Chicago City Wire

3rd Congressional District candidate John Booras has sharply criticized the censorship of political advertisements and the decision-making of state leaders, highlighting recent disputes over billboard ads and the effectiveness of current mainstream media.   

Booras' comments come in the wake of controversy surrounding billboards designed to challenge narratives promoted by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. 

The billboards, which include messages such as "Welcome to America's murder capital" and "Welcome to the unemployment capital of the Midwest," were aimed at attendees of the Democratic National Convention and intended to address the results of policies pursued by Pritzker and Johnson. 

However, according to Dan Proft of the People Who Play by the Rules PAC, billboard companies JCDecaux and Clear Channel refused to display these ads, a move Proft views as part of a broader trend of media control by powerful interests.

In response, Booras defended the integrity of the group behind the billboards. 

“I have reviewed these myself and researched the organization, and I’m convinced that they are a high-quality, high-integrity group,” Booras said. “In fact, news outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times have re-printed materials from Wirepoints, Inc.”

Indeed, information for the ads was gleaned from Wirepoints, a data-based new source focusing on public policy outcomes in Illinois and nationally. Wirepoints reported that in 2023 Chicago led the nation in homicides for the 12th consecutive year with 617 murders, despite a 13% decrease from 2022. 

“With Pritzker putting up his own billboards that are full of the beautiful lies that he likes to tell… Illinois Democrats balanced budgets, record job growth, I just thought even if you can't convince the locals of the truth and the city and state, maybe you can convince some of the outside world that Pritzker and Johnson are just a couple of propagandists by providing some counter messaging to what they're trying to sell,” Proft, who also hosts daily talk show The Morning Answer on the city’s WIND-AM 560, told Chicago City Wire for an earlier story. 

The ads will remain in place throughout the DNC and in the days following. 

“We’ll have them through the DNC in a few days afterwards in the afterglow of the DNC,” he said. “Maybe if we tell the truth at least some people will stop pretending to believe their lies.”  

Proft did not mince words in a statement released with the ads. 

"Johnson and Pritzker lord over the worst-governed city in America and the worst-governed state in American history, respectively. Both have failed their first responsibility which is to provide for the safety of their constituents. Our hope is by telling the truth at least some will stop pretending to believe their lies," he added. 

The city's murder rate, though slightly lower, is still five times higher than New York City's and only worse than Philadelphia among major cities. Chicago’s 2023 homicide total was 23% higher than pre-COVID 2019 levels, and overall major crimes rose 16%.

Also, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, at 5.2% Illinois has the second highest unemployment rate in the nation.

Booras emphasized that the issues raised by the billboards are based on facts rather than opinions.

“These are issues of fact, not opinion,” he said. “Clearly, the facts demonstrate that Pritzker and Johnson have made serious errors in judgment. Many decisions are poor and detrimental to the state of Illinois, and anyone who stands behind them or backs these concepts shares in this error in judgment.” 

Booras also expressed skepticism about the influence of traditional media and advertising in today’s digital age. 

“It is my personal opinion that the times have changed dramatically,” he said. “Advertising and the legacy media no longer have much effect on influencing the voting public. The infinite number of electronic, internet news sources have nearly completely replaced both the mainstream media and television commercials.” 

“For instance, the total circulation of both Chicago newspapers, the Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune, totals less than 100,000. A single blogger or influencer on the Internet can have views in the millions. The Internet and its electronic public have rendered mainstream media, the press, and advertising nearly irrelevant, similar to how email has made the US Postal Service nearly irrelevant.”

Booras also criticized Pritzker's qualifications for the governorship, arguing that personal wealth–Pritzker is worth an estimated $3.5 billion–should not influence leadership roles. 

“Personal wealth should have no bearing on decision-making,” Booras said. “Experience is the best indicator of future success, and this has been borne out in countless studies and examples. The fact is that Governor Pritzker has very little actual experience either in government or in business. His wealth appears to be completely inherited. Therefore, I see nothing in his résumé that recommends him for the position of governor.”

Booras will face incumbent U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) in the Nov. 5 general election for Illinois's 3rd congressional district which includes parts of Cook and DuPage counties. 

The district includes all or parts of Chicago, Oak Lawn, Cicero, Berwyn, Brookfield, Elmwood Park, Alsip, Burr Ridge, Darien and Orland Hills in addition to other smaller communities.