Palatine state Sen. Murphy eyeing run for governor
SPRINGFIELD - State Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine is the latest Republican to publicly consider throwing his hat into the 2010 Illinois governor's race.
Murphy said Monday it's a "definitive maybe" as to whether he'll enter the GOP primary. "I've got to see what the interest level is and if I can rally enough support to make the run," Murphy said. He expects to make a decision by the end of May.
If he does run, Murphy said one campaign focus will be cleaning up state government. Murphy said he's prepared to support many of the reform proposals issued last week by the Illinois Reform Commission.
"Putting us in a position where we're not embarrassed to be from Illinois would be a central part of the campaign," Murphy said.
Murphy said he would also focus on creating jobs. "We're making it too hard for people to succeed in Illinois," he said.
More immediately, Murphy and the General Assembly only have until the end of the month to pass a state budget. Murphy believes lawmakers can balance the budget without a tax increase.
"The notion that you have to raise taxes to balance the budget this year is absolutely false," Murphy said. He said Illinois could use federal stimulus money and transition Medicaid recipients to managed care to fix this year's budget.
Under the right leadership, over the next two to three years Illinois could grow jobs and restructure state programs and how it pays for them to fix the budget, Murphy said. "We didn't get into this mess in just one year," he said.
Murphy is the fourth suburban Republican considering a run for governor in the GOP primary. DuPage County Board Chairman Robert J. Schillerstrom and DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett are both sounding out supporters, while U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk of Highland Park has said he may run in the governor's race or for the U.S. Senate.
Batavia's Doug Whitley, the president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, recently dropped his bid for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, while Bloomington state Sen. Bill Brady has formally announced he's running.