Although Marsha Griffin did not win her race for the 115th Illinois House district seat, she will continue to be an activist.
The Jonesboro woman has been a strong advocate for the re-opening of the Tamms Correctional Center since its closing nearly six years ago.
Griffin says she hopes democratic Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker will agree.
"They have the property already. Why not make the repairs and try to use that facility. Bring those jobs back to southern Illinois. You bet I'll approach him."
Griffin says it's costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to keep the shuttered facility maintained.
She'd like it re-purposed as a prison mental health unit. Outgoing Governor Bruce Rauner proposed construction on that project to begin next spring in Joliet.