Misconduct Case In GOP Spotlight
From the Chicago Tribune
Republican governor rivals Dan Rutherford and Bruce Rauner directly confronted each other for the first time Monday amid controversy over misconduct allegations by a state treasurer’s office employee that have quickly become the focus of the campaign.
Rutherford, the state treasurer, stepped up his contention that Rauner is behind the complaints while denying the allegations had merit. Rauner, meanwhile, called “ridiculous” the assertion that he orchestrated the allegations from the unnamed employee, who told the Tribune that he submitted a resignation letter to the treasurer’s office Monday.
The rapidly evolving campaign issue was at the forefront of a wide-ranging joint appearance by the four Republican governor candidates before the Tribune editorial board, a 90-minute endorsement session that included discussion about the state income-tax hike and education policy.
About halfway through, Rutherford was asked about his unorthodox Friday news conference at which he disclosed the unspecified employee allegation and blamed Rauner. In his Monday response, Rutherford went further, accusing Rauner of being behind new TV ads that criticize the treasurer and fellow Republican governor candidates state Sens. Bill Brady of Bloomington and Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale. The ads are sponsored by the Mid America Fund Inc. — an Ohio-based non-profit group which does not disclose its donors.
“Do I believe that Mr. Rauner is behind trying to put a disparaging word out there with regards to my candidacy, our candidacy? Yes,” Rutherford said. “We’ve seen active new ads that just started on television with regards to opposition to at least the three of us here from an outside group. I do believe in some fashion that Mr. Rauner is behind that.”
But Rutherford offered no proof, only saying that he also believed Rauner was behind a similar third-party ad campaign critical of U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock of Peoria when Schock was considering a potential GOP bid for governor.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Tribune
Republican governor rivals Dan Rutherford and Bruce Rauner directly confronted each other for the first time Monday amid controversy over misconduct allegations by a state treasurer’s office employee that have quickly become the focus of the campaign.
Rutherford, the state treasurer, stepped up his contention that Rauner is behind the complaints while denying the allegations had merit. Rauner, meanwhile, called “ridiculous” the assertion that he orchestrated the allegations from the unnamed employee, who told the Tribune that he submitted a resignation letter to the treasurer’s office Monday.
The rapidly evolving campaign issue was at the forefront of a wide-ranging joint appearance by the four Republican governor candidates before the Tribune editorial board, a 90-minute endorsement session that included discussion about the state income-tax hike and education policy.
About halfway through, Rutherford was asked about his unorthodox Friday news conference at which he disclosed the unspecified employee allegation and blamed Rauner. In his Monday response, Rutherford went further, accusing Rauner of being behind new TV ads that criticize the treasurer and fellow Republican governor candidates state Sens. Bill Brady of Bloomington and Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale. The ads are sponsored by the Mid America Fund Inc. — an Ohio-based non-profit group which does not disclose its donors.
“Do I believe that Mr. Rauner is behind trying to put a disparaging word out there with regards to my candidacy, our candidacy? Yes,” Rutherford said. “We’ve seen active new ads that just started on television with regards to opposition to at least the three of us here from an outside group. I do believe in some fashion that Mr. Rauner is behind that.”
But Rutherford offered no proof, only saying that he also believed Rauner was behind a similar third-party ad campaign critical of U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock of Peoria when Schock was considering a potential GOP bid for governor.
Read more in our daily News Update...