Schillerstrom drops out of gov.'s race, backs Ryan

Naperville Republican Bob Schillerstrom dropped his bid for governor Friday and threw his weight in DuPage County behind former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan.

"I'm a pragmatic individual and at the end of the day I didn't think I could win," Schillerstrom said at Chicago news conference with Ryan. "The unfortunate problem is that we couldn't raise the resources ... we couldn't get our message out."

The elimination of Schillerstrom, whose name will still remain on the ballot because they have already been printed, shortens up the packed primary field to six candidates. He was the lone Republican candidate touting a "moderate" position on social issues like abortion and gun control.

The move reduces competition in the Republican bastion of DuPage County for other suburban candidates like Ryan and state Sen. Kirk Dillard, who said in a statement Friday he had "enjoyed " working with Schillerstrom while not mentioning Ryan.

Dillard pointed out, however, that he used to head the DuPage County Republican Party.

Ryan, also a former DuPage County State's Attorney from Elmhurst, said he is counting on many of Schillerstrom's backers to come into his camp. The support could mean a boost in votes, organization and money in the final stretch of the primary campaign.

Many of Schillerstrom's DuPage supporters, which include a majority of the township committeemen, had picked him before Ryan's late entry to the field.

"I think I will get a lot of their support," Ryan said. "We are mining for votes everywhere, but DuPage County is my home."

While Schillerstrom cited his lack of money to keep up with TV ads, the reality is that Ryan is suffering the same fate.

Both have raised about a half a million dollars, far short of the $4.2 million and that former state GOP boss Andy McKenna put into the race and Dillard's $1.5 million.

Ryan charged Friday that McKenna "is trying to buy this election," a noticeable uptick in rhetoric against the Chicago Republican who is blanketing TV and radio with ads that imply Dillard and Ryan will raise taxes.

McKenna ripped the Schillerstrom endorsement of Ryan Friday, saying the two deserve each other because they both have supported tax increases in the past.

Schillerstrom has about a year left as DuPage County chairman. He said he plans to focus on his private law practice after that and has no plans to join a future Ryan administration.

"There is no backroom deal," Schillerstrom said in response to questions at the news conference.

Schillerstrom said he is supporting Ryan because "he is a man of integrity. He is a man of honesty and he is a man who is tested."

Schillerstrom and Ryan disagree on several issues, however, including abortion rights and selling the tollway. Ryan opposes legalized abortion and is considering a tollway sale.

But Schillerstrom says they agree on economics and ethics, which he considers to be more important issues in this election.

The other candidates for governor in the Republican primary include Chicago conservative commentator Dan Proft, state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington and Hinsdale businessman Adam Andrzejewski.

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