 That was good news for Dillard, who said that if he wins the GOP
primary, his chances are better against someone other than Lisa
Madigan, the Democrat who announced she would not run for governor
but instead seek a third term as Illinois attorney general.
"Personally, I'm glad she's not going to be my opponent in the
general election," Dillard said.
Dillard has been a state senator for nearly 16 years. He also has
worked as chief of staff to former Gov. Jim Edgar and as legislative
director for former Gov. Jim Thompson.
Dillard kicked off his campaign by blasting the Democrats who
control state government for not fixing the state's budget mess and
not doing enough to reform a government rocked by the scandals
surrounding former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
"The Democrats who control the governor's office, the General
Assembly and every single statewide office let the taxpayers of this
state down one more time," Dillard said.
The state is now a week into the new fiscal year without a
spending plan and facing a massive deficit. Gov. Pat Quinn, a
Democrat, wants to raise the state income tax to come up with more
money but has not had enough support among lawmakers. Dillard voted
against an income tax increase passed by the Democrat-controlled
Illinois Senate.
[to top of second column] |
"I'm going to put the taxpayer first," he yelled at a rally of a
couple of hundred people.
The Republican primary for governor is shaping up to be crowded
one, with about a half dozen people either declared or considering a
run, including state Sens. Bill Brady and Matt Murphy. There's also
DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom, political
commentator Dan Proft and political unknown Adam Andrzejewski.
Diilard's campaign office wasted no time in sending out automated
phone calls to registered Republicans in the state asking for their
support.
[By DEANNA BELLANDI, Associated
Press writer; LDN staff]
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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