Resentment against Cook County has been fomenting in the region for decades, Jersey County Board member EricIvers said. The majority of counties in the state are Republican-leaning, with some — mostly in the Chicagoland area — voting Democrat, he said, adding that it feels "unfair" that a relatively small geographical area is able to make decisions on behalf of the rest of the state.


"We tend to disagree down here with most of the things that Chicago metro like(s)," Ivers said. "We have no say in it because they outvote us.