleven months until I was elected as the new State Representative for the 89th District, I’m sure I was in his office at least once a week seeking his knowledge and advice.

Yes, I will always be indebted to Brian for his never-ending support both during my initial run and throughout those eleven years that I held that seat.

Brian, though very busy, also agreed to be my campaign manager. Again, recognize that I am a total neophyte at running for such a significant office.

Another perk that I received was being assigned a Republican Staffer, Rich Bossert. Rich literally moved to the Freeport area to guide and assist me on a daily basis.

I literally stepped away from NITE Equipment and left the day-to-day operation to my amazing wife Jenny and our oldest son Jerry. The two of them with mechanic Ron Huggins and several others kept the ship afloat from then on.

December 22, 2001, the very day after the meeting where I was endorsed, Brian and I met with a very indignant candidate, who shall remain unmentioned by name, but simply put, felt he was the heir apparent to Ron Lawfer for a variety of reasons. As Brian talked with his campaign manager, he, very indignantly, spoke to me. He gave me the finger tap to my chest while stating if you think that a 57-year-old freshman legislator can ever bring anything to Northwest Illinois, you are badly mistaken.

Yes, it angered me, but good sense kept me from cold cocking him. Over the next eleven years, I believe I proved him wrong.

I need to point out, that by endorsing me, the Republican Party offered no money. Providing staffer Rich Bossert gave me the tools I needed to help me raise the money necessary to run a successful campaign. Republican Leadership endorsed me to be their choice. To my good fortune the voters chose me in the March Primary and the battle between me and the son of former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson, Warwick Stevenson (D-Savanna), began.

Thus began my first and safe to say only significant political battle of my life. Yes, I had won a school board race and stayed in place for eight years. I had been appointed to the Winnebago County Board by Chairman Kris Cohn. No, I really hadn’t faced a big challenge politically.

From March to November of 2002 Warwick and I sparred, each doing what we could to convince the voters that we could represent them in the best possible manner. As a novice politician at fifty-eight years of age I faced a significant learning curve. I had to raise as much money as possible. For a thirty-year law enforcement officer that was a significant challenge.

In law enforcement, you never accept money for anything. You also keep your picture out of the paper. Now it’s suddenly Hi, I’m Jim Sacia, can you contribute to my campaign? And, of course, you can take a picture.

Having no money to spend on a campaign, Jenny, my bride of thirty-two years, convinced me to raffle off my Harley Sportster Motorcycle. We did just that and raised $16,000 selling $20.00 tickets.

Warwick and I each spent close to a quarter million dollars for a $50,000 a year job that would last two years. Thanks to my supporters I never spent another dime of my money and Jenny was tickled that I had gotten rid of that damn Harley.

I was having reasonable luck knocking on doors of known supporters and those known to be strong republicans, but, according to Rich, simply put, the $25 to $100 checks just in no way was enough. We had the names of several citizens that we knew could be