District 102 encompasses parts of Champaign, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie, and Shelby counties. The seat is currently held by Republican Brad Halbrook.
Halbrook was first appointed to the state legislature in 2012, to fill seat vacated mid-term. He did not seek reelection in 2014, but ran and won this seat in 2017. Halbrook is very conservative. You may have encountered him here in Champaign during last year’s town hall with Rodney Davis. He cancelled his appearance at the League of Women Voters of Champaign County Fall 2020 Candidate Forum.
From his election questionnaire with the News-Gazette:
Where I sit on the House floor is known as the “NO” row. My colleagues and I frequently vote against bills that receive strong support from both sides of the aisle.
Esslinger was born in Champaign and raised in Strasburg. He is a graduate of Lincoln Land Community College and the University of Illinois. He is a Democrat and his platform prioritizes the needs of rural Central Illinois, with an emphasis on healthcare.
From his election questionnaire with the News-Gazette:
…I felt a sense of duty to get involved in the political world myself after hearing many of the same themes from people in central Illinois during my work for presidential campaigns: people feel unheard, unseen, and unrepresented by their government, especially in rural America. I can relate to this feeling. I’ve had family members struggle and fall through the cracks in our system, and when I see nothing being done about it, I too felt compelled to make our government answer to the people of Illinois who for too long have been demanding answers.
Photos from (l) Brad Halbrook’s Facebook page, and (r) Mitchell Esslinger 2020’s Facebook page.
