Power Over the People:

The Political Machine Controlling Northwest Illinois

FREEPORT, IL – November 14, 2025

For years, residents across Northwest Illinois have questioned whether a well-protected political machine quietly decides who is allowed to lead — and who must be shut out.

Now, thanks to newly released 2026 re-election petition filings for State Senator Andrew Chesney, that machine is finally visible in broad daylight.

A Network That Protects Itself — Not the People

State election documents confirm a coordinated effort by currently serving, taxpayer-funded elected officials who circulated petitions for Chesney, ensuring his political security:

Stephenson County Government

Scott Helms — County Board Chairman
Dale Diddens — County Board Member
Larry Jogerst — County Board Member (also the official objector attempting to remove Senate candidate Joshua T. Atkinson from the ballot)
Jazmin Wingert — County Clerk

City of Freeport Leadership

Jodi Miller — Mayor of Freeport (personally collecting signatures for Chesney)
Dovie Anderson — Freeport City Clerk (notarizing petitions during taxpayer-funded hours - Tuesday Sept. 2, 2025)

Regional Officials

LaDon Trost — Jo Daviess County Board Chair
Joseph Heitkamp — Jo Daviess County Board Member
David Soldat — Carroll County Board Member
Michael Wright — Village of Roscoe Trustee
Tony McCombie — Illinois House Minority Leader (with multiple public ethics complaints regarding misuse of office)

Some circulators don’t even live in District 45, adding more questions about ballot integrity and authenticity.

By Joshua T. Atkinson, Republican Candidate for State Senate, IL-45

Did Freeport Leadership Break the Law?

Freeport Codified Ordinance 218 states:

Initiating, circulating, reviewing, or filing any petition on behalf of a candidate is prohibited political activity for public officials on compensated time or using public resources.
— Sections 218.01(n)(8) & 218.02(a)

If city offices, work hours, or public authority were used in these activities…

That would appear to violate Freeport law.

Taxpayers deserve clarity.
They deserve oversight.
They deserve honesty.

The Boldt Connection — When Party Labels Become a Mask

For years, local Democrats have accused party leadership of:

Protecting insiders rather than serving residents
Staying silent during corruption and government failures
Abandoning Democratic values in favor of political convenience

The Highland Community College election proved their concerns: The Stephenson County Democratic Party isn’t incompetent, they are complicit!

The Endorsement That Exposed Everything

Trustee Shawn Boldt received:

Full political backing
Financial support
Mobilized volunteers

from:

Democratic Party Chair Jodi Coss
3rd Vice-Chair Kevin Lamm
NW Illinois Building Trades unions

—even though actual Democratic candidates were on the ballot such as the 2nd Ward Alderwoman Democratic Nominee Suzanne Cook.

Voters were confused then.
They aren’t anymore.

Boldt has since:

Opposed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies at Highland
Circulated petitions for MAGA-aligned Senator Chesney

Now many Democrats believe:

They were not losing elections —
their own leadership was helping them lose.

Atkinson Saw the Truth First

During his Freeport mayoral campaign, Joshua T. Atkinson discovered:

Private meetings between Democratic leadership and Republican officials
Personal alliances hidden behind fake political rivalry
An internal agenda to keep the same people in power regardless of elections

Atkinson confronted them:

“You treat the people of this community the same way the other side does.
You just do it with a smile.”

He then rejected the Stephenson County Democratic Party entirely.

Today, Atkinson says his campaign is about transparency:

“I don’t bow to parties or political machines.
As your next Illinois State Senator, my duty is to bow to — and serve — the people of Northwest Illinois.”
— Joshua T. Atkinson

Thousands now agree.

The Church Enters the Political Battlefield

Pastor Steve Cassell of Beloved Church in Lena also circulated Chesney petitions.

IRS rules for 501(c)(3) nonprofit churches are explicit:

They cannot directly or indirectly participate in political campaigns.

Whether ministry influence was used remains unclear — and must be reviewed.

Election-Disruption Group Involvement

Public records show circulator Robert Schlichting affiliated with United Sovereign Americans — an organization promoting efforts to overturn U.S. election systems.

Why are they tied to this campaign?
District 45 deserves answers.

The Only Question That Matters

Who are these public officials working for?

The political elite?
or
The people paying their salaries?

Because this coalition looks like:

🔹 Republicans boosting MAGA Extremism
🔹 Democrats boosting Republicans
🔹 Religious power interfering with government
🔹 City + county officials acting as a single operation
🔹 A coordinated effort to block accountability

This is not Left vs. Right.
This is the machine vs. the people.