By Joe Kaiser -
Only two Republicans have been elected Illinois State Treasurer in the last 46 years - Judy Baar Topinka and Dan Rutherford. Topinka gave up the seat after three terms to run for governor in 2006, and Rutherford is now doing the same after one term, leaving the seat open for the third consecutive election.
A pair of DuPage County Republicans are now looking to fill the position. DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan and former DuPage County Chairman Bob Schillerstrom are both vying for the office and touting their respective financial accomplishments.
“I have a financial background, and the most pressing issues facing the state of Illinois are financial,” Schillerstrom, 61, said. “We have given the Democrats a chance to run the state, and they haven’t done a good job in doing it. I have some ideas that have been tested and tried in DuPage County. I want to bring a different opinion to the state of Illinois.”
Schillerstrom stresses the need for state lawmakers to say “no” more often to excess spending and the growth of government. “We have to stop spending more money than we bring in,” he said. “We can’t throw money at all problems. We need to have some fiscal discipline. That’s what we did in DuPage County.”
Grogan, 45, (photo right) also has his own DuPage County credentials to promote, though. Serving as DuPage County Auditor since 2008, Grogan, if elected, would
actually be the first certified public accountant to be treasurer in Illinois.
“People really start to warm to the fact that I have a resume that says I understand money,” Grogan said. “Honestly, the treasurer’s office shouldn’t be run by people who don’t understand money.”
Like Schillerstrom, Grogan also stressed the need for more fiscal discipline in Springfield, citing the pension crisis as one of the biggest areas where lawmakers need to buckle down.
Another area where the two agree concerns the potential merger of the treasurer and comptroller offices, something both Rutherford and Comprtoller Topinka support now. The merger of the two offices requires a constitutional amendment, which passed the senate unanimously in 2011 with co-sponsors from both parties but was blocked by House Speaker Mike Madigan.
Grogan doesn’t believe there is a need for two elected financial officers, while Schillerstrom, in agreement, said anything he can do to “eliminate or consolidate government is a good idea.”
While it is not certain who the winner of the March 18 Republican primary will face next November, State Sen. Mike Frerichs is the only Democrat to already declare for treasurer, giving him a strong fundraising edge amidst speculation of other Democrats challenging him. Frerichs’ campaign reported Wednesday raising more than $163,000 in the most recent quarter, far ahead of Schillerstrom ($39,700) and Grogan ($21,000) in the same quarter. Frerichs' campaign declined an interview for this story.
Despite the early fundraising numbers, both Grogan and Schillerstrom said they are confident in their abilities to compete statewide. Grogan called Southern Illinois “a second home” in terms of support and said he’s been to 50 counties already, and Schillerstrom said he has a strong record of fundraising in past runs and actually enjoys being on the campaign trail.
“We need to battle, I’m prepared to battle,” Schillerstrom said. "I’m going to be a voice for fiscal responsibility and making Illinois a great state again. We’ve just fallen on hard times mainly because we haven’t had responsible leadership.”
Grogan’s message features a similar tone in the early goings.
“I think honestly people are looking for (candidates) who know how to do a job,” Grogan said. “People are starting to see through talking points. I think people are looking for someone who is actually ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work.”
In addition to Schillerstrom and Grogan, State Sen. Darin LaHood of Dunlap, son of former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, has been mentioned as a possible contender on the Republican side, but he has not confirmed any intentions of running.
More information on Grogan and Schillerstrom can be found at their websites, www.votegrogan.com and www.bob4illinois.com, respectively.
