Illinois Review

Illinois Governor's Race: What Should a Conservative Do?

by John Brown's Ghost

Last night, I was talking to a person I respect tremendously in terms of their conservative take on the issues.  They related to me a recent meeting they had with a number of other conservatives.  At the end of the meeting, this person asked the assembled handful of people who they would vote for in the Governor's race.  There were five different answers.  Surprising, but when you read the daily back and forth comments here on Illinois Review, it is not tremendously surprising.

In this year's Governor's race, there are two very apparent things that come to mind.  A) None of the candidates are really lighting the world on fire, and B) if there was EVER a year to take back the Governor's mansion (Rod never used it, so I don't know if we are taking it back or not), this would be the year.  Good grief, the Democrats have run the state into the ground, so you would think voters would be ready for a new start with Republicans.  That is why point A above is so distressing.

Edgar endorses Dillard via letter

In case you didn't get one, below is a copy of the Kirk Dillard endorsement letter former Governor Jim Edgar sent out via snail mail earlier this month (click to enlarge). From the letter, Edgar says:

"Kirk Dillard was my right hand man when I took over as Governor in 1991. He served as my first chief of staff and was instrumental in helping My administration wade through a mountain of debt, unpaid bills and legislative nightmares. Kirk's kmowledge, management style and ability to work with a variety of people with different points of view were essential in helping me restore fiscal discipline to the state..."

IR asks Kirk Dillard about the importance of electing a Republican in 2010

More IR interviews with 2010 GOP candidates at "Illinois Review asks ..."

GOP primary candidates impress Union League Club members

At this morning's Union League Club of Chicago's Republican gubernatorial forum, attendees left impressed with the presentations of all GOP candidates vying to win the February 2, 2010 nomination.  Forum organizer Chris Robling said all five candidates -- Adam Andrzejewski, Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft and Bob Schillerstrom have bright futures in Illinois politics and through their performances today demonstrated the value of an open and intense primary nomination process.

"Each one of the five have sharpened how they present their positions, their speaking abilities have improved vastly, and each one has a huge future in Illinois politics," Robling said. "Across the board, they have issue mastery, and are keenly aware of the difficulties being faced by Illinoisans.  After traveling throughout the state, they know well how badly the system built by Illinois Democrats is of, by and for the insiders, and each one is very serious about changing things in Illinois." 

A Brady supporter's take on University of Springfield GOP gubernatorial forum

Last Wednesday, five current gubernatorial candidates shared ideas with students and local Republicans at the University of Springfield. Brady supporter John Ackerman provides his take on the proceedings.

The forum was an opportunity to see the real differences in the candidates. Five of them participated in the forum: Adam Andrzejewski, Bob Schillerstrom, Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft and Bill Brady.

Adam Andrzejewski was the most disappointing of the participants. His only real accomplishment was getting a few jabs in at Bill Brady. At one point, while answering a question about what made him the best candidate, he pointed out that Brady wears Ostrich Boots and drives a nice car and that these showed that he was not a downstater? He started out jabbing at Brady with his opening address and rarely answered a question without mentioning him. It reminded me of a saying I heard once: when you are the lead dog in the pack the rest are just barking at your backside.

Dillard: No Redistricting Unless Republicans Represented

State Senator Kirk Dillard sent the following letter to all Republican Illinois legislators Friday:

Dear Colleague:

For the past several months, as a member of the Senate Redistricting Committee, I have traveled the state and had the opportunity to hear testimony from legislative experts and ordinary Illinois citizens who believe that Illinois’ current process for drawing legislative districts is fatally flawed.  The Chicago Tribune has deemed the system a “legalized protection racket” for incumbents.  I couldn’t agree more and have consistently said that politicians should not be choosing the people we represent – the people ought to pick us.

After months of testimony and debate, it is disappointingly apparent that the Democrat majorities in both the House and Senate are absolutely unwilling to change the current process that protects their current majorities.  They support the status quo which places partisan politics above true democracy as envisioned by the founding fathers of our nation.  Democrats refuse to acknowledge that drawing legislative maps should be taken out of the hands of legislators and replaced with an independent panel utilizing a computer program that will drawn clear and concise boundaries free from political interference by any political party or person.

Dillard confirms his opposition to income tax hike

When former Governor Jim Edgar endorsed his former chief of staff, now State Senator Kirk Dillard, for the GOP gubernatorial nominee in 2010, Capitol reporters asked Edgar his thoughts about current Governor Pat Quinn's push to hike the state's income tax rate. Edgar's comments troubled Republicans who are struggling to keep the Republican anti-tax voting bloc solid.

Illinois Review asked Dillard to respond to these concerns raised by fellow Republicans -- just where is Dillard on the income tax hike? This morning, he clarified: 

Edgar's comments remind of not-so-good old days

Former Governor Jim Edgar's lack of aversion to an income tax hike Monday was disturbing to Republicans who fought off Governor Quinn, the Democrats and the SEIU in an all out attempt to raise the state's income tax last spring. When asked during a Springfield press conference announcing his endorsement of his former Chief of Staff, State Senator Kirk Dillard, Edgar's openness to a tax increase set Republican lawmakers on edge.

After a presser at the State Capitol, Doug Finke of the State Journal Register wrote, "Edgar said he is not opposed to a state tax increase, but said it has to be preceded by budget cuts to convince the public the state is doing its best to be frugal. He said those cuts have to be significant. 

"You could cut all of the waste and it won’t make a dent,” Edgar said. “You have to make people mad.” 

Republicans who fought hard this past spring to hold together anti-tax hike resistance were stunned by Edgar's comments. 

Kirk's Mentor is Proud of Obama

by Sam Pierce

I hope the subject doesn't confuse my fellow Illinois citizens. I can see that the inclination might be to assume that the "Kirk" is perhaps former Governor Edgar's Chief of Staff Kirk Dillard, who was by the way, former Chief of Staff for former Governor Edgar. Oh and he cut a campaign ad for a certain presidential candidate who went on to beat our hapless nominee in 2008.

Of course we are not to take this campaign ad into account as we decide if Former Governor Edgar's former Chief of Staff should be our nominee for our governor, since his endorsement was only during the primary and he...uh...went back to being a Republican I guess, immediately following the release of the ad. Anyway, the "mentor" is not Jim Edgar and the "Kirk" is not the star of an Obama campaign spot, turned Republican gubernatorial candidate.

Naturally, then, the "Kirk" is our favorite RINO, Rep. Mark Kirk and his "mentor" is none other than the bumbling candidate that landed us with Obama. The man who refuses to allow the party to move on and perhaps recover, has graciously expressed pride in our President's latest "historic" achievement.

Dillard Blasts Quinn on Capital Construction Bonds

from the Dillard for Governor campaign

Rockford, Ill- Republican candidate for Illinois governor, State Senator Kirk Dillard, today sharply criticized Governor Pat Quinn for his lengthy delay in issuing $3 billion in construction bonds to fund the state's mini-capital plan.

"Here we are on October 1st and the construction season is nearly over,” Dillard began. “We still haven't begun the road or mass transit projects that were part of the capital plan."