Politics & Government

Dillard 2014 Campaign: Off to a Rocky Start?

After having his rollout dimmed by an "ironic" announcement from Lisa Madigan, Kirk Dillard has now lost the backing of a former ally to whom he is in financial debt.

For a couple of reasons, some observers—including Illinois government reform group and regular Patch bloggers Reboot Illinois—are not impressed so far with the opening week of state Sen. Kirk Dillard's (R-Hinsdale) campaign for Illinois governor.

As reported by the State Journal-Register, Helene Curtis CEO and major GOP financier Ron Gidwitz, formerly a Dillard ally but one whom Dillard owes nearly $200,000 from his unsuccessful 2010 gubernatorial campaign, has instead thrown his significant weight behind rival Republican candidate Bruce Rauner, becoming that campaign's finance chairman.

Gidwitz acknowledged that the debt was an "outstanding obligation," the paper said, but denied that it was a factor in his allegiance, saying that Rauner "has the fire in his belly. He has focused on what I think are the fundamental issues of the campaign, which are the budget, pension system, taxes and jobs. ... He understands the issues. He’s dealt with many of them in his career.”

This after Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan somewhat stole the spotlight from Dillard's campaign rollout by announcing she would not join the governor's race, instead seeking re-election to her current position, the paper said—which Dillard found suspicious.

"When I announced on July 8, 2009, for governor—my wife’s birthday—Lisa Madigan said she was going to run (for) re-election as attorney general,” Dillard told the paper. “So I find it ironic... the two times in my life I’ve announced for governor have been the very day that Lisa Madigan says she is going to run for re-election."

Read more at the State Journal-Register and the Reboot Illinois websites.


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