Who is Jeff Evans -- and why isn't he spending $1 million?

When voters in the 20th Senate District head to the polls on Nov. 8, there will be three candidates on the ballot.

Democrat Roscoe Reynolds and Republican Bill Stanley have had their names on thousands of dollars worth of campaign paraphernalia and will be familiar to most voters. But who is Jeff Evans and why is he running for state Senate?

Evans, a native of Collinsville, has wanted to run for office for several years. He said it was “always in his heart” to run against Reynolds. He had planned on seeking the Republican nomination for the 20th District Senate seat, but after redistricting, things changed.

State Sen. Bill Stanley’s 19th District was erased by redistricting, with around 40 percent of the old district now in the 20th. Refusing to give up his seat to a partisan redistricting, Stanley moved nine miles to the 20th District and decided to challenge Reynolds.

No one was more frustrated over this move than Evans, who accused Stanley of “abandoning” his district. The Republican Party supported Stanley in the race and took their lucrative contributions with them. Evans, still determined to run without a major party endorsement, decided to stick it out.

While Reynolds and Stanley have combined to raise more than $1 million for their campaigns with party support, Evans said he as asked for mostly local endorsements. He has raised more than $30,000 according to spending reports.

“I’m speaking wherever I can speak,” said Evans. “I’m pretty busy. I don’t care if there are five people or there is 50 people. I’m out here knocking doors. I think people would be shocked with how many people I’ve been able to hit.”

Evans has visited churches, social events, picnics and small businesses to get his word out. His campaign is not as expensive as most, but his mission is the same.

Evans acknowledges that Reynolds and Stanley mostly attack each other and ignore him, but he believes they are wrong to do so. He is a former state trooper, preacher and chairman of the Henry County GOP. He believes that being an independent candidate has given him an advantage in the race since he does not have to answer to party officials. He is marketing himself as another option to voters.

Reynolds has even said that Evans “has more experience in public service than (Stanley).”

A conservative who promotes bringing moral issues to the top of the General Assembly’s legislative agenda, Evans believes he is more conservative than Stanley and can chip away at some of the Republican’s base.

But Stanley does not think Evans will hurt his campaign with conservative voters. Stanley said he is also talking to as many people as possible and that Evans has not drummed up a lot of support.

Holland reports for the Danville Register & Bee.