Dillard formally kicks off campaign
Monday, Jul 15, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Sen. Kirk Dillard kicks off his gubernatorial campaign today…
Once again, Dillard, who served as chief of staff to Gov. Jim Edgar, will have Edgar on his side. Dillard’s two-day announcement tour — which does not include a stop in Springfield — does include one Monday afternoon with Edgar at the Governor Oglesby Mansion in Decatur.
Why skip the capital city?
“Decatur is an ancestral home for my wife’s family and is a quintessential downstate large city,” he said, noting it is between Champaign-Urbana and Springfield.
More from Bernie…
Dillard earlier this year talked about how it would be good to have a first family back in the mansion. He has daughters ages 12 and 10, and I asked last week if he expects they would go to school in Springfield if he is elected
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” he said. “If I get elected, we will figure out to what extent the children full-time reside in Springfield.”
* AP…
It’s the second bid for the post for Dillard, of DuPage County, who lost to Brady in the 2010 Republican primary by only 193 votes. But he pins that loss on moderate, suburban votes being split among several candidates from the same area — himself, former GOP Chair Andy McKenna and former Attorney General Jim Ryan.
Dillard said the state Republican Party risks repeating the same mistakes it made in 2010, with a crowded field and, so far, no consensus candidate.
“It is unbelievable that the Republican Party, and to some extent the business community, learned nothing from the 2010 gubernatorial primary, which resulted in a 67 percent income tax (increase) and Democrat domination” through the political redistricting process in 2010 that was controlled by the Democrats, he said.
I think the business community may be learning by coalescing behind Bruce Rauner. We’ll see.
* Announcement press release…
Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard announces campaign for governor
Two-day state fly-around underscores Dillard’s leadership, record
WHO: State Senator Kirk Dillard, his wife Stephanie, their two daughters, extended family and supporters.
WHAT: Senator Dillard kicks off his 2014 campaign for Illinois Governor
WHEN: Monday and Tuesday, July 15 & 16
Monday’s Schedule
10:15 a.m. 3753 Magnolia, Chicago, IL (Sen. Dillard’s first boyhood home)
1:05 p.m. Quad Cities International Airport, 2200 69th Ave., Moline, IL
4:50 p.m. Governor Oglesby Mansion Inc., 421 W. William St., Decatur, IL (with former Gov. Jim Edgar)
Tuesday’s Schedule
10:00 a.m. Byerly Aviation, 6100 West E. M. Dirksen Pkway, Peoria, IL
12:20 p.m. 17th Street Bar & Grill, North 17th Street, Murphysboro, IL
4:45 p.m. Emery Air, 1 Airport Circle, Rockford, IL 61109
7:15 p.m. Rally with supporters - Trademark Tavern & Tap, 777 E. Butterfield Road, Lombard, IL 60148
WHY: Illinois is a great state, rich in our people and resources. We need strong leadership to renew our faith, re-imagine our possibilities and re-purpose our resolve in returning Illinois to its rightful place as the Capital of the Midwest. Senator Dillard is uniquely qualified to provide that leadership and Make Illinois Work Again.
* Twitters…
Your advice?
- downstate hack - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:01 pm:
Dillard would make a great Governor. Let’s hope he can persuade the voters.
- J. Nolan - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:07 pm:
How about not announcing for gov until your website is not still “under consruction”. The amatuers that run these campaigns amaze me.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:09 pm:
–“It is unbelievable that the Republican Party, and to some extent the business community, learned nothing from the 2010 gubernatorial primary, which resulted in a 67 percent income tax (increase) and Democrat domination” through the political redistricting process in 2010 that was controlled by the Democrats, he said. –
Was somebody supposed to clear the field for him? Why him?
Nearly 1.7 million voters pulled ballots in the 2010 gubernatorial primaries. About 155,000, or nine percent, voted for Dillard.
That ain’t exactly a juggernaut.
Advice: Run like you want it, not like you’re entitled to it.
- Pat C - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:09 pm:
Advice for KD:
1) Have a better explanation for your Obama video
so far, no consensus candidate.
2) Don’t talk like the nomination is your birthright.
- Whatever - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:24 pm:
Pay back Ron Gidwitz. Interesting that Dillard says in the Schoenburg article that he doesn’t have to pay back Gidwitz’s loan from 2010. Why not? He’ll fit in great in Springfield — no fiscal accountability!
- Illinoisan - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:31 pm:
Dillard warns about the dangers of a crowded field by crowding the field?
Got it.
- Public Opinion - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:37 pm:
J. Nolan- see www.kirkdillard.com
that is the website
- Soccermom - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:37 pm:
He’s already walking back the “traditional family living in the mansion?’ Oh my sainted aunt…
- The Jim Edgar Fan Club of Hinsdale, IL - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:42 pm:
What’s the over/under on how many times he mentions Jim Edgar in his announcement speech?
- Chavez-respecting Obamist - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:45 pm:
I don’t see how having a wife and kids can be seen as an accomplishment.
- Samurai - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:45 pm:
Good luck senator Dillard. I do not have the political insight of those like Word and OW, but the lack of DuPage candidates has to favor Dillard. I still don’t believe about 3000 voted for Schillerstrom after he dropped out of the 2010 primary. Though 2014 has different dynamics than 2010.
The Obama Iowa Ad will be a real pain in the rear and the base in spite of it’s self will never forget, let alone forgive. Going forward, I think the Edgar support, in anything for Dillard, may be the tipping point in another crowded primary field.
- VonKlutzenplatz - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:46 pm:
My advice would be to politely approach Rauner to ask if Rauner would consider him for Lt. Gov.
Right now, I just don’t see a path for Kirk to the Gov’s office. The GOP base is never going to forgive him for praising Obama. And even if he somehow gets the nod, moderates are not going to trust him due to his “family” comments.
He needs to step back. Four or eight years as Lt. Gov. might put enough time between his prior conduct and a bid for the top job.
- Wallendar - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:49 pm:
Is he going to kick the butts of the “union bosses??”
- shore - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:55 pm:
2010 or even 2006 was his shot. He looks like stale bread now. He’s a springfield life and political insider in a party that’s been at its worst for most of his tenure. Spending the campaign talking about a job you did 20 years ago doesn’t have much of an appeal.
- hisgirlfriday - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 12:55 pm:
What does “is an ancestral home of my wifes family” mean? And does she have more than one ancestral home?
If that’s an awkward way of saying she grew up there or her grandparents lived there fine I guess. But if he is claiming some 19th century connection to decatur via his wife that’s just weird.
And anyway he could just as easily say he’s going to Decatur as that was where Lincolns first stump speech was or he could go to Decatur and say this city is hurting in the current Illinois economic climate and talk about what he’s going to do to change that. Without the highfalutin, to-the-manor-born “ancestral home” stuff.
- Soccermom - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:07 pm:
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. Maxim was formally announcing his candidacy for Governor….
- VonKlutzenplatz - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:19 pm:
IL Review has a picture of yard signs.
Are those D-IL-LARD (no hyphens but the sign is broken into three, with D and LARD in white and IL in red) new for 2014?
When I looked, I saw “LARD.” I’m not sure that’s a positive message for a campaign. Somebody didn’t think that through.
- J. Nolan - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:21 pm:
@Public Opinion - apolgies. Although if you search “Kirk Dillard” or “Kirk Dillard for governor” that website doesnt show up. Only electdillard.com which is paid for by Citizens for Kirk Dillard. Confusing to the general public unless they go watch his new we ad.
- phocion - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:24 pm:
Good obscure movie reference there, Soccermom. I believe it’s spelled “Mandalay,” however.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:33 pm:
–Are those D-IL-LARD (no hyphens but the sign is broken into three, with D and LARD in white and IL in red) new for 2014?–
Wow, those are bad signs. They read “D LARD.”
The “IL” design element is not executed very well. Anyway, the fact that you have an “IL” in your name isn’t so breathtaking as to grant license to break basic typography rules. It’s supposed to be a quick, easy, attractive read.
“D LARD” is not the message you’re trying to communicate.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:39 pm:
Senator Dillard,
Here is some advice;
When building your operations, make it quite clear that if someone, or a group, or a political organization is going to be “with” you, they need to follow through on the committment. Your past campaign had support a mile long and an inch wide, and when you needed them most, they were nowhere to be found when it came to collecting, strategizing, and executing GOTV, be it for Absentee Ballots, and for Election Day. There needs to be an honest assessment of your organization, how they deliver, and understanding where your weaknesses are to correct them come Primary.
Make your message more about wanting to serve, not about what Republicans owe, and what the people of Illinois should give you. The disconnect that happens is this idea that “Dillard is next, is owed, and that is how it needs to go.” You tried that last time, it failed, and now saying anything about “if, buts” and Brady and 2010 only makes you look foolish since you didnt’ make it out of the Primary. Make this campaign about wanting to serve, your humbleness about being in the Illinois Seante, and wanting to be the solution is your calling card. Listing your credentials from the 1990’s is like the siren of “I’m next”.
Look at 2010 and the results, and the numbers, and every aspect of 2010, and then never go back there again. This 2014 campaign has very few if any of the dynamics of 2010, including the financial support you had, which I will get to shortly. If you felt Whiteside County is exactly the same for youas it was in 2010, you are going to lose. The first campaign that finds its support from scratch, and can harvest that support as voters is going to win. Falling back to 2010 and thinking to begin there is a recipe for disaster and disappointment.
You are going to be outspent. This is a fact you need to understand from Jump Street. The best campaigns spend money the most effectively and in the way to have the greatest impact. Understand that money is not completely going to get people to the polls, but effective monies spent in getting a strong message out, and getting supports to vote will beast any monetary deficit. The minute the campaign feels the need to spend money without return will lead to defeat. Every dollar …must count.
Pick a LG candidate that can best put the campaign for governor is the clearest of terms, and can be the best surrogate FOR you, and the toughest attack dog AGAINST your opponents. This candidate needs to be eloquent, yet home-spun, business savy, and farm smart, and someone who can speak to your candidacy with a passion of what could be, that all the negatives, like the “Obmam tape” seem trival. Big ask, but if you get the correct running mate that can attack, defend, and educate, you will be greatly served.
Finally, just be friendly. You sometimes come across as though you are “the smartest guy in the room, just ask me!” You were close to governors, they are/were warm and including. Be that candidate.
Let the voters not be thankful you are running, let the voters thank YOU for running. Huge difference.
Stay on “today and tomorrow”, be thoughtful to what voters expect in the future, don’t be hammering on what voters should know about “your yesterday”. Before you enter a room, speak, go on media … say to yourself, “I am thankful for oppotunities, I am humble,” then hammmer away at tomorrow.
Best of luck, I will give you a fair shake, and build for a strong organization, because when this Primary is all said and done, the BEST at understanding how to get voters to get to the polls and FINDING THEM where they weren’t found before, is going to win.
Good luck.
- Pat C - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:39 pm:
Totally agree on the yard signs. If you think they look bad now, imagine them at night. All you see is the D Lard……
So, this is supposed to be the experienced Pro that the state needs?
- Ghost - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:43 pm:
My advice? form a team with some critical people and campaign with real solutions to problems and not just vague promises to fix things.
get Steve Schnorf as your head finance guy for starters….
- Gregor Samsa - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:45 pm:
Well, about that Obama endorsement, don;t run away from it; it probably hurts Dillard in the primary, with the far right tea zealots, but if he survives to the general, I think it will help him get undecideds and disaffected dems by showing he’s able to cross rigid party lines for a greater good. The state has been sorely lacking that.
I get the impression of a competent technocrat from Dillard, but don’t think he isn’t still a Republican; he’s pro-biz, anti-tax and anti- regulation, and conservative on the social issues side. His strength will be in understanding the legislative process and how to negotiate deals. You may or may not like the deals he makes, but the mood of the state today is, please, SOMEBODY, make a move in ANY direction.
- MrJM - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:51 pm:
Hire someone to construct a narrative that explains how you could run as a genuine moderate compromiser last time and as a genuine right-wing ideologue this time without being a genuine phony.
– MrJM
- steve schnorf - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:51 pm:
Kirk is a great candidate. With Kirk, Dan, and Bill, the party has a fine trio running for Governor. With Bruce Rauner, we have a fellow that not too many of us know yet, especially downstate. He will need to educate us about himself before many of us consider him a legitimate candidate and not just another guy with money. Now the next fun part-Lt governors.
- ZC - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 1:55 pm:
If the business community thinks Rauner is their best ticket, they may not have learned enough from Romney’s loss in 2012. But, it all depends on how Rauner runs his race, we’ll see.
- Ghost - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 2:08 pm:
I know this is just tea leaf reading as this point, but I suspect Rauner will end up being a a reganesque Govenor if he was elected.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 2:11 pm:
- Ghost -,
Tea leaves or not, what aspect reminds you of Reagan that Rauner has that would make you believe any aspect of Reagan is part of Rauner?
- girllawyer - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 2:25 pm:
Reminds me a little of the cartoon of George Ryan when he was running for Governor. They showed him with a campaign slogan that said something like: “Because it’s My Turn, Dammit”.
- VonKlutzenplatz - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 2:32 pm:
To save others from having to read Illinois Review — here is the article with the D-LARD signs:
http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2013/07/dillard-dont-need-listening-tour-to-know-whats-wrong-with-illinois.html#comments
- VonKlutzenplatz - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 2:35 pm:
And yeah, I realize yard signs do not matter much, but the sign on the podium in the article is boring even by yard sign standards.
A map and then the name? It is better than the D-LARD signs, but still pretty bad.
Come on. Hire a professional.
- Soccermom - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 2:41 pm:
I have to say, I’m not crazy about the star on the podium sign. I understand that it’s supposed to signify where the Senator is on that specific day, but lots of people downstate are going to see the star over Chicago and have a visceral negative response.
If you have to explain it, don’t do it…
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 2:49 pm:
Bottom line:
The signs are brutal. Signs are suppose to, maybe, catch your eye, not make you cringe.
Simple is better. ===If you have to explain it, don’t do it…
===.
Yes.
- hisgirlfriday - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 2:53 pm:
Besides the “lard” standing out, so does the D. As if he’s running as a Dem. Doubt he is going for that.
P.s. Love the “rebecca” reference soccermom!
- too obvious - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 3:33 pm:
And yes the “LARD” thing is hilarious. May be most honest thing ever in history of Dillard’s political career.
He must have the most clueless campaign staff.
- walkinfool - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 3:34 pm:
Agree with Schnorf that at least three good GOP candidates have emerged. So far so good.
I just have Dillard and Rauner as the top 2 in capability.
- curtis - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 3:49 pm:
Looks like Dillard is working with a firm out of Georgia. The same firm that did the mail for McKenna when he ran. Yikes.
- wordslinger - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 4:06 pm:
Dillard sounds like he’s going with the old Pat Quinn populist playbook.
Dillard is in the Sun-Times stating that the patronage at Metra is “absolutely unacceptable — and it could be illegal.”
He’s not just discovering patronage at Metra now, is he? He also wants to sic the U.S. Attorney on Metra. I’m not sure everyone in the GOP establishment would be cool with that idea, lol.
And he think’s Quinn’s AV on GA salaries is swell and sounds like he would go farther.
–The former chief of staff to ex-Gov. Jim Edgar said he would slash lawmakers’ pensions and continue to suspend their pay if the budget isn’t balanced.–
http://www.suntimes.com/21339983-761/dillard-running-for-governor-calls-for-feds-to-probe-metra.html
- Norseman - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 4:56 pm:
Kirk, stop pandering to the lowest denominator. Try not to say anything or do anything just to get elected. First, we get the insinuating comment about Danny, now you want to champion the pay item veto. It now appears that you’re trying to be the Republican Pat Quinn.
- Whatever - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 5:09 pm:
Nice of Lisa Madigan to step on Kirk’s story. Ouch.
- walkinfool - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 5:17 pm:
Cincy?
Too busy to comment today?
- Robert the Bruce - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 5:22 pm:
Advice?
With Lisa out, run as a democrat instead.
- VonKlutzenplatz - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 5:56 pm:
Cincy is out gathering up all those signs.
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 6:09 pm:
VK, let’s hope Cinci didn’t design those signs.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 6:25 pm:
- AA - I will send you the “art” for the new Dillard signs, let them have “layout” for free, but upcharge the signs individually, not as a gross??
- kingfish - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 6:32 pm:
I agree with Wordslinger. Kirk Dillard, Dude-how in the world can you campaign on this populist stuff when you’ve been a CoStaff and State Sen for 20 years now?? First it’s the entitlement as others have posted (insider) then it’s anti patronage and salaries. My advice is to find some direction over there before doing anything else.
*Note to the Reagan lovers/campaigning as Ronnie’s friend/best ally/ whatever way back in the day: Reagan left the Presidency in Jan 1989. That will have been 25 years in the past by the time of 2014. News flash - society has changed - especially in Illinois.
- A Casual Observer - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 7:02 pm:
Advice to Dillard: Don’t ask George Ryan for an endorsement. Ask Jim Edgar to run again and that way we voters can skip the middle man. Ask Obama to return the favor and do a political ad for you if you make it through the GOP primary (he owes you).Come to your senses and don’t put yourself through this torture. You know that “whoever” becomes governor will go down in the history books as the one-term captain of the Titanic.
- William j Kelly - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 7:59 pm:
Who would have thought Lisa was so afraid of Dillard?;)
- ah HA - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 8:21 pm:
My advice. Drop out.
- Samurai - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 8:42 pm:
Senator Dillard’s 20 plus years of government experience in Gov. Edgar’s administration and as a Senator is a benefit. Experience whether in business, medicine or law is a plus if the lessons learned are applied well. Who among the candidates, whether republican or democrat, does not have a history of political/government experience, with the exception of Rauner; though he has funded quite a few office holders.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 8:49 pm:
- kingfish -
I wil take the “Reagan Rule of 80%” over the Slytherin House Republican’s Litmus Tests and Blood Oaths any day, and twice on Sundays.
What is funny are the people who envoke Reagan, and then refuse to understand the “Reagan Rule of 80%” and call others RINOs…
- Arthur Andersen - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 9:55 pm:
Willy, gotcha on the signs. Good strategy . After all, they may not make a big buy after reading all this advice.
- Mama - Monday, Jul 15, 13 @ 11:28 pm:
Only 2 suggestions for Dillard - 1. Do not try to regulate womens’ bodies (regarding pro-choice). When asked, say it is between the woman, God and her doctor. 2. If you put Obama down, you will lose the black voters. You need both groups to win the election.