What starts as a small-town annoyance doesn’t usually end in statehouse leadership, but for Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, that’s exactly how it happened.
Raised in the rural Mississippi River town of Savanna, Illinois, McCombie grew up with a simple motto from her mother: don’t complain; do something about it. That mindset followed her into adulthood. After leaving the corporate world when she was passed over for promotions she believed she’d earned, she and her mother opened a café and later a bed-and-breakfast overlooking the river.
Like many small businesses, they put out a chalkboard sandwich sign to attract customers. But the city inspector insisted the sign violated guidelines and posed a safety issue. After hearing that more than once, McCombie decided she wasn’t just going to accept it. She ran for city council and won, changing the ordinance herself.
From there, her crash course in local politics accelerated. When a committee vote unexpectedly flipped by the time it reached the full council, she asked the mayor what had happened. His answer, “Welcome to the world of politics” didn’t sit right. So, she ran for mayor. And won that, too.
As mayor of Savanna, a town that has lost its school district, hospital, and Army depot over the decades, McCombie focused on beautification and revitalization. She tore down long-vacant homes, pushed neglected properties back into productivity, and even deployed a humorous “Please mow your lawn -Mayor McCombie” yard sign when gentle nudging wasn’t enough.
Her effectiveness at the local level didn’t go unnoticed. When the area’s state representative neglected her community, party leaders encouraged her to run. She thought the idea was “ridiculous.” Not only would she be a newcomer, but she’d also have to flip a Democratic-leaning district. But she relied on grit and face-to-face campaigning, personally knocking on more than 10,000 doors to win the seat.
Today, McCombie leads a small but geographically broad Republican caucus in Springfield, representing parts of all 102 Illinois counties. Despite being in the minority, she has built a reputation for blocking harmful legislation, challenging procedural maneuvers, and rallying her members to hold firm against tax increases and policies she believes hurt working families.
Reflecting on her unconventional path into politics, McCombie says the best advice she can give others is simple: don’t overthink it. “Just do it,” she said. “If you think about it too long, you’ll talk yourself out of it.”
For her, one small step, a battle over a sandwich board, turned into a career of public service shaped by persistence, community pride, and a deep belief that Illinois’ best days are still within reach.
