State Senator Tells Delegates to be Bold
by: Elise Fulmer
On Thursday, during training, the Observer had the privilege of talking with and interviewing Illinois Senator Elgie Sims, Jr. He shared aspects of his job, passions, and advice for youth interested in politics.
Senator Sims shared that he was inspired to have a career in politics because he has a “desire to help the public and the community.” Sims continued, saying he started his career in politics by helping with campaigns while he was in college, claiming: “I never expected to run for office. My plan was to be a lawyer. But there were so many needs I saw in our community. It’s one thing to complain, and it’s another thing to be present. It wasn’t good enough for me to just talk about the things that were happening. I had to do something.”
Sims is very passionate about his career and making Illinois a better place for everyone. He shared how important education is to him saying: “I believe education is your passport to success. Education allows you to stretch your mind, stretch your imagination, and allows you to challenge yourself. The more knowledge you have, the more experiences you can be exposed to.”
Sims also serves as the Chair of the Criminal Law Committee. He is very adamant about banning cash bail. He explains: “There are individuals who do bad things, and there are also individuals who do bad things for different reasons.” He believes that getting rid of cash bail will make the community safer. A similar bill was proposed by legislators here at Youth and Government.
Sims, in addition to being a senator, also served as a representative in the state of Illinois. He shares that “it gives me a different flavor for the two chambers, because they are very different. It gives me a unique perspective to understand how people think in different roles and realities.”
