Rauner quits day job
Friday, Oct 19, 2012 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Is this a step toward a gubernatorial run? Maybe so…
Bruce Rauner, the civic-minded private equity executive who has been mentioned as a potential Republican candidate for Illinois governor, is retiring from GTCR, one of Chicago’s biggest private equity firms, where he was managing director. He said he plans to spend more time on civic and philanthropic interests. […]
Reached Thursday night, Rauner said he was traveling, busy with meetings and unavailable for an interview.
Canfield, a managing partner, credits Rauner with helping to build GTCR into a significant private equity firm.
He also noted on Friday morning that Rauner has more civic and political activities on his plate, and the firm has restrictions and limitations on those types of activities.
“Being a full-time employee at GTCR comes with significant restrictions on outside activities, and it got to the point where Bruce didn’t want to be encumbered to engage in his civic and political activities,” Canfield said this morning. “He wanted the freedom without those restrictions.”
I’m hearing that Nick Ayers, who headed the Republican Governors Association’s efforts for a few years and then ran Tim Palentty’s disastrous presidential bid is behind this move.
- walkinfool - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 12:59 pm:
Bingo!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 1:04 pm:
Totally Wrong …
I heard Rauner wants to …”Spend more time with his family”
Nothing to see here …
- Chicago - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 1:13 pm:
Hopefully he wants to be finance chair for Dillard for Gov!!
- wordslinger - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 1:28 pm:
There’s one born every minute.
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 1:33 pm:
If there’s one thing that would make me vote for Pat Quinn for governor, it’s the Republicans turning to someone who thinks managing money is work.
These people typically produce almost no goods and services that get consumed by middle class people.
Their idea of being productive is manipulating the tax code and legalizing gambling with capital, a form of gambling that mostly shifts money from outsiders (middle-class rubes) to insiders.
They exist in a cloud castle in the sky that breeds a complete arrogance about how normal people live.
They are parasites. I didn’t vote for Quinn in the 2010 general election. I never voted for Blagojevich. I didn’t vote for Poshard.
I will support the Democratic nominee if financial sector scum is the best the GOP can do.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 1:34 pm:
Having seen him recently on Chicago Tonight, they’d better lock him in a practice studio and not let him out until he is much, much better on television. A new ward robe and a makeover wouldn’t be bad ideas either. He’s kind of gray all over.
Unless he’s not planning a run for office, in which case, he needn’t change a thing.
- CircularFiringSquad - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 1:41 pm:
Looking better for pQ everyday!
Fire, Aim, Ready
- in the know - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 2:01 pm:
Bruce Rauner, meet Ron Gidwitz and Rich Williamson
- TFR - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 2:10 pm:
Saw Rauner speak at a luncheon in Oak Lawn earlier this week to the south suburban tourism bureau. I came away impressed. He spoke without notes and used a wireless mic that allowed him to walk about the stage during a power point presentation. Definitely looked to me like he’s been taking public speaking classes. Interestingly, two other potential GOP candidates were in attendance: Christine Radogno and Matt Murphy.
- Mr.Big Trouble - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 2:50 pm:
Wow Carl, that’s a bit much, don’t you think? So you would vote for anther democrat, many of whom have no real world business experience, rather than vote for someone new who may offer a different perspective on how to solve problems that life long politicians have created. BTW, I have been in the financial services field for 30 + years, and, at last check, have my feet firmly planted on the ground in terms of doing right by my clients, morally, ethically, and financially.
- Brendan - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 3:09 pm:
Apparently, Rauner wants to be 2014’s Andy McKenna.
- Brendan - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 3:09 pm:
…or 2014’s Ron Gidwitz.
- L.S. - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 3:10 pm:
Nick Ayers legitimately cost Pawlenty a shot at the nomination. He bowed out well before the GOP started playing musical chairs on frontrunners. With no Pawlenty to turn to, people like Herman Cain and Newt got a chance to play front runner for a week. If he had stayed in (and stayed solvent) he would have had his shot at frontrunner of the week and might have been the only non-scary Mitt alternative. Maybe it’s one race and not enough to judge a guy. But Ayers was like Cade McNown bad on that one.
- Brendan - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 3:10 pm:
Maybe him an Oberweis can run as a ticket.
- dave - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 3:54 pm:
**Cade McNown bad**
Haha. Awesome.
And Rauner fascinates me. I don’t see how he could win in the General (even against Quinn), but I could see him winning a primary.
- NW Illinois - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 3:55 pm:
As a downstate Democrat, I’d welcome a fresh face with a strong business background into the 2014 race for Governor — someone like Chris Kennedy.
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 3:59 pm:
Has the financial services industry done right by the U.S. economy?
Has the financial services industry cheated its clients?
Has the financial services industry been held accountable for the criminal activity by the big fish?
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 4:07 pm:
Nothing connects you more to the commonman than being able to quit your job to play politics as a full-time hobby.
Downstaters have been crying out for years for a Chicago Republican private equity manager to run.
Hope he plays well in Lincoln County
- in the know - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 4:09 pm:
any truth to the rumor that he’s actually Rahm’s choice?
- OneMan - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 4:12 pm:
You realize how huge of an employer they are in this state?
But whatever…
I am sure the materialist dialectic or whatever is the root of all evil.
Finally, nothing personal dude, you are not the target audience for a Republican candidate…
- railrat - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 4:33 pm:
Rauner a “lunchpail republican” ? LOL
- Kwark - Friday, Oct 19, 12 @ 4:58 pm:
Rahm crony? Check.
On Arne Duncan’s clout list to get a friend’s child into Payton HS? Check.
Associated with all-white country clubs that excluded black people (and women)? Check.
This will be entertaining.