By Adam Studzinski
WASHINGTON – Some local Republicans were in Washington D.C. Friday for Donald Trump’s inauguration as president.
McLean County Board member and GOP chairman Chuck Erickson said he appreciated Trump’s remarks that the ‘establishment’ wasn’t going to rule any more.
“I think him saying that was him saying, essentially, that ‘Hey, I know I just got elected, but I’m not gonna to become one of them. I’m gonna remember who sent me there,'” said Erickson. “So I was very happy about it.”
Erickson said if Trump doesn’t do what he’s said he’ll do, Americans have a choice in four years.
“In the more immediate term, if he’s not doing he said he would do, you have a choice in two years to elect people that have a different agenda,” he said.
Erickson added the crowd was respectful and while there was some protesters, there were no disruptions.
Meanwhile, vice chair for the McLean County GOP and co-coordinator of the Trump campaign in Illinois, Jim “Woody” Woodard, explained he looks forward to saying goodbye to self-serving politicians.
“I challenge anyone to admit that they don’t feel like government doesn’t have their best interests at heart when they spend money so foolishly,” said Woodard.
Woodard noted there were some protesters standing near him during the inauguration, but they were shooed out quickly.
“Being there live I thought to myself ‘how did they get as close as I am?’ and they’re protesters,” said Woodard. “That’s the only protesting I saw.”
Despite protesters, Woodard said it was quite a feeling to be part of history in the making.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].
