Schillerstrom exploring Illinois treasurer bid
Former DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom announced today an exploratory bid for Illinois treasurer.
The Naperville Republican has organized a committee of 50 people, including former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Plano, to help him. He says he expects to make an announcement in the next few weeks on his candidacy.
Schillerstrom spent a dozen years in the county chairman job, leaving after a failed 2010 primary bid for governor.
He's touting his experience with the relatively financially stable DuPage County as a reason he'd be a good fit for the job. Illinois' financial woes have been a dominant theme in state government in recent years.
“As County Board chairman, Schillerstrom consistently delivered balanced budgets and cut property taxes while maintaining a AAA bond rating,” the statement announcing the exploratory committee reads.
Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford is running for governor in 2014, opening up the post for candidates from both parties.