Republican State Senator Kirk Dillard brought his campaign for Governor to southern Illinois Tuesday.
Dillard re-affirmed his candidacy during a noon-hour stop in Murphysboro. Dillard says it is outrageous that Governor Quinn closed the Tamms Correctional Center. Dillard says he helped planned the facility as chief of staff to former Governor Jim Edgar. Dillard says he understands the importance of having Tamms as a deterrent. The DuPage County republican also says the Murray Developmental Center in Centralia must stay open. Dillard calls it a special place with caring people and a caring staff.
Dillard says if elected - he would create a new office tasked with reducing the size of other government offices. He would also seek two constitutional amendments; one that would do away with legislative pensions and another that would suspend the legislature's pay if they failed to pass a constitutionally balanced budget.
Dillard lost the 2010 GOP primary to state Senator Bill Brady. Dillard faces State Senator Bill Brady, State Treasurer Dan Rutherford and Chicago businessman Bruce Rauner in what's becoming a crowded republican primary.
