GOP governor candidates elbow for position in debate
Five Republican candidates for governor positioned themselves for the race in the upcoming February primary Wednesday with a debate at the Union League Club in Chicago.
Dan Proft and Adam Andrzejewski tried to polish their images as political outsiders opposed to the "culture of corruption" in Springfield. State Sens. Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady presented themselves as GOP political infighters capable of dealing with the Democrats. And, Bob Schillerstrom hoped to come off as a little of both, as a Springfield outsider with executive experience as chairman of the DuPage County Board.
All pledged, to varying degrees, to hold the line on taxes and state spending, while improving Illinois' business environment, but what they most of all seemed to be running against was the political culture that has seen the previous two governors leave office in disgrace.
"New ideas require new people," said Andrzejewski, founder of the grass-roots watchdog organization ForTheGoodOfIllinois.
"I'm not of the system, but I know the system very well," said Proft, a conservative radio commentator on WLS 890-AM.
Schillerstrom, of Naperville, made a point of saying he's "not part of Springfield," and even downstate Bloomington's Brady promised a "clean break from the politics of the past," a position emphasized by Dillard, who while stressing his ties as chief of staff to Gov. Jim Edgar went on to say that, if elected, he would close his campaign office immediately.
"I will spend my time governing, not fundraising," said the Hinsdale senator.
The tone of the debate was generally respectful, with Proft throwing two of the few barbs between candidates, aiming them at the General Assembly.
When Hinsdale's Dillard touted his ethics law passed in the '90s, Proft said, "Landmark ethics legislation, how'd that end up working out for us?" And when Brady said he pushed legislation imposing term limits, Proft pointed out it set a maximum of 10 years in the House and 10 years in the Senate.
All said they opposed abortion but Schillerstrom, who said he favored a woman's right to choose.
But not all the governor hopefuls from the GOP took part Wednesday.
Former Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andrew McKenna and potential candidate Jim Ryan did not appear. In a media conference after the debate, they didn't scare any of the present candidates.
"I don't care who's in the race," Dillard said. "I'm going to run on my own record."
"The more the merrier," Brady said.
"It's probably good that we're looking at fresh people," Schillerstrom said. "We seriously need people who are not part of the Springfield culture."
After taking a couple of more swipes at Dillard, Proft said Ryan and McKenna were "typical of the arrogance ... that has made our party the minority party the last 15 years," adding, "There is not enough money in the world to sell manure-smelling air freshener, and that's what Andy McKenna is offering."
Speaking of money, Andrzejewski (pronounced "Angie-effski") said it was a "competitive secret" how much of his own millions he'll spend on the campaign, although he added a pointed poker metaphor, saying, "I'm concerned about the direction of Illinois, and I'm all in."