State Representative David Wirsing sponsored a fund raiser to benefit flood victims Saturday night and touched on several other issues, including his efforts to get NIU its own governing board.

Wirsing (R-Sycamore) held the fund raiser in the form of a Country Western Bash on Saturday night at Jonomac Orchard, outside of Malta, in an effort to raise money for flood relief.

“I wanted to take this opportunity on Saturday evening to raise some dollars for the relief effort. I feel it’s the least I can do with all of the long term devastation that the flooding has left here in Illinois,” Wirsing said.

Wirsing, a pork producer in Sycamore serving his first term, also touched on issues confronting NIU by talking about his efforts to get NIU its own governing board. He cosponsored a bill that would have given each state university in Illinois its own governing board.

The bill did not make it to the Senate floor during the last legislative session, but Wirsing plans on initiating further action toward this policy in the next session.

“This is a very positive thing for Northern, from a student aspect. I talked with members of the Student Association about this too, and received positive feedback,” Wirsing said.

“Why shouldn’t Illinois State, Northern and Western have their own governing board? That board would pull members from a variety of areas, from local business, students, faculty, administrators and alumni.”

Wirsing said he also is concerned about primary and secondary education in the state.

“The real hot item is going to be the Chicago school system. They are saying they need $400 million. That’s a part of the public education system that we need to take a look at,” Wirsing said, noting the Chicago school system has a history of not managing their money and the system. “They haven’t been doing their job, just look at the results.”.

“Why should I as a legislator put some more money down that hole, when historically that’s been done before on an ongoing basis,” he said. “If I’m going to vote for more money for the Chicago school system, then I’m going to have to see some real movement on their part.”

Wirsing also said he was against proposals to give Chicago riverboat gambling licenses to fund the beleaguered school system.

“I do not support any more gambling in the state. I think the great state of Illinois has got a whole lot of things within the state, from industrial to manufacturing to business. I think it’s a sad case of affairs that we have to look to gambling as a way, we think, to raise funds for education,” he said.

Wirsing plans to run for re-election next year, and is planning even more changes for the state.

“I like doing this kind of thing. I’m having a great time with this. There are many areas here and throughout the state that need attention, and I had some success this year and plan to do even more in the fall,” Wirsing concluded.

“This is a very positive thing for Northern, from a student aspect. I talked with members of the Student Association about this too, and received positive feedback.”

-David Wirsing

State Representative