Costello delivers petitions to Governor's office

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[On Friday, state Rep. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) delivered over 8,000 signatures to Governor Pat Quinn's office in opposition to Quinn's plan to close the Chester Mental Health Center. Costello and other local residents circulated petitions among constituents and employees of Chester Mental Health Center urging the governor to reverse his decision to cut good-paying jobs in Southern Illinois, and focus instead on eliminating government waste in Springfield and Chicago. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability ruled last week in favor of keeping the Chester facility open. Pictured above: State Rep. Jerry Costello II (left) enters the Governor's office with petitions urging Governor Pat Quinn to keep Chester Mental Health Center open.