Gubernatorial Candidate Sheriff James Mendrick visits Marshall

His experiences include 6 years specializing in financial investigations of multi-millionaire embezzlement and drug cartel money laundering; 3 years as accreditation manager; and for 12 years, he has run an $80 million budget, overseeing 504 employees, 300 contractors, managing contracts and arbitrating awards and has never gone over budget.

Mendrick also specified that he views himself as an elected official, not a politician.

Roads, Infrastructure, and State Spending

Mr. Mendrick also addressed road funding and infrastructure, focusing on the Illinois Motor Fuel Tax. He stated that the tax was originally structured so that approximately 10 percent of income tax revenue supported road systems and infrastructure. Over time, that amount has been reduced to roughly 6 percent, a level he said Governor J.B. Pritzker has proposed to freeze.

He referenced a 2016 constitutional amendment stating that motor fuel tax revenues are to be used exclusively for roads and “cannot be diverted.” Mendrick emphasized the legal significance of the word diverted, noting that while the amendment restricts the use of principal funds, it does not explicitly prohibit the state from sweeping interest earned on those funds.

Mendrick said he was surprised to learn that approximately four months ago the state transferred an estimated $308 million in interest generated by the motor fuel tax fund. He added that interest continues to accrue only while the principal remains unspent.

Mendrick claimed that state funds are being used to cover costs associated with undocumented immigrants, including healthcare and education expenses. He said this has placed additional strain on school systems, particularly due to the need for specialized language instruction.

“That’s the number one problem that is sucking in all of our resources and contributing to a very large portion of crime,” Mendrick said. “As the sheriff of the second largest county, I can tell you that the crime is getting nuts.”

Crime, Cartels, and Immigration

Mendrick said his office is currently investigating a triple homicide involving a five-year-old child and the child’s parents, which he described as connected to a Russian drug cartel. He also referenced Mexican cartels involved in heroin trafficking, Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization linked to fentanyl distribution, and Chinese criminal organizations engaged in money laundering and information-technology-related crimes.

He reported what he described as a significant influx of Haitian, Russian, and Chinese populations concentrated in DuPage, Lake, and Kendall counties.

Foreign Ownership and National Security

Turning to foreign ownership of land, Mendrick said he is alarmed by the number of pig farms and other agricultural properties owned by foreign companies.

He stated that he is not afraid to “steal a good idea,” referencing Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who used eminent domain to seize properties owned by Chinese companies. Mendrick argued that companies tied to nations considered adversarial should not be permitted to own land in the United States.

“We cannot have foreign interests running the United States,” he said.

Energy Policy and Renewable Concerns

Mendrick also criticized long-term solar panel leasing agreements, which he said can restrict property owners’ rights for 20 to 30 years. He argued that agricultural production of corn and soybeans for biofuel offers better economic returns than solar installations.

He stated that solar and wind energy account for approximately three percent of Illinois’ energy production and argued that regulations prevent the state from fully utilizing its own natural resources, forcing Illinois to import energy at higher costs.

Mendrick cited a solar field in Maroa that he said was damaged by severe weather, claiming the contract did not include provisions requiring maintenance or repair. He also raised safety concerns related to rooftop solar installations, stating that firefighters are unable to ventilate roofs with solar panels and that solar installations may void roofing warranties.

He added that many solar companies operate briefly before dissolving, which he said leaves property owners without legal recourse.

Sanctuary Policies and Emergency Services

Mendrick criticized Illinois’ designation as a sanctuary state, citing what he described as $1.6 billion in uncollected service fees due to policies requiring treatment regardless of ability to pay. He said that approximately 80 percent of emergency room visits are non-emergent, which he argued bypasses the appointment system and reduces the availability of hospital beds.

He also stated that ambulance transports, which he said once cost approximately $400, now cost closer to $1,400 due to misuse of emergency services.

Crime and the SAFE-T Act

Mendrick addressed criminal justice policy, focusing on the SAFE-T Act. He argued that certain drug-related offenses are not treated as threats to public safety under the law.

He stated that approximately 80 percent of individuals arrested are under the influence of drugs and claimed that roughly half of those are self-medicating.

Mendrick argued that criminals are exploiting the law, claiming that unless someone is shot, offenders expect to be released. He also stated that gun-related intimidation has increased, asserting that criminals assume victims are unlikely to be armed.

“I do not believe that a piece of plastic called a FOID card gives you the right to bear arms,” Mendrick said.

He noted that he is working with a coalition of gun manufacturers in Aurora on the creation of a Second Amendment Citizens Advisory Board and suggested the formation of a similar Agricultural Advisory Board.

Closing Remarks

Mendrick concluded by summarizing his campaign message with the slogan:

“Make Illinois Safe Again. Make Crime Illegal Again. And I’ll be the first governor coming out of a jail, not going into one.”