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Balkema hopes to bring people back to IL


The new Illinois Senator for the 53rd district, Chris Balkema, speaks at the Pontiac Elks Thursday morning.
The new Illinois Senator for the 53rd district, Chris Balkema, speaks at the Pontiac Elks Thursday morning.

The new State Senator in the 53rd district, Chris Belkema, plans to work to make Illinois better.


He told those attending Thursday’s annual meeting of the Livingston County Soil & Water Conservation District in Pontiac that he hopes to reverse the moving trucks and bring residents back to Illinois.


“We need to preserve the farmland and our agricultural community,” Balkema said.


Balkema said they need to incentivize at the state level and not let neighboring states get all of the jobs.


“Illinois is fifth in the nation in GDP,” Balkema explained. “I think Illinois is ready to grow.”


Balkema spent 31 years working at Caterpillar and plans to retire in April and devote all of his time to serving as state Senator. He has served on his county board for 12 years and as chairman for six.


Balkema replaces Tom Bennett who retired and chose not to run again for the Senate seat in the 53rd.

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