North Cook News

Vince Romano, candidate for Illinois State House in the 16th District, invokes former President Ronald Reagan's "Time for Choosing" speech in a new ad that issues a dire warning for Illinois. 

Released early this month and with nearly 600 views, Romano's two-minute video briefly talks about Illinoisans having the options to go down the same road that people have been put into because of bad policies or move up to a better and brighter road ahead.

"A famous quote from a 'Time for Choosing,'" Romano said. "I tried to help fix Illinois 10 years ago when I ran for state representative. I gave warnings of what would happen in the coming years. And here we are 10 years later and everything held true. And we are in a worse position. I haven’t left yet. Democrats, Independents and Republicans ask me to run again. So I’m here to help save the state, to save our families, to save our future."

Romano encouraged Illinoisans to stay, noting that "We shouldn’t have to leave. We don’t want to leave our families. We don’t want to leave our churches, our synagogues and mosques. We don’t want to leave our local charities that we help with." He also mentioned that friends and supporters shouldn't be left behind and that people should continue enjoying the local hangouts, and even the "jobs that we love, the places we relax at or being able to pay respects to our families that have passed. We don’t want our kids to lose their childhood friends." 

"This has happened to many of us," Romano said. "If we continue down the road we are on and will soon happen to all of us because of the Democrats' stranglehold on the State of Illinois and their negligent policies that have bankrupted our state, our businesses and our families. This is our community, our state. And they continue those same policies that are causing people and businesses to leave. This is beyond a left-to-right issue. It’s up or down now. You either vote to go down the same road we have been or you vote to move up to bigger and better things and help save Illinois.”

Reagan's "Time for Choosing" speech was said in October 1964 during his endorsement of Barry Goldwater for president. Reagan stressed that at the end of the day, politics does not come down to left versus right; rather it comes down to good versus bad. He said the choice was clear between the good and the bad. 

"Well, I would like to suggest there is no such thing as a left or right," Reagan said. "There is only an up or down. The ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order; or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism." 

Romano is calling attention to a group of shady transactions that eventually put $50,000 in the campaign of his opponent, Kevin Olickal, North Cook News reported. These transactions focus on a PAC called 16th District Citizens for Ethical Leadership. Romano had never heard of this PAC before, and when he did some research into it, he found out that it was created this past May. Romano said that the Healthcare Council of Illinois gave 53,550 to the Healthcare Council of Illinois PAC. Then, on the same day, the Healthcare Council of Illinois PAC gave $53,445 to 16th District Citizens for Ethical Leadership. Subsequently, the 16th District Citizens for Ethical Leadership made an in-kind contribution to Olickal for $53,445. This comes as the Healthcare PAC had already given Olickal $29,700. 

"There is coordination here between everyone," Romano said. 

Romano was born and raised in Skokie and has had successful careers in both financial services and real estate. His main campaign issues are opposing the corruption, fraud and waste in Springfield, pension reform, reducing taxes, crime and school choice.

In the late 1990s, Romano began his career in real estate, and he eventually won the title of Top Producers with Prudential Preferred Properties. While working in real estate, he was asked to assist his father in the financial services field. He transitioned to financial services and landed a job at Morgan Stanley as a financial advisor. Now, Romano is partnered with the Romano Group which provides services to retirees. 

Romano has had an interest in politics from a young age because he saw his father and other family members involved in politics and serving the community. Romano opposes career politicians and is tired of the machine in Springfield. He pledges to serve no more than four two-year terms. Romano considers himself "a statesman, not a politician." He added that "If elected, I will not participate in the practice of passing legislation that will continue to enslave voters with your tax dollars." He wants to make Illinois one of the top five places to do business in the country, and he supports doing a forensic audit of the state to find out where exactly all the money is going. He also supports pension reform and parental rights, and he opposes the SAFE-T Act.