Marron Aide and Former Marine Circulating Petitions in 104
Marguerite Bailey, Rep. Mike Marron’s Legislative Assistant (center) poses with constituents at the Capitol last month. (Photo: Facebook)
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After months of attempting to find a top tier candidate to replace outgoing Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian), it appears two Republicans will attempt to duke it out for the GOP nomination for the Champaign and Vermilion County seat.
Marguerite Bailey, a Legislative Aide for Marron, announced Monday she is circulating petitions for the seat. She previously worked in the Vermilion County Auditor’s office and worked for Marron when he was Vermilion County Board Chairman.
We asked Bailey Monday why she waited nearly four months before announcing she would get in the race. She said it came down to a realization the work Marron was doing on issues like workforce, broadband, mental health, and rural transportation could go by the wayside with a new representative.
“I want to continue what in some ways I have already started in serving the needs of the residents of the 104th District,” she said.
Meanwhile, Brandun Schweizer, a retired Marine recruiter, announced this weekend he was seeking the seat. Schweizer is the brother-in-law of Danville Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr..
“I will bring positive change and meaningful representation to every individual in our community,” Schweizer said in his announcement. “We can build a safe and prosperous state that we an all be proud of.”
Schweizer could not be reached Monday.
Jacob Lane, a political consultant who writes for the right wing Newsmax website, announced Sunday he was abandoning his run for the spot.
House Republicans have worked with a handful of top tier candidates in recent months to land a nominee. We’re told they put the full-court press on Vermilion County Auditor and Vermilion County GOP Chair Erika Ramsey, a young mother, to jump in the race.
Republicans even dispatched former Rep. Avery Bourne, who had a small child while serving in the House, to convince Ramsey to run.
She decided against it.
We’re told the House Republican Organization is planning to stay neutral in the race.