Thank you for your unwavering support! Jil and I are grateful for the thousands of Illinoisans who were a part of our wholehearted endeavor. Although we came up short tonight, we will never stop fighting for you, Illinois, and our shared vision to make Illinois work again.
Our thanks goes out to all of our supporters and volunteers statewide, and to all of the people who voted for us…all of the families, seniors, young people, farmers, business owners, hard-working teachers, and the state and local employees.
You believed in our plan to make our state the Capital of the Midwest once again.
It has been an unbelievable 8 months for Jil and me, traveling the state, telling voters that Illinois is broken…and isn’t working. We offered solutions.
We’re proud of our endorsements, from a wide variety of groups. In fact, the support we received from cross-over voters is unprecedented in a Republican Primary. They know we need fresh ideas and new leadership. And they know we need to end one-party control in Springfield!
Unfortunately, our campaign ends here tonight, but both Jil and I will continue to fight for Republican ideals and principles to help make Illinois work again.
PEORIA — To frequent cheers and interruptions for applause, Kirk Dillard made his closing case Sunday for why voters should pick him as the Republican Party nominee for governor.
During his visit to GOP headquarters in North Peoria to speak to a crowd of several dozen, the state senator from Hinsdale stuck to familiar themes, trying to cast himself and running mate Rep. Jil Tracy as the adults in the race with experience honed over decades that will lead to a resurgence in the Illinois economy, from business and manufacturing to education and agriculture.
“Jil and I don’t offer slick television commercials. We offer solutions and competency,” he said, trying to draw a contrast with the frequent TV advertising of poll-leading opponent Bruce Rauner.
The candidates were surrounded by myriad supporters, from local officeholders to precinct committeemen and party volunteers ahead of the vote Tuesday.
“Illinois is a mess and we need people who understand Springfield who can rescue us from the incompetence that has been wrought by the Democrats these past many years,” state Rep. David Leitch told the crowd as he talked up Dillard and Tracy as serious thinkers who colleagues listen to.
“As a member of the Illinois House, we know who’s for real and who isn’t,” he said.
Former Gov. Jim Edgar, who employed Dillard as his chief of staff, has been barnstorming across the state with him on the two-day, nine-city tour, and sought to contrast his old employee’s record with those of the other GOP candidates for the nomination — Rauner, state Sen. Bill Brady and Treasurer Dan Rutherford — and incumbent Gov. Pat Quinn.
“None of those four have the experience, qualifications and skills to get this state back on track,” he said.
Edgar, who served from 1991 to 1999 and is frequently held up as the last successful chief executive in the Land of Lincoln, also praised Dillard’s ability to bring people together, both across the political aisle and in different regions of the state.
“No matter where you come from, you can’t be provincial,” he said, adding that “Kirk’s history in public service is one of reaching out. Sometimes he gets flack for that, but I think that’s his strength.”
Local Leaders Say they Stand Behind Sen. Dillard for Governor
By Christie Nicks -WTVO-TV
ROCKFORD -- It's not over yet. That's the message republican candidate for governor Kirk Dillard brought to the Stateline, Wednesday.
Senator Kirk Dillard is referring to front runner Bruce Rauner. Their political battle could come down to the wire on Tuesday's primary election. Now, nearly a dozen local leaders are trying to give Dillard one final boost. They all openly endorsed him Wednesday because they feel he can help turn around Northern Illinois.
"Here's a guy that has actually proven, been through the exercise and that's what we need right now experience. The others are fine candidates but Senator Dillard, he's a cut above, he's what we need for Illinois right now," said Scott Christiansen, Winnebago County Board Chairman.
"We need someone who can unify the State of Illinois and I think he's the guy who can do it," said Sen. Dave Syverson (R-35th District).
It's support the republican says could make a big difference to his campaign.
"Being endorsed today by 4 Northern Illinois county board chairmen as well as a number of local mayors as the Northern Illinois candidate... greatly enhances my chances of getting elected next Tuesday," said Sen. Dillard.
With just one week left, the gap between Dillard and Rauner is narrowing. A WGN Chicago Tribune polls shows Dillard surging but still 13 percentage points separate the two. When the latest 'We Ask America' automated tracking poll took away the undecided option, it showed Rauner still has a commanding lead.
But the polls aren't slowing Dillard down ahead of Tuesday.
"Going in I feel good" Dillard said. "Momentum is on my side and its like a wave coming to shore you know you're going to get pushed up on over the sand and that's what I want on Tuesday night."
Our Opinion: Dillard in Republican primary for governor
By The Editorial Board - The State Journal-Register
Today marks the final installment of The State Journal-Register's political endorsements for the March 18 primary races, and we end our series with the office that leads Illinois government and its tens of thousands of employees.
Illinois' reputation is that of a state that lives beyond its means, is not friendly to business and is rife with corruption.
Of the candidates who met with the newspaper's editorial board, one best exhibited the skills, experience, spirit of cooperation and reasoned approach needed to right Illinois' sinking economic ship and lead the state toward a more prosperous era.
Kirk Dillard and his running mate, Jil Tracy, are endorsed.
Dillard, a suburban state senator from Hinsdale since 1993 and former chief of staff for former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar, has a record of moderate views on fiscal and economic matters involving the state. In a state whose books are so dramatically out of whack, why look for moderation in a leader? Because reason and moderation — not heavy-handed, uncompromising pledges to take a jackhammer to Illinois government — are how good leaders get things done.
Dillard honed some of his political skills in the Edgar administration and counts the former governor among his allies. Edgar served two terms as governor and enjoyed high approval ratings. A person doesn't rise as far as Dillard did in the administration of one of the state's most competent and popular governors without having skills to back it up.
Dillard wisely chose Tracy, a state representative from the central Illinois community of Mount Sterling, as his running mate. Tracy has been in the legislature since 2006. Her family owns Dot Foods in Mount Sterling, and she was born and raised in southern Illinois, giving her a unique appreciation for all parts of Illinois. Of all the running mates in this primary, Tracy has the most experience in state government and would be the best lieutenant governor to take over for the governor should he become unable to serve.
Dillard said he will not raise taxes on Illinoisans and that he believes the state's tax system is “archaic.” He supports a low, flat income tax. He did not vote for the temporary 67-percent income tax hike, and he believes it should roll back as scheduled. However, he also told the editorial board he understands the state has to keep its options open in terms of revenue to replace the expiring tax and said he wants to see what the magnitude of the budget hole is before firming up a plan of action. That's an honest response to Illinois' fiscal reality.
Economic development is a priority for Dillard. He is an advocate for businesses large and small and said the state is over-regulated, a common complaint of business owners. He knows how to work with the General Assembly to rebuild the state's economy.
“I want a state where I don't have to offer incentives to anybody to stay here. We're the capital of the Midwest,” he said.
Dillard vowed to boost state employee morale and to work with unions. He also pledged to lead by example when it comes to government ethics — something Illinois can't hear enough.
And when it comes to Springfield, Dillard, who has family ties to central Illinois, will be a champion for the capital city. He lives downtown when he is here, and he favors state fairs here and in Du Quoin to feature Illinois agriculture. He has relationships with local government officials, and he wants to see the hub of state government returned to Springfield from Chicago. He said he would encourage cabinet members to live here.
Of the Republican candidates for governor we interviewed — Dillard, Bill Brady and Dan Rutherford — each has an agenda for improving Illinois. But Dillard has the best combination of skills, record of working with both sides and rational approach to get the job done.
Editor's note: Chicago candidate Bruce Rauner did not accept repeated invitations to meet with The State Journal-Register editorial board.
Wealthy first-time candidate Bruce Rauner remains in the lead heading into the final days of the Illinois Republican governor race, but state Sen. Kirk Dillard has surged to become the new alternative to the frontrunner, a Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows.
Rauner had 36 percent support — down 4 percentage points from a month ago amid a blitz of labor union-backed TV ads attacking his business dealings as a venture capitalist.
Dillard had 23 percent, doubling his support since last month, especially among Downstate voters. The veteran state lawmaker gained while state Sen. Bill Brady and Treasurer Dan Rutherford lost support in recent weeks. Brady was at 18 percent, down from 20 percent in early February. Rutherford, who was hit with a sexual harassment lawsuit by a former employee last month, was at 9 percent — a 4-percentage-point drop from the last poll...
...The race had been expected to tighten somewhat as voters began to more carefully consider their choices closer to Election Day. Support for Winnetka’s Rauner in the city and suburbs remained above 40 percent, but Dillard, whose home base is GOP-rich DuPage County, jumped to 24 percent in the region.
Downstate, however, Rauner saw his support fall from 35 percent to 30 percent, while Dillard’s increased from 6 percent to 21 percent. Dillard now stands tied among Downstate voters with Brady, the unsuccessful 2010 nominee from Bloomington who won the primary four years ago off his showing in the 96 counties outside the city and suburbs.
Dillard ran for governor in 2010 emphasizing his ties to moderate former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar. After falling just short to Brady in that primary, Dillard has sought to broaden his appeal to socially conservative voters. He has attacked Rauner’s moderate views on social issues, including the frontrunner’s support for abortion rights. But that may not be enough...
...Since the last poll, a coalition of public employee unions have aired ads alleging Rauner was tied to Stuart Levine, who was sent to prison in the corruption investigation of ex-Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, as well as negligence in nursing homes which were funded through investments by Rauner’s former firm.
Levine was a paid consultant for a health care business which Rauner’s firm later invested in. Levine also sat on the Teachers Retirement System board when Rauner’s firm sought to increase their business of investing teacher pensions. Rauner has said he didn’t know Levine when his GTCR investment firm won additional state pension business.
As for the nursing homes, several big-dollar negligence and wrongful death judgments were entered against subsidiaries of a nursing home business which received funding from GTCR investments. Many of the judgments were later stayed or overturned and are part of federal bankruptcy proceedings. Rauner has said his GTCR firm lost $60 million it invested in the business.
The ads may have driven up unfavorable views of Rauner. While the percentage of voters who have a favorable view of Rauner remained largely the same at 47 percent, the percentage who hold an unfavorable view rose from 10 percent in early February to 21 percent in the new poll.
Nearly one in five in the latest survey identified themselves as living in union households. Rauner has lost ground among this group. In early February, Rauner scored 31 percent to 25 percent for Brady among voters who lived in union households. At that time, Dillard had only 8 percent support among that group.
But in the new poll, Dillard had 29 percent among Republican households with a union member compared to 26 percent for Rauner. Brady slipped to 19 percent and Rutherford fell from 19 percent to 10 percent...
...Rutherford had tried to position himself as the chief alternative to Rauner, pointing out he was the only candidate to win statewide and noting he’d raised more than Dillard and Brady. But last month, Edmund Michalowski, the former director of community affairs and marketing in the treasurer’s office, filed a federal lawsuit alleging Rutherford sexually harassed him and forced him to do political work on state time. Rutherford has strenuously denied the allegations but has withheld the results of a taxpayer-funded look into the claims.
The poll showed the controversy has taken its toll. One-third of Republican primary voters said the lawsuit has made them less likely to vote for Rutherford. Asked their impression of the candidates, 27 percent viewed Rutherford unfavorably compared to 24 percent who had a favorable opinion. In early February, shortly before the lawsuit was filed, Rutherford was viewed favorably by 30 percent of voters and only 13 percent had an unfavorable impression of him.
Dillard’s favorability increased from 27 percent among Republicans early last month to 38 percent. Those that viewed him unfavorably increased only slightly — from 12 percent to 15 percent. Brady’s ratio of favorable to unfavorable remained virtually unchanged over the month. A total of 38 percent of voters had a favorable view of him while 17 percent had an unfavorable opinion.
Although Republicans haven’t won an Illinois governor election since 1998, the survey showed a high level of optimism that the party would be able to retake the mansion this fall. Nearly seven in 10 GOP primary voters said they believe it’s likely that the Republican nominee would win in November, no matter which candidate they supported. Only 28 percent said they considered GOP chances for a win in the fall to be unlikely.
5 REASONS WHY KIRK DILLARD IS THE REPUBLICANS’ BEST CANDIDATE IN NOVEMBER
As we near Election Day, one of the questions we get asked most is “What distinguishes you from other candidates in this race?” While there are many issues and positions that put Kirk head-and-shoulders above the pack, one of the best answers to this question is: Kirk Dillard is best positioned to win in November. Here are some items every Republican should know:
#1 Kirk Dillard Is A REAL Conservative!
Of the four Republican candidates for Governor, Kirk Dillard is the most solid on Republican values and he has all the momentum. He is a proven fiscal conservative who has never voted for a general tax increase. He has proven he can balance the state’s budget. He is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment. He has been recommended by the top 34 pro-life and pro-family organizations in Illinois. And he has a proven track record of strengthening the Republican Party—he took the Speaker’s gavel from Mike Madigan and made him Minority Leader when he was Governor Edgar’s Chief of Staff, and he will do it again.
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#2 Kirk Dillard Can Win the General Election!
As Republicans in Illinois, we are sick and tired of losing elections in this state. It’s not enough to just win the Primary in March—we must win in November. Illinois cannot afford another 4 years under Pat Quinn. Kirk Dillard gives Republicans the best opportunity to retake the Governor’s mansion, which is why Republican Governors Edgard and Thompson have endorsed him. He is a suburbanite with strong roots both downstate and throughout Chicagoland. He has a proven track record of accomplishment, working with all stakeholders across the political spectrum to get things done for the people of Illinois.
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#3 Kirk Dillard Helps Every GOP Candidate Running In November!
Unlike the other Republican candidates for governor, having Kirk Dillard at the top of the ticket will help Republican candidates down the ballot. As a former Republican County Chairman and a lifelong Republican who has helped elect hundreds of Republican candidates, he has proven that as our nominee he will ensure other Republican candidates on the ballot are successful. His opponents cannot say this. He has a proven track record of accomplishment, working with all stakeholders across the political spectrum to get things done for the people of Illinois.
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#4 Kirk Has Experience That Money Can’t Buy!
Unlike his opponents, Kirk Dillard has experience in all three branches of government. He is ready to be governor of our great state on day one. He has deep knowledge of the budget, knows all the stakeholders involved, and has experience pulling the levers of government to accomplish what needs to be done to move Illinois forward. There is a reason Kirk Dillard is known as the go-to-guy in Springfield if you want to get something done. He is ready to be our governor.
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#5 Ethics Will Be A Top Issue in November… And Kirk Stands Above The Rest On This Issue!
While ethics should be an obvious trait, in Illinois it is an important distinction considering our unfortunate history of corruption and cronyism. As a legislator, Kirk Dillard passed the first ethics reforms in Illinois in 25 years. He spearheaded the efforts to enact the Patrick Collins reforms, and as governor has committed to enacting the reforms that have not yet been enacted by Pat Quinn. Kirk Dillard has even been the most transparent candidate running for governor, developing an online portal where the public can see where he is getting his campaign funding and how he is spending it. He has pledged to shut down his campaign and cease any fundraising efforts as governor so that his focus is entirely on serving the people of Illinois.
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Do you want more reasons to vote for Dillard Tracy? Then click below and we'll email you more great reasons to vote for the team that'll Make Illinois Work Again!
State Sen. Kirk Dillard today won the backing of the state’s largest state employees’ union, giving him a trifecta of endorsements from Illinois’ most powerful public sector unions.
The Hinsdale Republican hopes the union backing will bolster his campaign for governor with less than two weeks before the March 18 primary, but the support of public unions is controversial among many conservatives, particularly as Winnetka businessman Bruce Rauner has spent months of campaigning and a bevy of TV ads criticizing “government union bosses.”
“He rejects the demonization of public employees — the teachers, state police and correctional officers, caretakers for those with disabilities, and thousands of others who provide the vital public services that Illinois citizens demand,” AFSCME Council 31 President Henry Bayer said in a statement.
Dillard, Rauner, state Sen. Bill Brady and Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford are set to meet for another debate at 6 p.m. today on WGN.
Brady and Dillard in particular have sharpened their attacks on Rauner as the televised debates give them valuable TV face-time with voters to compete with Rauner’s ad campaigns.
Dillard’s teachers union endorsements have come with campaign cash, including $150,000 reported yesterday.
Rauner, by comparison, gave his own campaign $1 million earlier this week and $1.3 million last week.
The decision came after polls conducted throughout Sangamon County showed strong support for the Dillard-Tracy team. The polling results showed that the Dillard-Tracy team nearly "doubled up" the percentages on the second-place finisher.
“The results suggest that Dillard is very popular in this county.” said Sangamon County Republican Central Committee Secretary Bruce Stratton.
The latest endorsement comes as the campaign is gaining a variety of other major endorsements including those from the Illinois Education Association, the Illinois Teachers Federation, the Illinois Retired Teachers Association and the Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
This is the fourth county-level endorsement/ straw poll showing the regional diversity of the Dillard-Tracy team. The duo have notched the Republican Assembly of Lake County, McLean County and won a decisive 70 percent victory at the recent Jackson County poll,
“We are extremely pleased to receive the endorsement of the Sangamon County Republicans. This is huge endorsement because Sangamon is rich with Republican primary voters,” said Representative Jil Tracy, “Senator Dillard and I are committed to ensuring that the seat of Illinois government is Springfield and helping bring crucial government jobs back to the capital city.”
The Dillard Tracy team had previously announced the endorsements of former Illinois Governors Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar. Senator Dillard served as Chief of Staff to Governor Edgar and as Legislative Director for Governor Thompson.
Local Sangamon County leaders like, State Representatives Raymond Poe, Rich Brauer, State Senator Sam McCann, former Senator Larry Bomke, County Auditor Paul Palazzolo and former Senator and Springfield Mayor Karen Hasara have also endorsed the Dillard-Tracy team.
State Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican, touted an endorsement Wednesday from the Illinois Retired Teachers Association, further looking to educators to help carry his primary election campaign for governor.
“They’re a motivated voting group this time around,” Dillard said.
Dillard’s teachers union backing so far has included a $50,000 check for his cash-strapped campaign, though that amount pales in comparison to Rauner’s TV ad spending.
Rauner gave his campaign $1.3 million earlier this week.
Meanwhile, Illinois’ AFL-CIO on Wednesday lodged an ethics complaint against Rauner with the state’s executive inspector general, arguing Rauner should have to stop giving his campaign money immediately.
The union argues Rauner’s investment firm, GTCR, has done business with the state managing pension funds, and state law doesn’t allow contractors to give to candidates who could award contracts if elected.
In this case, Rauner is both the contractor and, if elected governor, would be responsible for most state contracts.
Rauner’s camp dismissed the move as desperation.
“It’s clear that Pat Quinn’s allies are now beyond the point of desperation,” Rauner spokesman Mike Schrimpf said in a statement. “The complaint fails on its face and is conceptually ridiculous.”
The retired teachers group includes about 36,000 and pointed to Dillard’s vote against a package of steep pension benefit cuts as a key reason to support him.
“This is the first time we’ve endorsed any gubernatorial candidate,” President Bob Pinkerton said.
In picking up backing from teachers, Dillard references his late father’s career as a high school history teacher in Hinsdale. His father died the weekend before the primary election in 2010, where state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington narrowly beat Dillard to win the nomination.
Rauner, Dillard, Brady and Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford of Chenoa will meet in a debate this evening that will be televised on ABC 7.
He’s been visiting Western Illinois University for years, but Thursday was probably more special than usual.
The state senator and his running mate first stopped at Macomb Mayor Mike Inman’s home, then met potential voters at Aurelio’s and finally stopped at Western Hall to see the women’s basketball team close out a win against Denver.
“I get back to WIU several times a year, so it’s always good to get back here,” Dillard said. “It was very heartening to have people from all over McDonough County and Western Illinois come out. We have great support here, the College Republicans are phenomenal, (as are) the local Republican organization and Rep. Noreen Hammond, so it’s great and it was great to have Mayor Inman and Melissa open their home for us. That’s the kind of community Macomb is and was when I was a student. It’s a place of wonderful people; that’s why I’d recommend any student anywhere attend Western Illinois University.”
In order to secure the Republican nomination for governor, Dillard will have to beat out fellow Senator Bill Brady, Treasurer Dan Rutherford and businessman Bruce Rauner at the primary election on March 18. Dillard said that he is more qualified than the three other candidates, and went as far as to say that his opponents are “unelectable.”
“There are three reasons why people should support Kirk Dillard and Jil Tracy,” Dillard said. “No. 1 is that we’re tested and prepared. I was Gov. (Jim) Edgar’s chief of staff, and working with a Democrat legislature made this state live within its means, it left a budget balance surplus of 1.5 billion. And our unemployment rate was below the national average.
“Secondly, Jil and I have a plan to make us a destination economy for people that create jobs. We will bring back our economy and make Illinois the economic capital of the Midwest.
“Last but not least, Govs. Jim Thompson and Edgar have said that we are the only team that can beat Pat Quinn,” he continued. “Treasurer Rutherford has had some problems. Sen. Brady ran last time and he proved that he was unelectable, there was just a recent story on the front page of the Chicago Tribune that had him voting for legislation that impacted his family’s business — that’s not good. And Bruce Rauner is really a Chicago Democrat, he’s not a Republican. We need geographic balance, Jil Tracy and I are the right team for the Western Illinois region, but also the right team for Illinois. But the bottom line is we’re the only team that can beat Pat Quinn and move this state forward. The other three men are unelectable.”
According to Tracy, it is essential for not only Illinois that the duo of Tracy and Dillard are elected, but it is especially important for the Western Illinois region in particular.
“It’s good to be running with Sen. Dillard who knows so much about WIU, and I can tell you that it would be a real asset for the region if we had a governor like Sen. Dillard who is a WIU alumnus, and a lieutenant governor from West Central Illinois,” Tracy said.
“It would be a big step for this region because we know it so well, and we’re hoping that everybody around here can support us because they know us, and we have a proven record that we’re tested and prepared to make Illinois work again.”
Tracy also has a personal connection to Western Illinois, as her husband attended the university. However, Dillard isn’t the only Republican candidate to claim he has the interests of Western Illinois in mind.
When Brady visited campus on Feb. 6, he promised that if elected governor he would release the funds already allocated to Western to fund the building the building of the Performing Art Center that the university has planned to build for years. Brady said that current Gov. Pat Quinn was “holding Western Illinois hostage.”
But Dillard said that not only is he frustrated that the money has already not yet been released to Western, but that he also was essential in trying to get funding for the building in the first place.
“I was instrumental in arranging the first meeting with former Gov. (George) Ryan to get the performing arts center here,” Dillard said. “I’m the former alumni council president of this university, and I was there at the initial meeting where we went in and made our presentation with Rep. Hammond, and the late Rep. Myers in the governor’s office, and it is unconscionable that Pat Quinn has not released that money. He came to campus, that building should be built, and we should be on our way to seeking state support for a science building, so Gov. Quinn should have released that money years ago.”
Aside from the interests of the Western Illinois, Dillard and Tracy have specific goals for the state, most notably fixing the current economic toil in Illinois.
“Over and over again we keep hearing that people want to see the economy return (to Illinois) and have people have an opportunity for better jobs in Illinois, and that’s what we’re going to work for,” Tracy said. “That is the key, they’ve seen a decade of decline in the state and they want it turned around, they want to see strong leadership in the governor’s office.”
How is Dillard going to turn the economy around? If elected, he wants to completely change the current tax system, manage the budget the way that worked for him in the past, and slash welfare from those that he says are not qualified to be on it.
“First, (we need) a top to bottom overhaul of our tax structure. It is unfair, and we’re a state that is overtaxed in many areas. Secondly, I want the lieutenant governor to be also the repealer, someone who takes and meets with businesses small and large and family famers about what regulations stifle their economic development. And then, I’m going to manage the state’s budget as I did as Gov. Edgar’s chief of staff where we left a 1.5 billion dollar surplus.
“I’m going to purge our welfare roles of anyone who does not have eligibility to be on them. Illinois has tens of thousands of people who are bilking the welfare system of this state. For fairness to taxpayers and those who truly need the services, I must make sure that you do not get on Medicaid or any state welfare programs unless you are legally eligible. The Democrats have not cleaned up and stopped fraud in welfare.”
Currently, businesses are afraid to expand to Illinois because of the harmful reputation the state has amassed, according to Dillard. If elected, Dillard claims that he will not only fix the economy, but he will also find ways to create new jobs to keep the economy stimulated.
“The best way to create jobs in Illinois is to have a tax climate that makes us competitive with the rest of the Midwest,” Dillard said. “We also must have an overhaul of what we call our worker’s compensation system, so that businesses don’t pay three to four times more than surrounding states for their insurance. And we need to not overregulate businesses. We need to regulate at the speed of business, not the speed of government.
“And last but not least, I’ve got to end the cadence of corruption that has tarnished Illinois’ reputation. We can never forget that people are afraid to have a business in Illinois because of the tawdy reputation of Chicago and the Rod Blagojevich years, and state government, and I have to lead by examples on ethics.”
Speaking of ethics, Illinois has infamously gained a reputation of having corrupt politicians, most notably, the governor. Four of the previous seven Illinois governors have been sentenced to jail time, including Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, Ryan and most recently Blagojevich.
According to Dillard, There will be no scandals if he is elected governor, and he has said that he has already taken steps to ensure the permanent removal of corruption from Illinois politics.
“I sponsored the first ethics changes in more than 25 years in Illinois. My law required that all donations of $150 be put online and be reported within 48 hours. I also stopped politicians from spending their campaign funds for personal use. And I know for a fact that my law was used by the United States government to help track the criminality of Rod Blagojevich, we’re going to lead by example in ethics.”
Dillard also said that his opponents’ ethics were sometimes questionable at best.
“I’m not going to be like Bill Brady and vote on bills that impact my family’s real estate practice, I’m the only candidate running that has not been on front pages of newspapers throughout Illinois in a scandal,” Dillard said. “Treasurer Rutherford is embroiled in a sexual harassment and using state employees for political purposes, and Bruce Rauner has a drip, drip, drip, drip of many ethical charges, including having the mastermind of the Blagojevich corruption on a Bruce Rauner payroll for a million dollars, while Mr. Rauner got 53 million dollars in work from a board that Stuart Levined the mastermind of the Blagojevich corruption ring control. I’m the one candidate that doesn’t have a scandal, like I said, I’m going to end the cadence of corruption by leading by example and ethics. That’s what makes me, aside from the fact that I’m the most qualified and having Jil Tracy along for geographic balance and her family expertise in creating jobs, the reason Jim Edgar said I’m the only candidate that can beat Pat Quinn.”
Tracy echoed Dillard’s statement, re-enforcing that she shares the same morals as Dillard.
“We do lead by example, I was chosen to be one of the 21 members of the Rod Blagojevich impeachment committee,” Tracy said. “It’s coincidental that Sen. Dillard and I are one of six members of the bipartisan house and senate joint ethics commission. We have been appointed to positions of integrity to police if you will, the different things within the house and state. We recognize that Illinois wants and deserves an administration that is above corruption and we try to live by that example every day.”
But most of all, Dillard wanted to emphasize to all Western Illinois residents that he will always keep their interests in mind.
“It’s great to be back here, it’s time to make Illinois work again. Kirk Dillard and Jil Tracy clearly have the state’s best interest at heart. Under us, Western Illinois will no longer be forgotten, it will be on the forefront of the state government’s mind.”
Standing before reporters in Chicago earlier this month, Sen. Kirk Dillard was grinning ear to ear.
Right about then, Dillard snagged an endorsement from the Daily Herald newspaper, which circulates in the collar counties where pockets of voters who tend to pull Republican ballots reside. And on Friday, two pro-life groups put their support behind Dillard.
After suffering setbacks in the launch of his campaign last year, Dillard may be hitting his stride at just the right time. “Momentum is clearly on my side,” Dillard said in an interview with the Sun-Times.
In a series of polls, Dillard has taken a back seat to his opponents. However, as Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s campaign has suffered setbacks following a federal lawsuit filed by a former employee, Dillard and Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, have been jockeying to become the alternative to the deep-pocketed frontrunner Bruce Rauner.
The IEA gave Dillard $250,000 in his 2010 run for office when Dillard lost to Brady by a brutal 193 votes.
He’s hoping the recent endorsement helps shift his struggling fundraising, which has suffered since Rauner picked away some of his loyalists, including GOP insider Ron Gidwitz.
Beyond money, Dillard says he’s counting on IEA members who might typically vote for a Democrat to “cross over” in the primary and pull Republican ballots.
“Their volunteers are also helpful, so it’s more than just money,” Dillard said of the IEA endorsement. “Teachers are obviously very motivated voters. . . . This time there will be a cross-over factor that has not been around before.”
Dillard said his campaign is set to air radio ads Downstate. If fundraising comes through, expect Dillard to trot out one of his biggest assets — former Gov. Jim Edgar — in a TV spot. Sit through any candidate forum and it’s a point Dillard repeatedly hits: He’s the best prepared to take on the role of governor because he served as Edgar’s chief of staff from 1990-93.
Rauner has hit Dillard, as well as his other opponents, for being “career politicians” and part of the problem in Springfield. Edgar told the Sun-Times he initially tapped Dillard to work for him because the Hinsdale Republican then had a background in private practice combined with experience working in the governor’s office under former Gov. James Thompson.
“He was a very successful lawyer. He had a sense about Chicago. Whether people like it or not, that’s a third of the population,” Edgar said. “Kirk is a person who gets along with just about anybody. Democrats and Republicans, he can disagree with them in an agreeable way.”
Edgar said when a prickly issue was before him, he would often send Dillard to talk to lawmakers and smooth it over.
“He was very effective when I’d send him to go talk to some of the legislative leaders. He could help bring them around,” Edgar said. “I can’t tell you how important that is in the governor’s office. You’ve got to have the Legislature, you’ve got to have public opinion. That to me is a very important characteristic in a successful governor.”
Dillard studied political science and economics at Western Illinois University and then went on to earn a law degree from DePaul University College of Law. He is a partner with the Chicago-based law firm Locke Lord. Dillard served as a judge on the Court of Claims from 1987-90 then went on to work as the director of legislative affairs for Thompson from 1983-87. He joined the Legislature after serving in Edgar’s office. In 2000, he was dinged by the Center for Public Integrity, which criticized him for being a registered lobbyist while serving as a lawmaker. Then with the law firm Lord, Bissell & Brook, Dillard said he registered to err on the side of caution but never lobbied for the firm.
Since his loss in 2010, Dillard has lurched farther to the right. He appeared at a rally opposing same-sex marriage in Springfield, with Brady being the only other GOP gubernatorial candidate to do so. On Friday, Dillard won the endorsements of two pro-life groups.
In December, Dillard voted against a landmark but controversial pension-reform bill. His running mate, state Rep. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, voted in favor of it.
The most damaging material against Dillard remains an ad he aired boosting then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama in 2008. Dillard defends it, saying he worked with Obama in the state Senate to advance the first ethics reform the state had seen in two decades.
“That had nothing to do with anything but ethics,” Dillard said. “I strongly supported Sen. McCain. I was the second top vote-getter for Sen. McCain statewide.”
Still, with Obama’s burgeoning unpopularity with Republicans, airing a pro-Obama Dillard ad remains an effective weapon for any Dillard opponent. “I have to say that I was surprised. Until they ran that ad, he had that primary won,” Edgar said of his opponents using Dillard’s clip against him in 2010. “I just think that’s shortsighted [of Republicans]. It’s important we work together. I cannot underscore enough that is sorely needed in Springfield.”
Edgar defended Dillard, saying it wasn’t an endorsement so much as showing that Dillard is capable of reaching across the aisle.
“That’s a trait that’s very important. You’re not the governor of the Republican party, you’re the governor for the state of Illinois.”
We all get busy and who knows what the weather will be like on Election Day, so don't take any chances, vote for Kirk Dillard and Jil Tracy by mail today!
To vote by mail you must first request an absentee ballot, you can do that very easily via your local election authority, in many cases via their website. Click here for all the details.
All requests to vote by mail must be received by your local Election Authority by 03/13/2014.
DO I NEED A REASON TO VOTE ABSENTEE?
No, unlike in the past, any registered voter can request an absentee ballot without having to specify a reason.
After you receive your ballot in the mail all you have to do is fill it out and mail it back to your local election authority. You have until the day before Election Day, 3/17/2014, to mail your ballot back in.
It is that easy! So don't take any chances, cast your vote for Dillard Tracy today!
Full information on Illinois' Absentee Ballot Program (Vote by Mail Program) can be found here.
Dillard/Tracy gubernatorial ticket discuss Illinois' economy, future in Macomb
By Jackie Smith - The McDonough County Voice
Though talking points in the ongoing GOP gubernatorial race have varied, discussion with candidate Kirk Dillard and running mate Jil Tracy came full circle Thursday to two major areas: Overhauling the state's finances and getting more eyes in Springfield focused on west-central Illinois.
Also vying for the GOP spot in the 2014 race for Illinois governor during the March primaries is state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, state Treasurer Dan Rutherford and businessman Bruce Rauner.
The following is a selection of the questions asked during an interview Thursday and the complete answers from Tracy and Dillard.
How is the campaign going?
Dillard: Just within the last week, Jil and I were endorsed 6-to-1 down in deep southern Illinois, Jackson County, by the Republican Lincoln Day crowd, that's the Republican party of Jackson County. I won the McLean County straw poll, which happens to be Bill Brady's home county, 2-to-1 over Sen. Brady. We were endorsed by the Republican Assembly of Lake County, and then we were endorsed by the Suburban and Downstate Teachers Association, the Illinois Education Association, that's the biggest endorsement to date of any candidate statewide at 138,000 members, the Retired Teachers Association endorsed us and then last but not least, we received the endorsement of the Daily Herald newspaper, the second largest newspaper in the state of Illinois, it's the preeminent Chicago suburb newspaper. So Jil and I are on a roll, we like where things are going.
What topics have stuck out to you in talking to constituents since the last time you were in this region?
Tracy: Certainly, they're worried about the fiscal health of the state. They want to know policies we want to put in place. Certainly, we're the front-runners and I think a lot of it goes to the fact that we are tested and prepared as legislators, and certainly Sen. Dillard's executive experience under Gov. (Jim) Edgar. We have seen the failed policies of the last decade. It just about decimated the state. And so we know very quickly what we can do to change the state, and also Sen. Dillard has offered some very major ideas. For instance on the gas tax. Just ideas because people want specifics. They know everyone wants to grow the economy — it's got to happen to get our state back. But to give the specifics and know exactly what we're going to do day one when we take office, it gets them a better set among the candidates of who they want to support. And so we've been very fortunate to as soon as we talk with people one-on-one they understand we are definitely the best tested and prepared.
What are some of those more specific ideas?
Dillard: I came out and said Illinois needs to get rid of one of the two taxes it has on gasoline. We need to cut the sales tax on gas, that's a tax that does not go to roads or bridges, it goes into the state's general fund. And it would put about a half a billion dollars back into the pockets of Illinois families, as well as businesses who obviously pay gas taxes. That's Rep. Tracy's and my down payment on a complete overhaul of our tax structure in Illinois. Our tax structure is old, it's archaic, it's unfair. One-sixth of the state's corporate taxes was paid for by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Something's wrong when one company or one entity is paying a sixth. We need a top-to-bottom overhaul of our tax structure. I've also said that in addition to being the lieutenant governor, Jil's going to actually be known as 'the repealer.' She's going to go from farms to small business to large businesses and say, 'What regulations are stifling your job growth in Illinois and keeping you from expanding or moving your business here if you're out of state?' And also importantly, making sure people don't go to Iowa (or elsewhere). It's about the economy, and my proven ability, having been Gov. Edgar's chief of staff, to make a Democrat legislature live within its means.
Tracy: And proper management of the agencies. It was interesting that the WIU provost (Ken Hawkinson) right away had three major things that he wanted to talk to me about the regulation and bureaucracy within the state. So it goes hand-in-hand with what Sen. Dillard and I know is out there and how it would make WIU's ability to serve its students better. And certainly, talking about capital and the gas tax, we need infrastructure repairs and some of the things I've very hard on in the legislature, along with Sen. Dillard, are things like completing the Macomb Bypass, your Performing Arts Center at WIU. That's been on the back burner. It's been approved for years, it's never been funded properly. Those are the kinds of things we want to see because we understand that capital improvements really help improve our economy as well.
Dillard: On a personal note, obviously I'm a very proud (alumnus). I wear purple and gold. I graduated at Western Illinois University, I'm a former president for a long time of the Alumni Association. But Jil being from Quincy really assures that western Illinois, which for awhile was sadly known as 'Forgottonia,' is going to be in the forefront of a Kirk Dillard/Jil Tracy administration. Jil's family owns a company down the road called Dot Foods, a major Illinois employer that uses our roads to employ a couple thousand people in this state. Jil is local, and she is somebody who understands you've got to have an economy that allows us to compete against Iowa and Missouri. Iowa's unemployment rate is less than half of ours, and that just should not be.
McDonough County is a big farming community, what would you do to support farmers?
Dillard: I was married in a little farming community of 400 in Logan County near Lincoln, Ill. Agriculture is a quarter of our economy, it's the most important thing we do. Her family is Dot Foods, so obviously it's somewhat of an agriculture-based company. We've got to support agriculture research. The Democrats have cut a program called C-FAR (Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research). They have not invested in agriculture research. In fact, they've cut it. Agriculture's a quarter of our economy, so it's just imperative that we put more into ag research. I'm very distressed that the University of Wisconsin is now challenging the University of Illinois as the major biotechnology university of America. Obviously, Western has an ag department. And ISU, I was just at ISU today. We've got to support our major ag universities, more for research, and we've got to support exports. As governor and lieutenant governor, Jil and I have got to make sure that our farmers can export their products abroad. That helps the prices and then there's companies that are associated with agriculture. John Deere. Archer Daniels Midland. I announced my candidacy in Decatur, which is where my wife's ancestral home is. I have Sara Lee Corporation up in my district. So agriculture and the family farm is the most important thing. It's more than just agriculture, and she and I are laser-focused on the economy.
Tracy: And as a legislator here in west-central Illinois, for the last seven years, I've worked closely with the farm bureau. I've received their activator of the year awards over and over again. And I've also received the Illinois Chamber award, as I'm sure Sen. Dillard has as well. And you merge those two together and it just shows how much we know the integral parts of how agriculture fits with Illinois commerce and ADM happens to employ 500 people down in Quincy. So to work with those different agriculture-based businesses, it's definitely what our record has proven what we've done already and what needs to be proven within the state.
Speaking for a college town like WIU, what can you say about the importance of MAP grants?
Dillard: Crucial. Illinois, we are the capitol of the Midwest. We have so many things going for us that other states only wish they had. The MAP grant program, the monetary assistance program, is vital. It's one of the great things Illinois does. You've got to sustain it — not only for campuses like Western Illinois University, but we're also a state that has lots of private universities. It's crucial to them as well. …Overall the Chronicle of Higher Education has rated us the No. 1 higher education state on past occasions. And I've got to keep our system of education both for the publics and community colleges No. 1, and the MAP grants help both he public and private (schools). It's something that this state does better than everybody else.
Tracy: One of the things we learned in higher ed appropriation and higher education is that looking at ways we can improve the MAP grants. We haven't been good at monitoring the students that have gotten some of the MAP grants. We are wanting to make sure we tailer it so that there is a success rate. It seems like we look how— just things we can do if you've got proper management, proper leadership, and make the MAP grants available and work for the students that really need them and depend on them.
MAP grants and state funding are something particularly hit by late payments, does any part of your plan entail something to not only pay those bills but pay those bills on time?
Dillard: I was Gov. Edgar's chief of staff, we inherited a billion dollars in a recession, we left a billion and a half surplus, we paid our bills in 17 days at the end of that administration. The unemployment rate was below the national average and the state's credit rating went up. So it's crucial. You've got to pay your MasterCard bill in 30 days, the state needs to pay its bills on time. I was just with a physician from McDonough District Hospital a minute ago, and the state not only pays late, especially if your a Medicaid patient. Our rates are pathetic. You've got to prioritize. We've got to get our state's fiscal house in order. It's one of the strengths I have. And I know how to get a Democrat legislature — because it's going to be that way, whether I like it or not — to live within its means, and it means we pay our bills on time.
Are there any strategies or points of action that will further benefit rural areas like McDonough County when so much of the interests represented in the legislature are those of upstate regions?
Dillard: One of the things I've got to do, because people are going to (say), 'Well, where are you going to cut the state budget?' Medicaid fraud and getting people who are ineligible by law off of the Medicaid program. We have tens of thousands of people who are not eligible by law, including some people that don't even live in Illinois, that are on our Medicaid bills. I've got to clean that roll and purge it everyday. Democrats will not do that for political reasons, I must so that means more money for Western Illinois University to pay off our old bills, to pay McDonough District Hospital and nursing homes on time. We've got to manage the state like I've done it before. Then we must grow our economy.
Tracy: There's over a hundred agencies, and day one a governor knows what needs to be done and puts in the proper management and directors to those agencies and you'll see a very quick turnaround.
GOP gubernatorial candidate speaks at Jil Tracy's leaders breakfast
State Sen. Kirk Dillard says endorsements and straw poll wins mean more to him than the statewide polls that show him trailing Venture Capitalist Bruce Rauner in the race for the Republican nomination for Illinois governor.
Dillard, from Hinsdale, spoke at Jil Tracy's annual breakfast fundraiser at The Ambiance in Quincy Friday morning before a packed house. Tracy, the state representative from Quincy, is running for Lt. Governor as Dillard's running mate.
Dillard said these kinds of public events energize him as the March 18 primary is now less than a month away.
"The momentum is clearly moving in Jil Tracy's and my way," Dillard said following straw poll wins in Jackson County and McLean County and getting endorsements from the Illinois Education Association and the Daily Herald in the Chicago suburbs.
Rauner's massive fundraising and self-funding machine has allowed him to be a constant on the radio and television airwaves, but Dillard says the race will come down to the grass roots and crossovers.
"Gotta win this on the ground. You have to win this through the grass roots...you cannot let anybody buy the election," Dillard said referring to Rauner's huge warchest that he has contributed more than $3 million to on his own. "There will be crossover votes this time. I tell everybody whose a Democrats and Independent there is no action on the Democratic side. Take a Republican ballot, crossover and vote for Kirk Dillard and Jil Tracy to save your state."
Voter registration is closed 27 days prior to the election, so that means February 18th is the last day you can register to vote for the Dillard Tracy Team. In order to vote in Illinois for Kirk Dillard, you:
-Must be a US citizen
-Must be at least 18 years of age by Election Day or 17 years of age to vote in a General Primary if you will be 18 as of the following General Election on March 18th
-Must have been a resident of the precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day
So where can you register to vote for Kirk and Jil? It’s simple, you can register at:
-Local County Clerk's Office
-Local Board of Election Commissioner's Office
-Select City and Village Offices
-Township Offices
-Your Local Precinct Committeemen
-Select Schools
-Select Public Libraries
-Military Recruitment Offices
To find the nearest place to register, click here but you must hurry, February 18 is the last day.
You can also register to vote by mail. Click here to download the application but make sure mail it to your local election authority and it's postmarked no later than February 18th!
If you miss February 18, all is not lost. Illinois provides for “Grace Period” registration, too.
Grace Period” Registration is an extension of the period of time that you can register to vote for Kirk Dillard or update your registration information. This “Grace Period” Registration extends registration from the normal close of registration in February 18 up through the 3rd day before the election, March 15. Once registered, you may cast a ballot for Kirk during this “Grace Period” at the election authority’s office or at a location specifically designated for this purpose by the election authority, or by mail, at the discretion of the election authority.
Let’s summarize:
-Last day to register to vote: Tuesday, February 18, 2014
-Grace period registration: Wednesday, February 19, 2014 - Saturday, March 15, 2014
-Registration will resume: Thursday, March 20, 2014
People who have missed the deadline to register to vote may register to vote in the election authority office only from the 27th day through the 3rd day prior to the election. If you register to vote during the grace period and want to vote in the upcoming election, you must vote at the time of registration.
Chuck Sweeny: Kirk Dillard vows to cut taxes, help businesses
By Chuck Sweeny - Journal Standard
Kirk Dillard is one of four Republicans running for governor. He's been a state senator since 1995 and was Gov. Jim Edgar's chief of staff before that. Dillard was also Gov. James Thompson's legislative director.
This longtime lawyer and politician from Hinsdale in DuPage County says he has the know-how to end the culture of profligate spending and return Illinois to fiscal solvency.
Dillard nearly won the 2010 Republican governor primary, losing narrowly to fellow Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington. Brady lost to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn in November.
Dillard, in an interview Thursday with The Journal-Standard, touted his lieutenant governor running mate, businesswoman Jil Tracy of Quincy, saying he will make her "repealer-in-chief" in his administration to cut red tape that makes Illinois a difficult state in which to do business.
Noting that Quinn and the state's legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle are Cook County residents, Dillard said Tracy and he would provide geographic balance to state government.
Northwest Illinois' economy is under-utilized, Dillard said, even though it's "an aerospace hub with an international airport, interstates" and good colleges and universities. But to spur growth, Dillard said, worker compensation must be reformed to make Illinois competitive with surrounding states.
Dillard said, "We need a top to bottom overhauling of our entire tax structure" in Illinois. He wants to repeal most of the sales tax on motor fuel; Illinois is one of only seven states that has such a tax, in addition to a motor fuel tax. The sales tax does not fix roads, but goes into the General Fund.
Dillard would give 70 percent of it, about $450 million, back to the people, and use the rest for infrastructure.
Dillard is against a graduated income tax, calling it a massive tax increase on the middle class, "not just the one percenters." If the measure goes to the voters, he said the question on the ballot should specify the rates everyone would pay.
Dillard wants to roll back the 67 percent tax increase passed by Democrats, but he adds a caveat.
"I didn't vote for it because they made no cuts or structural changes. I've said we should roll that back. That being said, I don't know how big the (budget) hole is. They say it's $6 billion, but I don't know. I want to see what Scott Walker's going to do in Wisconsin, because that has a bearing on what we do here. But I want to go back to a low, flat income tax." (The majority of the tax increase will expire in 2015; lawmakers could extend it in the post-election "lame duck" session.)
Dillard also emphasizes the need to reform Medicaid to reduce fraud and abuse.
"I want to try to have better management of care. I want to see what kinds of waivers I can get to have more innovation in Medicaid. And I do have a relationship with the current occupant of the White House."
Dillard said he would appoint one person in his administration to examine Medicaid rolls and expunge ineligible recipients. Out-of-state residents try to get on Medicaid in Illinois because the state offers better benefits than surrounding states. Dillard cited a study saying that just reducing benefits to the same level as nearby states would save more than $1 billion.
"The New York Times, not a conservative newspaper, estimates that Medicaid is 10 percent fraud, and in Illinois that means $1.5 billion."
If a Republican becomes governor, he'll have to work with House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton to get anything done.
"Nobody has the bipartisan ability that I do," Dillard said. "I was the Senate sponsor of the work rule changes law at McCormick Place, which kept it the convention center of America. Speaker Madigan was the House sponsor."
