GOP governor debate grows testier as election nears
The Republican candidates for governor fired insults and accusations at each other in a Tuesday night debate but saved some of the toughest comments for an opponent who didn't show up for the face-off.
Andy McKenna's decision not to take part in the debate brought mockery from the other Republicans. One accused him of going underground like a mole. Another said McKenna's wealthy father had grounded him.
The candidates also accused McKenna of unethical behavior for using his former position as chairman of the Illinois Republican Party to include his name in a party-funded poll to gauge the prospects of various candidates. A party investigation found that McKenna acted improperly, and he has apologized.
"If he can't act ethically running the state party, how is he possibly going to be the governor of Illinois and clean up state politics?" asked Jim Ryan, the former attorney general.
McKenna's campaign said he missed the debate because he was busy campaigning in central Illinois. The debate moderator, Phil Ponce, noted that WTTW-TV invited candidates to the event all the way back on Nov. 13.
Polls suggest McKenna, Ryan and state Sen. Kirk Dillard lead the field of six GOP candidates.
Hoping to close the gap, Bill Brady often went on the offensive against other candidates.
Bloomington state senator Brady accused Ryan and Dillard of supporting past tax increases, and he criticized them for refusing to sign a pledge vowing never to raise taxes. Dillard said a smart leader never takes any option off the table. Ryan said he may not have signed a piece of paper but he was indeed vowing not to raise taxes.
Brady also attempted to one-up the other candidates on balancing the state budget.
All of them say they would close the budget deficit -- estimated at a record-high $12.8 billion -- by cutting spending and spurring economic growth. But most say fixing the problem can't be done in a single year. Brady went further.
"Real Republicans take tax pledges and real Republicans balance budgets in first years," Brady said. "I will balance the budget the first year."
Brady said he would do it through a 10 percent across-the-board spending cut and through overhauling Medicaid and government pensions. A 10-percent cut would provide perhaps one-third of the necessary savings, while Medicaid and pension changes would be unlikely to save much money the first year.
More than once, opponents questioned whether Brady has been effective during his 17 years in Springfield. "What is your accomplishment in the Legislature?" asked businessman Adam Andrzejewski.
Brady paused. "I've done several things," he said, before offering such examples as pension changes for university employees and working to deregulate banks and insurance.
The candidates were asked who they would support on Feb. 2 if they were not in the race themselves. Brady and Ryan didn't answer. Dillard and public relations consultant Dan Proft picked Ryan, while Andrzejewski backed Proft.