Ex-Gov. Edgar officially comes out for Dillard
State Sen. Kirk Dillard is hopeful Monday's endorsement of his gubernatorial run by longtime Illinois Republican Party standard-bearer Jim Edgar will be the shot in the arm his campaign needs to separate it from the packed GOP field.
"I am humbled and honored to have the full support of my friend and mentor Jim Edgar," Dillard said. "We worked together when times were tough when the governor took office. We inherited a mountain of debt back then and left a surplus in the bank."
His opponents are far more blase about the development, and consider the move more akin to Edgar doing a favor for one of his former underlings.
"Sen. Dillard has been part of state government in Springfield for many years, including a stint working for the former governor," said Bob Schillerstrom, a fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate and DuPage County Board chairman. "So today's announcement is not surprising."
Dillard's opponents also attacked the endorsement as Springfield insiders sticking together.
"The election is not about politicians endorsing other politicians," said conservative commentator and GOP candidate Dan Proft. "Sen. Dillard is a perfectly fine gentleman, but he has been part of the failed go-along-to-get-along approach in Springfield for the past 15 years."
Schillerstrom said Springfield needs "fresh voices and new solutions."
"It ... does not address how a 15-year state senator with additional years working behind the scenes in Springfield is the right person to end the dysfunction of Illinois state government," he said. "How do you change something when it is all you know?"
State Sen. Bill Brady, who is also seeking the GOP gubernatorial nomination, shied away from attacks on Springfield.
"My campaign is about tomorrow, not yesterday," he said in a statement. "The people of Illinois are looking for a candidate for governor who represents a clean break from politics of the past."
The Republican contenders have spent several months jockeying for position ahead of the February 2010 primary. DuPage County is well represented in the field of GOP hopefuls.
Dillard from Hinsdale, Schillerstrom from Naperville, Proft from Wheaton and Hinsdale businessman Adam Andrzejewski are all DuPage residents seeking the Republican nod. They are joined Brady from downstate Bloomington and former state GOP Chairman Andy McKenna of Chicago. Former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan - another DuPage resident - also has hinted at a possible run.
Filing for the Republican primary begins Oct. 26.