Dillard promises fund-raising moratorium if elected

In his bid to succeed Democrat Patrick Quinn as Illinois governor, Republican state Sen. Kirk Dillard announced Monday an ethics package that he said he hopes to introduce in coming months. Dillard, of Hinsdale, promised not to pursue efforts to raise campaign funds during his first two years in office if he is elected governor. "I will only allow them to commence if and when I've publicly announced that I will seek re-election," Dillard said in a statement. "I believe this will send a clear signal to the public that the era of pay-to-play is finally over." Dillard criticized lawmakers for endorsing just a few of the measures recommended by the Quinn-appointed Illinois Reform Commission headed by Patrick Collins, including campaign finance reform that Quinn initially endorsed but vetoed last month when he decided the legislature's measure didn't go far enough.

As part of his ethics package, Dillard also recommended moving the Illinois primary to July in order to limit the amount of campaign time between the primary and fall election.