Cross wins GOP state treasurer primary

Vowing to "restore fiscal sanity" in Illinois, State Rep. Tom Cross declared victory Tuesday in the Republican primary for state treasurer.

With 72 percent of precincts statewide counted, Cross, of Oswego, the former house minority leader, had 58 percent to DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan's 42 percent.

"Tonight, voters across the state approved our message that Illinois must have a treasurer who is committed to honestly balancing the state's budget without continuing to raise taxes on hardworking families, while cracking down on the waste and fraud which are pervasive in state government," Cross told a gathering of staff, family and friends. "I am humbled by the support of my fellow citizens and focused on working every day to restore fiscal sanity to our state."

Cross will face Democrat Michael Frerichs of Champaign in November.

During the campaign, Grogan, of Downers Grove, touted his work experience as a CPA, a certified fraud examiner and as the county's auditor.

"My opponent had a 20-year head start on me; I've been on the political scene 14 months," Grogan said Tuesday night. "I've meet numerous candidates throughout the state and I'm anxious to keep supporting the Republican Party."

Current State Treasurer Dan Rutherford was seeking the Republican nomination for the governor's office, but conceded that race Tuesday.