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 He defined his deep interest and commitment to quality public
education as the primary reason in his running for the office.
Education is a passion he shares with his wife, Diana Rauner. She is
the CEO of a nonprofit early childhood education organization, Ounce
of Prevention.
"I'm very committed to public education. It's everybody's chance at
the American dream and a higher quality of life and great careers,"
he began.
The Governor reviewed some of the financial matters the state has to
contend with and defined state finances as 'a mess,' but he
committed, "I'm going to find a way to increase state funding for
public education this year, and every year going forward."
He is preparing a budget to be announced on February 18, his
birthday.
He said, "We're going to increase funding for K through 12
education, and early childhood education; and we're going to keep
higher education support."
He would like to see everyone who would want to go to a four-year
college be able to do that. Currently some of Illinois' colleges are
too expensive. He identified the issue as an imbalance of where the
money goes with 50 percent of the money going into administration
and only 50 percent going into the classroom.
 He would like to keep funding in place for community colleges, and
for vocational, job and technical training programs.
He would like every student to be able to set their sights on great
careers; not just jobs, but become lab technicians, high tech
manufacturing, whatever the sector might be; including through
vocational training.
He would see more vocational and occupational training brought into
the high school curriculum, make it available for credit, and do
partnerships between local high schools and colleges and local
employers, so that people have more opportunities earlier.
The Governor shared his background, which was never aimed toward
politics. He was a venture capitalist who invested in the start up,
growth and financing of about 450 companies. He invested his own
money and he also did it for various government retirement funds
such as teachers and police officers; and did very well at that for
32 years, seeing around a 20 percent return compounded annually,
double that of the stock market.
He later saw some of these businesses he helped to start leaving
Illinois due to high taxes, especially property tax, and business
practices that are not welcoming.
He and his wife were frustrated by efforts to improve education in
the state as well, and he saw the opportunity to do something, to
make a difference. For Illinois he says, "I want us to have the best
schools in America in every neighborhood. There's no reason we
can't."
Looking at the Republican and Democrat issue, he said he is
Republican and his wife is a Democrat. "The good Lord didn't make us
democrat or republican. He made us in his image to make the world a
better place."
He said that now that he has won the election, he is pumped up,
"because I'm working for you. What a privilege to work for the
people of Illinois, for the families of Illinois. My one goal in
life it to improve the quality of life for our families here."
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 He is not taking a salary or pension, but holds to the belief, "To
whom much is given, much is expected in return." Not only is he
giving back now, but many of those who are the brightest and most
talented that he has called upon to aid him in the work are not
taking salaries either.
The Governor shared some of the means by which he hopes to achieve
these goals. "Nothing in life gets done by one person. You have to
have teams of people."
His first order of business is to assemble people. He is
currently bringing people from all over Illinois, and recruiting
from other states -- Indiana, Georgia, Hawaii are coming to
help. These are people who have demonstrated unique skill at
facilitating change, top financial officers, folks with
governing experience, and people that will be working to fix the
conditions that are not working. This includes plans to change
the higher education costs so that more students could gain
college and vocational educations.
The Governor lived in the Chicago area prior to his election.
He has moved into the Governor's Mansion in Springfield, which
apparently has not been lived in for some time given the brown
water that came out of the bathroom faucet the first day he went
to shave, and a few other evidences.
He has been well acquainted with the schools in the Chicago
area. He said, now, "I'm going to be living here. I'm your
neighbor just down the road. And, I'm going to be get very
involved in the schools in central Illinois."
With the belief that "the only job that's more important than
being a great teacher, is being a great parent," Governor Rauner
is committed to finding ways to support teachers, including a
plan to use his own resources at times.
In conclusion, the Governor said to the students, "I'm here to
say hi; to listen and learn. Thank you for your dedication to
learn. Thank you for supporting your teachers and for taking
your schooling seriously."
 The Governor then took a few
questions from the students, and a question from LCHS Superintendent Robert Bagby, who made a
request to stem the flow of unfunded mandates that are passed
down to schools. The mandates are measures or regulations that
require compliance and usually cost the school, but no funding
is provided.
[Jan Youngquist]
[You can hear the
entirety of the Governor's talk with the students here.]
Other related information:
Ounce of Prevention
http://www.ounceofprevention.org/home/index.php
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