Dillard: No fundraising first two years in office; ban session fundraising

Republican candidate for Illinois governor Kirk Dillard today announced his ethics reform initiative which includes his pledge to refrain from raising campaign re-election funds if elected as Governor during his first two years in office.

“If I’m fortunate enough to be elected as Illinois’ next governor, I will forgo campaign fundraising efforts for my campaign fund during the first two years in office,” Dillard said. "Additionally, I will only allow them to commence if and when I’ve publicly announced that I will seek re-election. I believe this will send a clear signal to the public that the era of pay-to-play is finally over.”

According to a poll conducted by the Chicago Tribune last week, “nearly 6 in 10 voters said the measures enacted by lawmakers and Quinn would have little or no effect on curbing corruption in Illinois.”

“We have a landmark opportunity to enact real reforms that will restore integrity and pride back to the people of Illinois,” Dillard continued. “The cynicism the public has concerning public officials’ willingness to regulate themselves is well earned. I believe this state’s reputation as being politically corrupt is also a profound effect on our ability to attract and retain employers, jobs and prosperity. This continuing corruption must end now.”

In addition to Dillard’s main objective to refrain from fundraising for his own campaign during the first two years as Governor, Dillard’s ethics reform initiative also includes:

• Encouraging the General Assembly to vote on each individual recommendation from the Collins Commission;
• Passing legislation to ban all fundraising for every state lawmaker and Constitutional Officer commencing 30 days before and at least 72 hours after every regular legislative session, veto session and all special sessions of the Illinois General Assembly;
• Moving the Primary Election date from February to the end of July of the election year;
• Requiring constitutional officers and state lawmakers (and spouses) to disclose their outside financial interests (officer and director positions), income range received from employment, business interests, and property holdings.
• Exploring every option that would serve to substantially curtail election abuses.

Dillard emphasized that the entire Collins Commission list of recommendations should be voted on individually.

“You can’t ask a blue-ribbon panel of experts to examine the system’s political shortcomings and then cherry pick the ones that are considered,” Dillard said. “We should publicly debate each recommendation and vote on it based on its merits. I also find it ironic that Governor Quinn, along with Democratic leadership, attempted to portray House Bill 7, a watered down ethics reform, as ‘meaningful reform’ just to veto the legislation a few days later. ”

Dillard would also add a total ban on fundraising during the months when Illinois’ legislative sessions take place. Currently, only a ban on Springfield-based fundraisers on session days has been set in place by legislation sponsored by Dillard (Public Act 90-737). His new proposal will end all efforts to raise campaign cash 30 days before and at least 72 hours after every regular legislative session, veto session and all special sessions of the Illinois General Assembly. Dillard also proposed that the Primary Election date be moved from February to late July of the election year.

“I’ve never held a Springfield fundraiser because I believe it presents the wrong message to my supporters,” Dillard said. “Many of the pay-to-play troubles we’ve experienced are based on individuals who are trying to build their campaign war chests. People cannot think that policy decisions are being made based on campaign contributions.”

“In order to make Illinois a Destination Economy, we need to restore trust and integrity so that Illinoisans are proud of its leaders and businesses can locate here without being worried about a shakedown,” Dillard continued. “Illinois is in a crisis and needs a full time governor, not someone who is looking to advance his or her own political agenda. I firmly believe by moving the Primary Election date to late July, elected officials will have more time to focus on serving its constituency rather than fixating on their campaign cash flow.”

Dillard said that these proposed reforms will soon be drafted into legislation and filed in the State Senate.

Dillard was the sponsor of the first major ethics reform legislation that passed the General Assembly in a quarter century, Public Act 90-737, effective as of January 1, 1999. First elected state senator in 1994, Dillard was previously the chief of staff for Governor Jim Edgar, and the legislative director for Governor James R. Thompson.

Download release PDF here: www.dillardforgovernor.com/press.html

Statement on U of I Trustee appointments

LISLE, Ill – State Senator Kirk Dillard, candidate for governor, today issued the following statement on the University of Illinois Trustee Appointments by Governor Quinn:

Since first calling on Governor Quinn to immediately discharge the University of Illinois Board of Trustees when I announced my candidacy for Governor on July 8th, Illinois taxpayers have waited nearly two months as the governor has waffled on his decisions concerning the matter.

While I’m pleased that the Governor has finally acted by making these appointments, as Governor I would not need a Commission and over $500,000 of state spending to prod me to make this decision. I knew instinctively and as a leader what needed to be done to return integrity to the taxpayers, faculty and students of one of the top ten academic institutions in the country: that is a new world-class Board of Trustees.

As a member of the Illinois State Senate, I look forward to the confirmation process that will allow us to completely and comprehensively review the candidates that the Governor has nominated.

As Governor, I will conduct a nation-wide search of University of Illinois alumni with assistance of alumni, faculty, business and civic leaders to chose a board that is worthy of the University of Illinois’ stature.

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Dillard annouces campaign team leadership

For Immediate Release: Contact: Brook Hougesen
Friday, September 4, 2009 Phone: (630) 991-1057

Dillard Announces Additions to Senior Campaign Leadership Team

LISLE, Ill. – Republican candidate for governor Kirk Dillard today announced that Iroquois County native Tim Peters has accepted the post of Campaign Manager for Dillard’s gubernatorial campaign with Carol Stream native David Carlin accepting the post as Deputy Campaign Manager.

“I am privileged to have someone heading my campaign with the political know-how and integrity that Tim Peters possesses,” said Dillard. “Peters has a proven track-record of commitment and dedication to electing well-respected, fiscally conservative leaders in office. His background and experience in the agriculture and food sectors will be a major asset as we work together to improve Illinois’ largest industry: agriculture.

Peters brings a wealth of public and private sector experience to bear for the campaign including his service as Political Director to former U.S. Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert. He has held senior posts with former U.S. Representative Robin Hayes (R-NC) and U.S. Representative Jerry Moran (R-KS). Peters also served as a Senior Director at McDonald’s Corporation doing Public Affairs work both domestically and internationally.

“I’m honored to be working with Senator Dillard and look forward to being a part of his team,” said Peters. “Early on in our discussions about joining his campaign, Kirk expressed his insights about what it takes to restore integrity to Illinois government, balance our state’s budget, and get Illinoisans working again. I’m happy to be a part of the effort to make his vision a reality.”

Raised in Danforth, Illinois on his family’s farm, Peters is an alumnus of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign with a degree in secondary education and Kansas State University where he studied Agricultural Economics. Peters also serves on Harvard University’s Public and Private Scientific and Consumer Advisory Council and is Vice Chairman of the Board for Common Threads, a non-profit in Chicago.

David Carlin has been named as Deputy Campaign Manager. Carlin, a 1998 alumnus of Augustana College in Rock Island, has been involved in Illinois Republican politics as well as local government for over a decade. Carlin served as Executive Director of the DuPage Republican Party in 2006-2007 and Deputy Executive Director of the Illinois Republican Party from 2000-2005. In 2006, he was elected to the College of DuPage Board of Trustees. Carlin serves as Vice Chairman of the Board and helps oversee the college’s $156 million annual operating budget.

“David is a loyal and keen advisor,” Dillard continued. “He shares my vision to make Illinois a destination economy. I’m very fortunate to have such dedicated and experienced leaders on my campaign team. Like me, Tim and David have young children and are dedicated to making the Land of Lincoln a place where we can raise a family with pride, offer a world-class education system and create careers suited for the 21st Century workforce.

Peters and Carlin join Ron Gidwitz, General Campaign Chairman and Gwen Henry, Campaign Treasurer as members of the Senior Dillard for Governor Leadership Team.

The Tech Perspective: Dillard is the frontrunner

"Kirk Dillard is currently the front-runner for the GOP nod. The State Senator from Hinsdale has been a long – time champion of promoting and supporting the technology industry in Illinois."

Read the article: http://chicagotechnews.com/government-affairs/2010-illinois-elections-the-tech-perspective

Dillard Responds to Hynes Tax Increase

For Immediate Release Contact: Brook Hougesen
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 Phone: 630-991-1057

DILLARD RESPONDS TO HYNES TAX INCREASE

LISLE, Ill. – Earlier today, Democrat Dan Hynes released his plans to raise taxes through a Constitutional Amendment. State Senator Kirk Dillard, Republican gubernatorial candidate, today addressed the Dan Hynes tax increase:

No state has ever taxed and borrowed its way into prosperity - the same way no family has ever spent their way out of a financial bind. It’s more of the Blagojevich-Hynes-Quinn-Chicago “dem-economics” that got us into this problem.

When are Illinois Democrat leaders, who control every statewide office and both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly, going to learn? Just like Illinois families and small businesses, the state must learn to live within its means.

These plans do not represent leadership. Instead, they represent more of the tried and failed. Others are proposing more borrowing--another failed economic concept--to bring about growth and prosperity.

As Governor, I will immediately begin the tough work I learned as Chief of Staff during the Edgar Administration. Although we inherited significant debt, we balanced the budget and left a surplus.

I will aggressively tackle a state budget that has now grown to more than $50 billion dollars. We can fund the essential services and provide for the most needy in our state with current revenues if we simply set our priorities and transform the way government is run. We need a responsible budget hat prioritizes the state’s programs and expenses.

Illinos needs to grow our economy...create a strong jobs and career climate....stop demonizing “job creators” and let the world and country know that, once again, Illinois is open for business development and expansion. A good start would be to pass the jobs initiatives I outlined earlier this week.

If we accomplish these goals, we will transform Illinois from being 48th in economic expansion to entering the top-ten list as fast as possible.

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Dillard Calls for Renewed Agricultural Focus

Springfield, Ill.- Republican candidate for governor Kirk Dillard today criticized Illinois Governor Pat Quinn for eliminating all funding for the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR). More than $2 million used for food and agricultural research at Illinois State University and Southern Illinois University was slashed by Quinn. The Governor’s action also jeopardizes federal funding that provides a match of $4 to $5 for every state dollar appropriated. The comments were made at the Farm Progress Show outside Decatur, Illinois.

For full release go to www.DillardForGovernor.com/press.html

Quinn’s Lack of Leadership on Jobs and Economic Recovery Hurts Illinois’ Workers & Job Creators

LISLE, Ill. – State Senator Kirk Dillard, gubernatorial candidate, today expressed outrage that Governor Quinn failed to make appointments to his own economic development commission designed to offer recommendations for improving Illinois’ economy during the worst economic time in our nation since the Great Depression. Dillard who has announced plans to make Illinois a “destination economy” called on Governor Quinn to fulfill his responsibility by making appointments so that the General Assembly can consider legislation to encourage job growth during the fall veto session beginning October 14.

Read the release: http://www.dillardforgovernor.com/press.html