Many Sangamon County Republican elected officials walked in the Juneteenth Parade on Saturday, June 18, 2022, marking the beginning of the celebration marking the day when the last state received the news that slaves were freed. The parade started at Martin Luther King Drive and Brown street, continued up Martin Luther King Drive to the Comer Cox Park, where the festivities went on all day.
Sheriff Jack Campbell led the group, which included Andy Goleman, County Auditor; Jim Allmon, County Coroner, Joe Aiello, County Treasurer, Robin Schmidt, former Park Board member and candidate for Judge, and others. “I was so happy to see so many people turn out to celebrate, and it was such fun to meet them,” said Sandy Hamilton, Republican State Representative and State Senate candidate for the 48th district. Dr. Lisa Smith, a candidate for State Representative in the 96th district agreed. She brought many of her 10 children to walk and pass out candy. “They had a great time.”
Sangamon County Republicans sponsored a tent at the park and held an hourly drawing for gift certificates from African-American owned businesses. Other elected officials helped out all day providing free bottles of water, including Park Board Member C.J. Metcalf, and Brad Mills, SMEAA Board Member, along with many other Republican volunteers.