Kirk Dillard Quoted on Possible 2014 Gubernatorial Run

State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) is pondering another run for governor, according to a Daily Herald story published on Aug. 17.

Dillard says his first priority is to get re-elected to his 24th Senate District seat in November—he's going up against Democrat A. Ghani—but at a recent Springfield event, the Herald quoted the senator as saying he's having talks "to assess what 2014 looks like."

The native, who has represented the 24th since 1993, cited his experience as former Gov. Jim Edgar's chief of staff as something that makes him a good gubernatorial candidate, as well as his personal background. 

“I think the right template for the election of a Republican governor is a suburbanite with very strong downstate roots,” Dillard said in the Herald.

Dillard ran for governor in 2010, but lost narrowly to Bill Brady in the Republican primary. 

In March, in a heated primary for the Republican spot on November's general election ballot. If he wins, as is expected, he would have to choose between running for governor or for senate re-election in 2014. 

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, Dillard said making Illinois a “destination economy” for job creators is one of his top priorities.

"Whether it is protecting raids of suburbanites money from the Tollway and METRA, or fighting for suburban school funding which holds property taxes down, I fight for area taxpayers and their families," Dillard said.

Click here to read the full Daily Herald story.