GOP governor candidate visits Arlington Heights

Political pundit Dan Proft made a pitch on why he'd be the best Republican candidate in the 2010 governor's race during a business gathering at a downtown Arlington Heights eatery Wednesday night.

Making Illinois more friendly toward business was central to Proft's speech before about 40 guests who attended the Connecters Networking Groups event at La Tasca Tapas Restaurant. Proft said state government's penchant for raising taxes is not how to create a good business climate.

"Business are fleeing this state like it's on fire," said Proft, a Wheaton resident who founded a public-relations company and does political commentaries on WLS-AM 890.

He also criticized the state for having a system that allows some public employees to collect two taxpayer-funded pensions. He said an overly generous public employee pension system is part of a "spending problem" in a state the collects plenty of revenue.

"What you have, in effect, is a public sector that is cannibalizing the private sector," said Proft.

Proft is part of what is expected to be a crowded field in the GOP primary. While he hasn't held elected office, Proft's political experience includes being a top aide in Republican Alan Keyes' unsuccessful attempt to win a U.S. Senate seat that President Barack Obama captured in 2004.

In his most recent campaign disclosure documents filed with the state July 20, Proft reported total receipts of $103,579 and $86,920 in expenditures. He had $16,695 available in his campaign fund.

Other Republican candidates for governor are DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom of Naperville, state Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale and state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington.

Former Illinois GOP Chairman Andy McKenna is expected to the race as well.

State Sen Matt Murphy of Palatine dropped out Wednesday to run for lieutenant governor instead.