There is a field full of Republican candidates in the Illinois gubernatorial primary; Knox College student Alex Uzarowicz sorts through the field and offers his pick.

…State Senator Kirk Dillard.

Dillard is a proven conservative with an extensive voting record. Most importantly, Dillard worked across the aisle on many occasions bringing Boeing’s headquarters to Chicago, sponsoring landmark ethics and election reforms, and working as the Chief of Staff for Governor Jim Edgar to lower the unemployment rate in the 1990‘s and improve Illinois’s credit rating. It’s his conservative convictions combined with his bipartisan streak that will make Illinois strong again, instead of driving out thousands of residents and businesses to neighboring states like Indiana and Wisconsin.

There are no scandals with Dillard either. The one that comes closest is his dealings with then State Senator Barack Obama to champion ethics reforms, but it’s no “scandal” at all. It’s that willingness to work with Democrats and those with which we disagree with that shows true leadership, not blind ideological positions that cannot achieve results. Republicans need to understand that we are electing someone to represent Illinois as a whole, not a red-state like Texas or Utah. Dillard is right for Illinois by walking that main-stream conservative line.

At the end of the day, Dillard is equipped with key expertise. He has led on fiscal issues. As an Illinois resident myself, I know that we need someone who can move the state ahead. We need to address both the unemployment and underemployment rates to which young people contribute in very large numbers. Many are seeking employment elsewhere, leaving the state with a larger debt by diminishing public revenues.

That’s the issue with Illinois. There hasn’t been a true leader in the last decade that has tackled those issues that are so important to all residents of Illinois. Current Governor Pat Quinn has only continued Blagojevich’s policies, and has been recently accused of corrupt dealings with a $54.5 million anti-violence program. Quinn mishandled the funding and spending of the program.

It’s time to turn the page on the Democratic machine and pick an electable, experienced Republican. A Republican like Dillard, with conservative principles and the ability to get things done in “blue” Illinois, would be just the man for the job.
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