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."
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.”
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."
Dillard gets teachers union backing in GOP primary
By Kurt Erickson - Herald & Review
With little more than a month to go before voters head to the polls, one of the state's biggest campaign contributors has decided to get behind state Sen. Kirk Dillard's bid for governor.
The Illinois Education Association, which pumped in a chart-topping $2.1 million to candidates in the 2012 election cycle, endorsed the Hinsdale Republican on Friday over his three rivals.
As the state's largest teachers union, the 133,000-member IEA could give Dillard the needed cash to compete on the airwaves with wealthy venture capitalist Bruce Rauner, who has been running television ads for months in his bid to win the four-way GOP primary battle.
At a news conference in Chicago, Dillard said the union support is not coming too late in the game.
"There's an eternity to go in this election," Dillard said. "This race is far from over. The race for governor is just beginning."
The union, which was only bested in its contributions in 2012 by party committees, also could help in the ground war on March 18, said University of Illinois-Springfield political scientist Kent Redfield.
"They've got to convince teachers to pull Republican ballots," Redfield said.
The IEA's pick of Dillard was not a surprise after the recent troubles of Treasurer Dan Rutherford, Rauner's anti-union rhetoric and state Sen. Bill Brady's vote to overhaul state employee pensions in December.
Dillard received $250,000 from the union in his unsuccessful 2010 bid for governor. He said he was not bothered that the union also contributes to Democratic candidates.
"The Republican Party is not some exclusive club for people who wear neck ties," Dillard said.
"Senator Dillard is a true friend of education and educators," IEA President Cinda Klickna said. "Senator Dillard in his core believes in public education."
Meantime, Rauner has become the focus of a separate, union-funded ad campaign designed to knock him out of the race.
And, Rutherford's stock has plummeted after allegations of harassment surfaced two weeks ago. The Chenoa resident has raised enough money to begin running some television ads, but he faces an uphill battle. The longtime former lawmaker says the allegations outlined by a former employee in a federal lawsuit are false.
Rutherford had pledged to release the results of an internal investigation into the allegations, but his attorney said Thursday that the probe would not be made public because of the former worker's lawsuit.
Dillard said Rutherford's troubles have taken the focus off of the problems facing the state.
"He's got issues. I don't like to see anybody stumble," Dillard said. "His issues have sucked some of the air out of the campaign."
Brady, who has trailed the field in fundraising, is banking on his 2010 GOP gubernatorial victory and his near-win against Democrat Pat Quinn to carry him through the next month.
Gubernatorial candidates: How Dillard would bring Illinois back
The Daily Journal
On the Illinois income tax
"I did not vote for that bill (increasing the tax from 3 to 5 percent), which was brought up in the middle of the night on the last day. The Democrats said they were going to use the funds to pay off old bills. That didn't happen."
If elected, would appoint a blue ribbon committee of business leaders, farmers and taxpayer advocates to rewrite the Illinois tax code, which he calls archaic. Would have very few politicians on the committee.
Does not take "no new taxes" pledges because he wants to keep his options open, but opposes the planned progressive income tax, "which would be nothing but a massive tax increase."
"I don't trust the current legislature because they have not shown enough discipline."
Would cut the state sales tax on gasoline by 70 percent. This would save businesses and consumers $450 million. He would take $100 million and bond it to create more money for infrastructure improvement.
On Illinois public pensions
"I did not vote for the bill (which cut cost of living raises for pensioners). We were given just hours to look at it. I asked for two days of hearings. I would have liked to hear what retired teachers and what the Illinois Policy Institute would have said."
This is exactly like Obamacare. Here it is — trust us. What you read on a dot point sheet is sometimes different from everything that is in the bill."
Worries that the bill is likely unconstitutional and that the savings will simply be spent, rather than being used to pay down bills.
On balancing the Illinois budget
"Well, you couldn't do it overnight. I would have four years to get the state's fiscal house in order."
Would seek a Constitutional Amendment requiring a balanced budget in Illinois or the legislature doesn't get paid. Had no problem with the Gov. Pat Quinn tactic of blocking legislators' pay when they failed to act on cutting pension costs.
"When I was [Gov. Jim] Edgar's Chief of Staff we dealt with Mike Madigan (Illinois House Speaker) fairly. The legislature was within $80-$90 million of balancing the budget. Edgar said go back and balance it to the penny. Madigan thought we were kidding, but we got it done."
You cannot have shenanigans like rolling bills from one year to the next."
Illinois now has an estimated $6 billion in unpaid bills.
Points to his experience under Edgar, who inherited a deficit and left a surplus. The state's credit rating improved under Edgar. It has been cut during the Quinn administration.
On the minimum wage
Would keep it the same in Illinois. Voted to increase it in 2006.
"Now is not the right time to change."
Points to the operator of fast food stores, who said the proposed increase in the wage (to $10 an hour) would cost $50,000-$60,000 a store. "What it means is that he is simply going to hire one less person.
"Nobody should have to raise a family on a minimum wage."
Says the minimum wage discussion is a partial smoke screen for Illinois' failure to have a good economy.
On the Illinois economy
Says Illinois is overtaxed and would balance the budget. Would make his lieutenant governor Jil Tracy the "repealer."
"She will travel the state, finding out what regulations needlessly stifle business" and then the two would work to get rid of the harmful regulations.
Says former Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana can point to factories that located in Indiana strictly because Illinois was so slow in getting answers to their requests.
"The administration does not understand the time value of money. If it takes a year to get an answer, that's a year when you weren't in business."
Says Workers' Compensation is too expensive in Illinois.
"I would put in causation (forcing workers to prove the job caused their injury)."
Says the Illinois system is three to seven times more expensive than ones in other states for businesses.
Finally, "the cadence of corruption must go."
Points to a fertilizer plant that located in Iowa because the owner fears he will be billed for Illinois' unfunded pensions. "Iowa is clean. Illinois is not. This is a real jobs killer."
"Illinois has twice as many Fortune 500 companies as any of the states surrounding it. Microsoft employs more University of Illinois graduates than it does from any other college. We can turn this around."
Calls Illinois the capital of the Midwest.
"There's no reason why Iowa should have half the unemployment rate of Illinois."
On education
Has a 10-year-old and 12-year-old daughter. Would emphasize more science and technology, pushing for more emphasis on vocational schools.
Favors a longer school year and a second Illinois Math and Science Academy, with this one located downstate in Jacksonville. Would pay more to science and math teachers.
"Today, we are not just competing with other states for jobs. We are competing with India, China and Korea."
On waste in Medicaid
Says Medicaid (health care for those below the poverty line) is the state's largest expenditure.
"We need to purge the rolls all the time and remove people who do not qualify. When you get rid of those who are ineligible, you help to insure that those who need help will get it."
Believes that Medicaid patients ought to be entitled to the best doctors, as well as the rest of us.
"We need to purge waste and abuse and the Democrats have not done that. It is mind boggling that there is no photo on the Link card. We cannot allow people who are not eligible to get aid money and we cannot be all things to all people.
"Even the New York Times says 10 percent of the Medicaid money is being wasted on fraud."
Says that people who have scammed the state need to be prosecuted.
"People need to go to jail."
On the early release of prisoners
"I have been a vocal critic of this."
Says Quinn has released violent criminals while closing prisons. Was an early sponsor of truth-in-sentencing, requiring convicts to serve at least 85 percent of their sentence. Says those who use guns to commit felonies deserve harsher sentences.
Would allow home confinement for some drug offenders.
On marijuana
Opposes legalization. Fears that some will game the system. Says legislators need to listen to law enforcement on this issue.
Anything more that the state needs to do on gay marriage and concealed carry?
Kirk Dillard stock is rising from dysfunctional Illinois GOP gubernatorial field
By John Presta - The Examiner
Four candidates want the Republican nomination for governor of Illinois for the right to take on the presumed Democratic nominee, the presumptive favorite Governor Pat Quinn.
Bruce Rauner wants to run Illinois "like a business," but if that means run it like the way he and his private equity firm, GTCR, ran the "nursing home business," the state of Illinois is in real trouble. Rauner and his former firm that he co-founded have outstanding judgments against them for "nursing home abuse, neglect and deaths" against them to the tune of more than $2 billion dollars. That is billion with a "b."
State Sen. Bill Brady almost won the governor's race in 2010, but a last-minute push by organized labor, led by then Federation of Labor head Dennis Gannon, derailed Brady's candidacy by a relatively handful of votes. This time, Brady is not resonating with the voters and his fundraising is weak.
On Friday, Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford candidacy blew up in a very public way at a press conference that he called in which he said essentially "I can't anything, but Bruce Rauner is screwing me." It calls into serious question whether Rutherford has the right temperament to become the next governor of Illinois.
Late Friday, Rich Miller's Capitol Fax reported that the charges against Rutherford that the allegations against Rutherford are "serious and real," according to the attorney filing the charges against Rutherford.
That leaves one man that could save the Illinois Republican Party.
State Senator Kirk Dillard, who was former Governor Jim Edgar's chief-of-staff.
Dillard is emerging is the sane one in the field that has the even temperament to run the government of Illinois in this dysfunctional field of candidates. While it is acknowledged that Dillard is not running the best of campaigns, his ability to govern is unquestioned on both sides of the aisle.
Dillard is dealing with many of the issues in the state of Illinois, while Rauner attacks "union bosses" and "career politicians." But Rauner is weak on the issues.
By the same token, neither Brady nor Rutherford have dealt directly with the issues.
Recently, Dillard called on passing a bill that would require state Constitutional Officers and state lawmakers to carry the same standard health insurance benefits that citizens are now required to carry under Obamacare.
"Far too often, legislators pass laws effecting everyone else, but then exempt themselves," Dillard said. "Most citizens believe that their elected officials should play by the same rules as they are required to. This has never been more evident than when you talk to people about Obamacare."
Dillard also called for a cut in the sales tax on gasoline, providing almost a half billion dollars of needed relief for motorists at the pump. Dillard’s proposal, which includes a bonding provision, also provides almost a billion for failing roads and bridges.
"This will save a typical family in Illinois nearly $200 a year while also putting people to work on road and bridge projects that are in dire need of repair," Dillard said. "We already pay among the highest gas prices in the nation, and this is really a tax on a tax. It’s just plain unfair."
The proposal, which is part of Dillard’s "Destination Economy" jobs plan, would reduce the 5 percent state sales tax on gas, while leaving the local government portion undisturbed.
Republican candidate for Governor Kirk Dillard today issued the following statement in response to Speaker Madigan's plan:
"Speaker Madigan's proposal coming one day after the Governor's State of the State address shows how even Madigan saw how little substance and vision there were in the Governor's remarks. It's also clear that Madigan is running the show and setting the agenda.
"As for the Speaker's proposal, it's great to see the Democrats finally recognize that Illinois has a horrible business climate and is a major reason why Illinois ranks dead last in job creation.
"We need real tax reform, not a piecemeal approach. We also haven't heard from Madigan or the Governor whether they plan to extend the temporary 67 percent income tax increase."
While Dillard is out campaigning and discussing the issues, Rauner is on the defensive about his time at GTCR and defending the lawsuits against him in the "nursing home" business.
Meanwhile, Rutherford is busy defending himself on "bad behavior" in the Illinois treasurer's office. The strange press conference shows his poor temperament.
Here is how Dan Mihalopoulos of the Chicago Sun Times described the events leading up to that press conference.
State Treasurer Dan Rutherford strode confidently into the downtown hotel meeting room where he held a news conference Friday morning, smiling at reporters like he had come to announce an endorsement, unveil a policy initiative or share some other ostensibly positive news in his bid for Republican nomination for governor.
What followed was anything but a routine campaign event. Rutherford announced that an investigation was being launched by his office of the Illinois State Treasurer about what isn't exactly clear.
"Let me make this very clear, there is absolutely no truth to the allegations. No factual support or merit," said a clearly flustered and frustrated Rutherford.
He didn't do it, whatever it is. But he can't talk about it, although he wished that he could.
Illinois gubernatorial candidate Kirk Dillard greeted patrons of Spudos Donuts, 1922 N. Henderson St., Saturday morning while a winter storm pounded the town outside.
Joined by state Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, state Sen. Dillard, R-Hinsdale, discussed his plans for Illinois if elected governor while answering questions from the community.
“You always have to have the minimum wage, and I’d certainly never propose cutting it,” Dillard said, “but at this time in Illinois’s economic history we should not be increasing the minimum wage. When you increase the minimum wage, places like Spudos might hire one less student or part-time worker.”
Discussing jobs in the area with a group drinking coffee, Dillard pointed to the importance of BNSF as a reason for employers to come to Galesburg and the state of Illinois, calling it a “destination economy.”
“You’re perfectly located to ship anywhere in the United States of America,” he said. “You’ve got a good workforce, it’s a great place to live. You’ve got a university, you’ve got WIU down the road and the Quad Cities just north.”
Galesburg resident Larry Wood wondered about the payoff of those pros.
“But it hasn’t worked out for us. We have all those things that you’ve mentioned, but we haven’t got anything out of it,” Wood said.
Dillard pointed to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and current Gov. Pat Quinn as having demonized businesses, and Quinn being incapable of accomplishing anything, comparing him to an “absent-minded professor.”
Dillard repeatedly discussed agriculture as the key to Illinois jobs, stating that a quarter of the state’s economy comes from agriculture-based goods.
“We need them whether it is Pioneer up in Woodhull, or ADM up in Decatur, or Sara Lee that’s in my district,” Dillard said, mentioning his running mate Jil Tracy and her family’s company Dot Foods that “has a couple thousand employees outside Quincy and Mount Sterling.”
Before concluding, Dillard briefly touched on Friday’s announcement of the closing of the Galesburg Sears store.
“It’s tragic when a retailer like Sears with a tremendous Illinois history leaves Galesburg or anywhere else,” Dillard said. “It’s very sad as I’ve watched Sears not only in Galesburg, but in other places throughout the United States have troubles.”
The winner of the March 18 Republican primary 2014 will face Gov. Patrick Quinn in the general election Nov. 4. Also running on the Republican ballot are state Sen. Bill Brady, businessman Bruce Rauner, and state Treasurer Dan Rutherford.
