GOP candidates for governor hold debate
ABC7
THOMAS: The seven candidates for the Republican nomination for governor of Illinois squared off in a debate on Thursday night. Under spotlights with a dramatic fanfare blaring in the background, the seven contenders entered the ballroom with a shared promise to cut government spending and not to raise taxes. . .On Wednesday night, five of the candidates appeared at a debate sponsored by an ultra-conservative "tea party" group in Will County. The lean to the right continued on Thursday night's event. As Kirk Dillard tried to put distance between himself and the healthcare policies of his former Illinois Senate colleague and friend, now-president Barack Obama. "As governor, I'll be damned if I'm going to let a socialistic Washington shove a new mandate down the taxpayers' throats of Illinois," said Sen. Kirk Dillard, (R) candidate for governor. The candidates rarely mentioned each other and there were no direct disagreements during the so-called debate. The state Republican chairman expressed confidence in the party's chance to recapture the governor's office in 2010. "I think the Democrats have created a great opportunity for us. Single party Democratic rule has run the state into the ground. It's time for a change and I think the voters see that," said Pat Brady, Illinois Republican chairman.
>> Read more at Illinois News Page
700+ turnout for Tea Party forum; Five Republican gubernatorial candidates, but no Democrats speak
Southtown Star
RAKOW: Some 700 people turned out Wednesday night in Homer Glen for a gubernatorial candidate forum sponsored by the Will County Tea Party Alliance. Five Republican candidates participated in the event: Adam Andrzejewski, a Hinsdale businessman; Dan Proft, a political consultant and conservative activist; Bob Schillerstrom, chairman of the DuPage County Board; and state senators Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard. The candidates responded to questions posed from a four-member panel and then took questions from the audience. All 13 Republican and Democratic candidates running for governor were invited to the forum, held at DiNolfo's Banquet Hall, 14447 W. 159th St. Gov. Patrick Quinn and his main challenger, state Comptroller Dan Hynes, skipped the forum. Third-party candidates were not invited because they're unopposed in the Feb. 2 primary election. The forum follows a series of successful Tea Party rallies against big government and excessive taxation that were held across the nation during the summer, said Tim Krauldis, chairman of the Joliet Tax Day Tea Party. "We need to engage the system," Krauldis said. "It's the right thing to do. You can only carry a sign and go to a rally for so long. The system is in place. If you don't engage it, you can't complain." Bob Dylik, of Tinley Park, said he attended to get his first look at some of the candidates running for governor. "I want to see what we have coming up for the governor's race and see what they stand for," Dylik said, adding that he was encouraged by the large turnout. "We have become complacent as a society. People need to know they can get together with other like-minded people. This is a wake-up call." Bob Camp, of Darien, said he attended the forum to support Proft. Bill Christakes, of New Lenox, who attended the forum with Camp, saw the event as a success. "I think it's a great idea to get out here and energize the citizenry," Christakes said.
>> Read more at Illinois News Page
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