‘Our suburbs have been ignored for too long’: Palatine native saddles up for independent gubernatorial run

It could ultimately prove fitting that Collin Corbett chose to announce the launch of his bid for governor outside the former Arlington Park, the site of many an improbable finish.

The longtime Republican Party political operative filed as an independent candidate Wednesday, saying he has the best chance to beat incumbent Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker.

The 40-year-old Palatine resident stressed what he sees as Illinois' advantages — its workforce, its appeal to employers, its transportation network and its manufacturing base. But he said politics have held the state back.

“It's our broken political system that is making us feel stuck,” he said. “This system is pitting two sides against each other unnecessarily.”

The setting was also personal for Corbett and his family. He and his wife were married in the paddock and had their reception in the Governor's room. His dad was a jockey who raced at Arlington Park. But he also sees it as an opportunity site.

“This was one of the economic engines of this entire region,” he said. “This site does really represent how we feel as Illinoisans. What used to be here was big and beautiful, and now it's just an empty lot.”

He said the land has potential beyond landing a sports team — it would bring economic vitality to the entire region, adding, “Our suburbs have been ignored for too long.”

His agenda includes lowering property taxes, holding state spending in check, bringing down energy prices, reducing health care costs and building new affordable, quality housing. He also cited reforming the Department of Children and Family Services and speeding up improvements to roads and bridges.

The Pritzker campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Republican nominee Darren Bailey’s campaign spokesman Travis Akin said, “Illinois voters aren't interested in a vanity project from a failed political consultant that will only further JB Pritzker's presidential ambitions.”

But Corbett fired back at the Bailey camp.

“The Republican nominee has no chance and is not going to win this race, so we're not taking any votes from him,” he said. “Darren Bailey is actually taking votes from us.”

Corbett said he may be running against a billionaire and a millionaire, but he is neither. Corbett is the founder of the political consulting firm Cor Strategies.

“I'm an everyday person, like the Illinoisans that deserve representation,” he said. “We're still in our starter home. We're facing the same struggles that everyday Illinoisans are facing.”

He talked about easing the effect of unfunded mandates on local governments and raising the amount they receive through the Local Government Distributive Fund, but also wants to tie it to incentives for school districts and local governments to lower property taxes.

His running mate, Carolyn Schofield, has extensive political experience on both the municipal and county levels. She has served on the Crystal Lake City Council and the McHenry County Board. She is currently vice chairwoman on the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning board.

“Our political climate has been overtaken by extreme partisan voices who treat governing like a game with winners and losers,” she said.