State treasurer candidates lay out priorities
Job creation, debt reduction, economic development and consolidating state departments are among the various priorities of the four candidates running for Illinois treasurer.
Democrat Robin Kelly, Libertarian James Pauly, Republican state Sen. Dan Rutherford and the Green Party's Scott Summers are the hopefuls in the Nov. 2 election to take the job held by outgoing Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.
Summers, an attorney who lives in Harvard, said his first priority is generating jobs. He proposes a "microcapitalism" plan that offers grants and loans for home and community-based businesses and offering a summer employment program.
Rutherford, a Chenoa resident who works at ServiceMaster Co., said his first goals are investing state funds for a high and safe return and creating jobs.
Pauly, a quality assurance analyst from Chicago, contends it's essential to "try and bring down the state's debt level. The state is near bankrupt," he said.
Kelly, a Matteson resident who is the chief of staff to Giannoulias, said her top issue is growing the economy. She proposes passing legislation to boost investment in startup technology companies and to offer affordable loans to small businesses that promise to create jobs. Another idea is to partner with small businesses to promote development such as grocery stores in low-income, urban areas.
Government reform and cutting waste, is a second priority for Kelly, 54. She pledged not to accept contributions from banks or bank executives and said she has reduced her staff by 17 percent to save money.
Working to raise the state's debt rating is another important issue for Pauly, 39. Moody's Investors Services on Friday issued a negative outlook for the state's $25 billion in general obligation bonds, which could mean a ratings cut.
Rutherford, 55, thinks it's important to consolidate the treasurer and comptroller's offices, an issue that keeps surfacing in Illinois politics.
As his second priority, Summers, 61, advocates winding down all public pensions - both state and municipal - over a period of years.