Oct 27, 2014
Republican Bruce Rauner has three more newspaper endorsements to add to his collection just about a week before the election, while Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn finally snagged his first endorsement of the election cycle.
Springfield’s State Journal-Register put its editorial weight behind Rauner, citing jobs and the state’s economy for why they think “cautiously optimistic” Rauner’s “clear economic vision” is the best option for Illinois.
Rauner, a venture capitalist who makes no apologies for his success, understands the challenges businesses face. He told The State Journal-Register editorial board he believes the state must overhaul its tax code, consider additional workers’ compensation reforms, end corporate welfare, implement some business-friendly regulatory changes and make state government more efficient if it wants to create jobs and propel economic growth.
The editorial board said it wasn’t totally sure which candidate would be best for Illinois:
Voters have said turning around the state’s troubled economy is a critical concern for them, but they seem confounded as to which candidate is best suited to lead the way to prosperity.
We’re not entirely sure either, but we do know Illinois needs a governor who can articulate a clear economic vision for the state. The State Journal-Register is cautiously optimistic that Rauner is that person.
The SJ-R says it doesn’t believe Quinn is entirely to blame for the mess of problems the state has seen over the last several years, and that Rauner still has some things to learn about politics and governance.
From the Journal-Register:
The Republican is passionate about helping Illinois; however, his agenda needs work. The most glaring flaw is that it is massive and reflects his inexperience as an elected official and a lack of awareness about the complexities of state government, the entangling relationships that exist within it and the pace at which change is likely to occur.
Ultimately, though, the editorial board said it feelsQuinn hasn’t done enough to steer the state in the right direction, and that it has faith in Rauner’s ability to lead:
We believe Rauner’s ambitious, growth-minded reforms may be the medicine this state needs to revive itself.
Watch Rauner speak with the Journal-Register’s editorial board:
The Decatur Herald-Review and the Bloomington Pantagraph – both owned by Lee Enterprises — also published Rauner endorsements, saying the time had come for change in the state, and that Rauner’s presence could stimulate growth in the state. They also liked his plans to streamline government, lower taxes and that he has commited to only running for two terms.
From an editorial that ran in both papers:
The fact that Rauner is rich, and a successful business man is in his favor. It means he’s had to be decisive, but also has to consider expert opinions before making a decision. That collaborative, but decisive, style is needed in state government.
Like the others, the editorial recognized that Rauner’s plans might not be perfect, and said a specific plan surrounding taxing and spending is needed.
None of the four endorsements were made without qualifications–the editorial boards of all of the papers said both candidates have the potential to be good governors, but that neither is necessarily guaranteed to be the solution to all of the state’s problems. Ultimately, the papers decided which candidate to put their faith in. Voters will have to do the same.
After several newspapers put their support behind Rauner, the Rockford Register-Star (which, like The State Journal-Register, is owned by GateHouse Media) became the first paper in Illinois to back Quinn for governor. The editorial board says Quinn led the state through the uncertain times of the national economic crisis, citing jobs he helped protect and growth he helped stimulate. According to the editorial, the paper thinks that voters should give Quinn another chance to carry his vision through the next four years, even though he hasn’t been a perfect governor. (On the other hand, they also said the controversy surrounding Quinn’s involvement in the botched Neighborhood Recovery Initiative gives them pause.)
This endorsement decision was not easy for the Editorial Board. We recognize the strengths and weaknesses of both men.
But Quinn, however flawed, is a known quantity who seems to have the state back on track, even if it’s a bit of a slow one. Voting for Rauner would require a leap of faith we are not prepared to make, especially given his refusal to provide details about how he would govern.
The Register-Star said it acknowledged Rauner’s possible economic strengths, and noted that the state could use that expertise. But, the editorial board countered, they have too many questions about Rauner’s plans for governing, including gaps in his economic plan.
Rauner’s lack of specifics troubles us as well. We asked him to “do the math” on how he would cut taxes and increase spending for education and infrastructure. He told us people were too hung up on next year’s budget; his focus is on winning the election not filling in the details.
It also raised concerns about a lawsuit that alleges that Rauner threatened a former colleague. (The lawsuit was thrown out and the judge did not rule on the validity of the claims involving the threats.)
The editorial also noted that with Illinois’ difficult redistricting process, Rauner likely never would have been able to enact many of the changes he hopes to anyway.
The Decatur Herald-Review and the Bloomington Pantagraph said the time had come for change in the state, and that Rauner’s presence could stimulate growth in the state. They also liked his plans to streamline government, lower taxes and that he has commited to only running for two terms.
From an editorial that ran in both papers:
The fact that Rauner is rich, and a successful business man is in his favor. It means he’s had to be decisive, but also has to consider expert opinions before making a decision. That collaborative, but decisive, style is needed in state government.
Like the others, the editorial recognized that Rauner’s plans might not be perfect, and said a specific plan surrounding taxing and spending is needed.
None of the four endorsements were made without qualifications–the editorial boards of all of the papers said both candidates have the potential to be good governors, but that neither is necessarily guaranteed to be the solution to all of the state’s problems. Ultimately, the papers decided which candidate to put their faith in. Voters will have to do the same.
NEXT ARTICLE: Chicago Sun-Times Bruce Rauner endorsement at center of controversy
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Caitlin Wilson is a staff writer for Reboot Illinois. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago, where she studied journalism and political science. Caitlin has become both endeared to and frustrated with her adopted home state and wants to bring Illinoisans the information they need to actively participate in the politics that directly affect them. You can find Reboot on Facebook here and on Twitter at @rebootillinois.