Dr. Paul Jacobs Takes Over as 118th District State Representative

SPRINGFIELD – State Representative Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) took the oath of office to serve as the new State Representative of the 118th district on Wednesday. Jacobs was first elected to serve as State Representative in 2020, taking office in 2021.

Rep. Jacobs, who will now represent all of Alexander, Pulaski, and Union Counties and portions of Jackson and Williamson Counties, says he is committed to continue bringing a strong voice demanding conservative governance and a system of checks and balances that will be necessary in the face of a strong shift to the left by Illinois Democrats that control the Governor’s office, all Constitutional state wide offices,

“The people of Southern Illinois will be able to count on me to stand strong against the leftist progressive agenda that I believe is responsible for inflation causing working families pain at the grocery store, gas pump, and in their energy bills,” Jacobs said. “During the lame duck session of the last week of the last General Assembly, I voted against expanding taxpayer funded abortion services, voted against an unconstitutional gun control bill that will make criminals out of law-abiding citizens, and opposed legislation that raises legislator pay while spending hundreds of millions of dollars on pet projects for Democrats. I was elected as a Republican to stand up for the conservative values of the people of Southern Illinois and to serve as a check and balance to the excesses of the Democrats’ super majority. I have a long record of doing just that and will continue to carry those values forward in a new General Assembly. I am looking forward to serving the people of the 118th district with honor and integrity and I am grateful for this opportunity to serve.”

118th District State Representative Paul Jacobs (R-Pomona) was first elected to serve as the 115th district State Representative in 2020. Because of redistricting, Rep. Jacobs is now the elected representative for all of Alexander, Pulaski, and Union Counties and portions of Jackson and Williamson Counties. Rep. Jacobs served in the United States Navy from 1965 to 1971. For the last 41 years, he has practiced optometry in several communities throughout Southern Illinois. Paul and his wife Rhoda opened Von Jakob Vineyard in Alto Pass 22 years ago. They have four grown children and nine grandchildren.  Paul is a lifelong Christian conservative who seeks to bring fiscal responsibility and ethical reform to Springfield. As State Representative, Dr. Jacobs has served on the House Higher Education Appropriations, Health Care Availability and Access, Health Care Licenses, Higher Education, Tourism, and Veterans’ Affairs Committees.

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