North Cook News

Republican candidate for State House District 53 Representative Jack Vrett is running on a platform of public safety.

He criticizes his opponent's record on crime and public safety and believes that "short-sighted policies have created a consequence-free environment." Vrett of Arlington Heights says the SAFE-T Act makes Illinois more dangerous and wants to repeal it; meanwhile, his opponent, Mark Walker, also of Arlington Heights, backs the bill and says those opposing it are "fear-mongering." 

"Public safety was the issue during the Daily Herald debate with my opponent Mark Walker recently," Vrett stated. "I prioritize your family’s safety and strongly oppose the so-called SAFE-T Act passed by my opponent."

Vrett, a former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting crimes knows that this legislation will lead to more crime in the community.

"[B]ecause it makes it effectively impossible for prosecutors to be able to convince a judge that someone should be detained before trial in all but the most extreme of circumstances," he said. "Walker thinks Chicago and our community are safe. He said that people concerned about safety are being overly dramatic and duped by 'scaremongering.' He believes current crime rates in Chicago are acceptable and improving, and he said, 'What’s changed is awareness of crime.' I think my opponent is desperately out of touch and completely ignores the human side of our public safety crisis. He says everything is fine. But those of us out in our community know it isn’t --whether it is the Ulta Beauty salon in Arlington Heights where 8 men stormed and violently robbed their shop, or the ring of armed catalytic-converter thieves preying upon our neighborhoods across the northwest suburbs. There couldn’t be a more significant distinction between my opponent and me regarding keeping families safe.”

Vrett is a current labor law attorney running for State House in the 53rd. His billboard on the Jane Addams Tollway states he would vote to recall Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx. He also strongly opposes the SAFE-T Act noting that the "bill changes the standards to make it almost impossible for a prosecutor to actually make the case that a dangerous criminal shouldn't walk the streets." 

Walker dubbed the characterizations of the bill "unbelievable nonsense," according to Daily Herald.  

"The thing is, in fact, the serious crime rate in Chicago was below what it was 10 years ago," Walker said. "Now, no one wants to hear that. But that's the truth. What's changed is awareness of crime." 

Vrett is backing the newly introduced HB5808, which would increase penalties for possessing, manufacturing, and delivering the lethal drug fentanyl. It would also create a mandatory minimum sentence for those peddling the drug to young people. Being a former criminal prosecutor, "keeping dangerous drugs off the streets is a public safety priority. This new legislation takes the right approach to tackling this deadly issue by addressing it head-on and ensuring those responsible for drug trafficking are held accountable,” Vrett noted. In 2020, suburban Cook County recorded a 36% increase in opioid-related overdose deaths from 2019, and 83% of those deaths involved fentanyl, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health. In 2021, HB 3447 amended the Criminal Identification Act to decriminalize the possession of up to three grams of fentanyl and other drugs to a misdemeanor. Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel Chris Welch and House District 53 incumbent Rep. Walker co-sponsored the bill. Vrett said that while 3 grams does not sound like a lot, three grams of fentanyl is potent enough to kill thousands of people. Vrett added that we need to find "constructive ways" to cease opioids from coming into our communities.

Last month, Vrett clapped back at Walker after the latter released an ad calling Vrett a "Real threatt." Vrett said in a Facebook video, "My opponent Mark Walker recently released some laughably outrageous attack ads - complete with spelling errors! I thought it best to share a rebuttal to his Foxx-Walker agenda with this video and help cut through the nonsense. We need to put partisanship aside and focus on common-sense, practical solutions for the many challenges that our great state is facing." 9

In the same video, Vrett used the spelling error as a segue to attack Walker for the failing test scores of Illinois students under his leadership. In his campaign, Vrett, an Afghan War veteran, stated that the government's main purpose is to ensure public safety, which he says Mark Walker has failed to do. He vows to support the police, crack down on crime, vote to recall Kim Foxx, vote to repeal the SAFE-T Act, fight against raising taxes, and he opposes pay raises for legislators. Vrett is also criticizing his opponent for voting to double the gas tax in 2019 and for voting to legalize certain the possession of quantities of highly lethal drugs including heroin and fentanyl in HB 3447.

On August 27, 2022, at about 12:55 p.m., Arlington Heights Police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery at the Ulta Beauty store at 13 West Rand Road in Arlington Heights. Police were told that about five male teens and/or adults entered the store and yelled "Get back" and that the robbers were threatening the employees. They took $8,083 worth of products from the store and fled in a blue Hyundai, Cardinal News reported. 

Arlington Heights Police were called to a condo building around 4:30 a.m. on September 24, with a report of a catalytic converter theft in progress. The caller described a Jaguar that had been responsible for other catalytic converter thefts in the area. A chase ensued after the driver saw the police; the car eventually got stuck, and several people fled, but the police arrested Terrell L. Davidson, 29, of Chicago. Police determined the car was stolen, and inside the car, they found nine catalytic converters and three loaded handguns. Davidson was charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, theft over $500, and obstructing a peace officer, according to WGN9.

The newly redrawn 53rd district includes the south side of Arlington Heights, most of Mount Prospect and Rolling Meadows, and some of Des Plaines, Palatine, and Schaumburg.