Campton Hills political activist completes 187-mile hike to Springfield
Jim Coxworth endured cold weather, gusty winds, high-traffic roads and plenty of blisters on his 13-day, 187-mile hike from the St. Charles area to Springfield.
He also conducted press interviews. He met Illinois residents who, like him, are tired of political corruption. And he drew attention to his ongoing efforts to effect change in the state legislature.
Coxworth's push for political reform started this year when he founded Illinois Citizen Uprising, a nonpartisan St. Charles organization. On Oct. 11, the Campton Hills resident set out on his solitary trek to the Capitol, hoping to shine a light on two issues in particular: term limits and gerrymandering.
He averaged about 15 miles per day, stopping in towns along the way to talk with community members and spend the night in hotels. His journey ended Tuesday with a news conference at the state capitol.
"We will no longer tolerate inaction," Coxworth said in a prepared statement. "This march is just the beginning of a determined, well-funded effort to take back our state."
A lifelong Illinois resident and a small-business owner for 40 years, Coxworth said his beloved state was once an economic powerhouse that helped kick-start his career as an entrepreneur. Four decades later, he said, Illinois is in "serious trouble," facing piles of debt, high taxes, unfunded pensions and career politicians blocking reforms.
As several other good-government groups and lobbyists have done in recent years, Illinois Citizen Uprising is pushing for two constitutional amendments Coxworth believes will spur change in the state government. The first would set eight-year term limits for all members of the General Assembly. The second would create an independent commission to draw fair legislative maps.
Previous attempts to get those reforms on the ballot have failed in recent years.
He also wants to get rid of longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan, who he says has abused his power and stymied progress.
On his march to Springfield, Coxworth handed out brochures and shared his goals with people he met along the way. Everyone he spoke with seemed to support his efforts, he said.
With word of Illinois Citizen Uprising spreading, Coxworth says the next step is to raise money and get more people on board to pressure legislators into implementing the reforms.
"(The walk) got a lot of attention and a lot of support, and it kind of kicked off our whole movement here," Coxworth said. "Now we want to take it to the next level."