Illinois Republican Party

Rutherford makes campaign stop
8/16/2010

By Eric Petermann - Freeport Journal-Standard

“The wind is to the back of the Republican Party right now,” State Senator Dan Rutherford told a crowd of faithful Monday morning during an appearance at the Beltline Cafe.

Rutherford, a candidate for State Treasurer on the Nov. 2 ballot, said he has campaigned all over Illinois and learned that voters are upset at what’s happening in Springfield.

“Right now it’s not about who has the right to govern, it’s about earning that right,” Rutherford said. “The public is angry, and they want statesmen, not politicians.”

Illinois is struggling with a $13 billion budget deficit and unpaid bills totaling more than $5 billion to vendors, schools, social service agencies, county and municipal governments.

Rutherford said the primary responsibility of the Treasurer is to invest the state’s revenues in the safest and highest investment return.

“After that, I intend to use the Treasurer’s office as a bully pulpit to get in the middle of the state’s financial situation and get it fixed,” Rutherford said.

State Representative Jim Sacia introduced Rutherford, describing him as a friend and an expert in how state politics works.

“Dan has a great work ethic. He’s been referred to as the Energizer Bunny, but that gives way too much credit to the bunny,” Sacia said.

Rutherford said early poll results show him with an 8-point lead in the race for State Treasurer. He urged fellow Republicans to get involved in working with voters of diverse ethnicity. Rutherford said he spend Sunday morning in Chicago marching in a parade recognizing the nation of India, and was recently the guest speaker at an event celebrating the independence of the Philippines.

“We need to reach out to different people with diverse ethnic backgrounds,” Rutherford said.

SOURCE: Journal-Standard

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