Dupage Policy Journal

State Senate candidate Kathleen Murray is criticizing Illinois’ politicians and the school districts that continue to pursue mask mandates despite a restraining order deeming the practice illegal.

Murray is running against State Sen. Laura Ellman (D-Naperville).

“Democrats have shown their hand as the deep blue states of California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, and Oregon have begun to lift Covid mandates,” Murray told DuPage Policy Journal. “Over the last two years parents and students across the nation wondered when the restrictions would end and we would ‘return to normal.’"

However, Murray said the powers that be continue to move the goal posts on parents refuse to return schools and the rest of society to normal.

“Apparently, after pounding the table to ‘trust the science,’ Covid-mania doesn’t end when we ‘flatten the curve' or ‘reach x percentage of vaccinations,’ but rather, when Democrats approach midterms and face a reckoning at the voting booth,” she said. "Although slower than their coastal peers, Illinois Democrats are apparently getting the message and Governor Pritzker is preparing a statement to relieve Covid restrictions.”

Instead of lending a sympathetic ear to the throngs of parents speaking out, Ellman has been accused of ignoring their concerns.

Murray said the time to act for schools is now.

“In the wake of the recent ruling against unconstitutional mask mandates by Judge Raylene Grischow it is clear that political expediency, not constitutionality or the well-being of students, will ultimately move Illinois’ Democratic leaders and school administrators to lift statewide and district mandates,” Murray said.

In a 30-page judgment  Sangamon County Judge Raylene Grischow said the governor and his agencies were imposing rules on students without their consent.

“Statutory rights have attempted to be bypassed through the issuance of Executive Orders and Emergency Rules … This type of evil is exactly what the law was intended to constrain," she wrote.

Since the verdict, numerous school districts have made masks optional, with some even citing legal opinions that it would be illegal and staff members could be held liable should they continue to enforce the mandates at this time. 

“As school board members and superintendents of districts 203, 202, 87, 41, and 89 wait for cover from Governor Pritzker’s ‘exit’ plan, they fail to find the courage themselves to return discretion and personal autonomy to their students after two years of draconian measures,” Murray said.

Despite the ruling several school district have opted to continue to follow Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mandates.

Some have even adopted their own local rules mandating masks and vaccines.

"It's just a bridge too far for them to act upon the will of the parents, students, and court ruling. Living true to their hall-monitor instincts, they have been quick to accept their petty powers from the state but loathe to relinquish it. Voters of Naperville, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wheaton and Lisle will remember their cowardice at the polls in November,” Murray said. 

The 21st Senate District includes Lombard and Glen Ellyn and parts of Wheaton, Lisle and Naperville.

Murray previously spoke out against Rep. Deb Conroy’s (D-Villa Park) bill that would allow local health department to lock up the unvaccinated.