Brady eyes 2010 governor’s race

By Bob Susnjara | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 4/11/2008 12:06 AM

Bloomington state Sen. Bill Brady says strong support at the grassroots level is what will propel him
into the governor’s office for the Republican Party in 2010.

At a Republican Assembly of Lake County gathering Thursday night in Mundelein, Brady
acknowledged mistakes he made in his first attempt to win the state’s highest elective office in 2006.
He said he underestimated Illinois’ size and the amount of money required to become governor.

Republican voters picked former state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka over Jim Oberweis, Ron Gidwitz
and Brady in the 2006 primary. Topinka wound up getting pounded by Gov. Rod Blagojevich in the
general election.

Looking ahead to 2010, Brady said he figures he’ll need $10 million to $20 million in a campaign for
governor. Brady said he’ll have an advantage the second time around because he’s made valuable
contacts statewide since 2006.

“I believe we’ll launch the greatest grassroots campaign this state has even seen,” Brady told about 35
members of the conservative Republican organization in a motel meeting room.

Brady, 46, served in the Illinois House for eight years before he was appointed to the state Senate in
2002. He’s part of an influential downstate development family.

On the issues, Brady said creation of jobs through tax and fee relief would be part of his platform in the
governor’s race.

He also said ethics and eliminating corruption in state government are at the top of his list.

Brady, who planned to visit Mount Vernon in southern Illinois today, said Blagojevich must be ousted
from office in 2010.

“If he’s not removed by then by a grand jury or a jury,” Brady added.

Big-name guests, inspirational speeches at Lincoln Day Dinner huge success

from the Macomb Eagle
4/9/2008

MACOMB – A likely candidate for Illinois governor in 2010 and a former Miss America – both considered
rising stars in Illinois Republican politics – addressed a large gathering of McDonough County Republicans
on Saturday, March 29 at the Lincoln Day Dinner. Both speakers delivered moving messages and called for
change in the state’s leadership and the importance of understanding and adhering to party principles.
More than 325 tickets to the annual event were sold and the WIU University Union Grand Ballroom was near
capacity as Miss America 2003 Erika Harold and State Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) gave inspirational,
informational and motivating messages.

Harold, the first keynote speaker of the evening, reflected on lessons she learned touring the United States
while serving as Miss America. Her powerful message recalled instances of interacting with school children
around the country, meeting with President Bush in the Oval Office, speaking at the 2004 Republican
National Convention and other noteworthy experiences.

However, her recollection of participating in a somber ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and laying a
wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was most moving as she described how that moment
“crystallized” the importance of freedom for all Americans.

Harold was gracious to thank all local veterans present at the event and was given a standing ovation
following her speech. Harold was presented a bust of Abraham Lincoln produced in Monmouth as a token of
the McDonough County Republicans’ appreciation of her participation.

Brady next took the stage and brought a valuable perspective on Illinois government. The senator discussed
in depth the rampant mismanagement of taxpayer dollars by the governor’s administration, the deteriorating
condition of much of Downstate Illinois’ infrastructure and the alarming number of jobs lost from this state in recent years. He cited Illinois has the “third worst business climate in the nation.”

Brady was a Republican candidate for governor in 2006 and made several visits to McDonough County
during that campaign.

“Thanks to those of you who supported me in 2006 and to those who did not, I’m going to give you another
chance,” he said during the Lincoln Day Dinner. This signaled his intentions to once again seek the state’s
highest executive office, a welcome statement to the Republican crowd.

Brady too received a standing ovation and was presented an engraved ax from Vaughan & Bushnell
Manufacturing, Bushnell.

Master of ceremonies State Rep. Rich Myers and McDonough County Republican Chairman Monte
DeCounter joined to say the evening was a tremendous success, both in inspiring local Republicans and
raising funds for the county party.

“We had two A-list speakers, a very successful auction and a full-house … the Republican Party is alive and
well in McDonough County and we look forward to helping all of our candidates to victory on Election Day
this November,” DeCounter said.

Tax cuts, not increases, needed in Illinois: Brady

from The Carmi Times

By BARRY CLEVELAND Of The Times Staff

Tax cuts, not tax increases, are the key to improving Illinois’ economy, a likely candidate for governor in 2010 told a White County audience Friday night.

State Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington was the guest speaker at the annual Lincoln Day dinner of the White County Republican Central Committee, held at the VFW Hall.

Brady, introduced by U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, said Democrats favor new programs and higher taxes, but that won’t restore Illinois’ economic health. By lowering taxes, he said, Illinois could lure new business and industry to the state, creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs and generating billions for the state treasury.

The 44th District lawmaker, who unsuccessfully sought his party’s nomination for governor in 2006 and hinted strongly that he’ll run for the position again in two years, said Illinois is in sad shape. The state comptroller admitted the state doesn’t have the money to pay $1.7 billion in bills, he said, and the state is in debt to the tune of $100 billion, or $8,800 per person.

Democrats can’t lay all the blame on the unpopular Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said Brady, because their own legislative leaders (House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones) have had a hand in creating the mess. Not only has the governor failed to follow through on promises to stimulate the economy and improve healthcare, but he has hiked taxes on businesses, wants to impose fees on park users and hopes to add a $5 per barrel tax on crude oil produced in Illinois.

Illinois is rich in natural and human resources but is among the lowest ranking states in the Union in job creation, the speaker said. “And the governor just doesn’t get it.” Blagojevich seems not to understand that there is more to Illinois than Chicago. “I believe that it’s the greatest large city in the nation and it’s important to all of Illinois,” he said of the Windy Cindy. “But our needs are important, too.” He charged that Blagojevich and the state’s other constitutional officers, all Chicago Democrats, “don’t care about our needs. We need to bring about a more balance government in Illinois,” he said.

“Can we win?” he asked, acknowledging that Illinois leans Democrat these days. But he said it can be done. About a quarter of the state’s voters identify themselves as conservative Republicans, about a quarter as liberal Democrats and the rest are moderate independents. The key will be to cultivate votes in that group, he indicated.

“We have to field candidates who bring our strengths to the front,” he said, asserting that Republicans historically have believed in smaller government, lower taxes and personal responsibility.

“People are thirsting for answers,” he said.

Brady said that rather than raise the state income tax, as some Democrats propose, taxes should actually be cut. He said the proper measures would restore 700,000 jobs to Illinois, generating $3 billion in annual state revenue.

“Our jobs have fled to nearby states,” said Brady, noting that Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, a Republican, recently told a Chicago business audience that he is a firm backer of Blagojevich–because of all the jobs which have fled Illinois for Indiana.

Brady noted that Democratic candidates for president are calling for “change,” but he sought to paint one of those candidates, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, as an agent of the wrong kind of change. Brady cited the links of Obama to indicted fundraiser Tony Rezko and controversial preacher Jerome Wright, and he criticized remarks made by Obama’s wife, Michelle, about being proud of this country only after her husband decided to run for the presidency.

The right kind of change is that which presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain would bring, Brady said, urging his listeners to speak out and tell others why Obama isn’t the right candidate for 2008.

Brady (who has been in the Legislature since 1993) urged his audience to work hard for Republican candidates in 2008 and prepare the way for a statewide push in 2010. He noted that legislative and congressional districts will be drawn by the Legislature, after the 2010 census, and it’s important that Republicans have a voice in that process, preferably by electing a BOP governor.

Brady said his 2006 gubernatorial effort fell short, and he acknowledged that some of his listeners may not have voted for him then. “I hope to give you a second chance in 2010!” he said in closing.

In introducing Brady, Shimkus (whose 19th Congressional District includes about half of White County) said he had spent 2 1/2 hours talking with constituents earlier in the day in McLeansboro. And about three-quarters of them had complaints about state government, he said. “The sad thing is that I couldn’t offer them any hope.

“They’re concerned about the direction of the state. We [republicans] are in a minority; this mess has occurred on the Democrats’ watch.”

Shimkus said the Democrat-controlled state government is guilty of “criminal negligence” in not addressing the state’s problems, including the slow payment to healthcare providers (detailed earlier in the week in a Times story by Braden Willis).

Among other Republican office-holders on hand (but not speaking) were state Sen. John O. Jones, state Rep. David Reis, Ken Burzynski of Benton (running for state senate against incumbent Democrat Gary Forby), State’s Attorney T. Scott Webb, Coroner Carl McVey, Supervisor of Assessments Nancy A. Winter and county board members Ron Wooten, Wayne Nelson and Wes Trout.

A large crowd was on hand for the meeting, which featured a buffet smothered steak meal. Entertainment was provided by twins Maggie and Gracie Ackerman, granddaughters of Gene and Glenda Ackerman, chairman of the county GOP committee and ladies’ chair, respectively. Ron Wooten was the master of ceremonies. Maggie Ackerman won the 50-50 drawing worth $110. Several door prizes were also given away.