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Candidates for Treasurer, Comptroller Want Offices Merged -- Will Discuss Wednesday in Galesburg
They don't know what they'd call it, but two of the Republicans running for constitutional offices want to eliminate one of the offices to save money. State Sen. Dan Rutherford (R-Chenoa) and former state treasurer Judy Barr Topinka are teaming up to promote the idea of combining the offices, and are visiting more than 20 towns and cities in Illinois to talk about their idea. Rutherford is running for treasurer against Democrat Robin Kelly, and Topinka is running for comptroller against state Rep. David Miller (D-Lynwood).

Rutherford and Topinka say they’ll do what’s necessary to persuade state lawmakers to approve putting the question on the November 2012 ballot. They also think voters will approve it, since they project that it would save $12 million a year once the offices are combined in 2014.

Rutherford's Democratic opponent, Robin Kelly, also wants to combine the offices, but campaign spokeswoman Kay Page says Kelly is still studying the suggestion. Page said, "If proper checks and balances are in place, she [Kelly] is completely in favor of consolidating the offices." Page said that Kelly has been looking at the idea for several months as part of her job with the treasurer's office, then later corrected that, saying Kelly had been discussing it only with her campaign policy group.

Rutherford and Topinka will discuss the issue locally Wednesday afternoon at 1:30 during a joint campaign appearance at the Knox County Courthouse.

(Illinois Radio Network/WGIL News)
08 24 10 by Newsroom
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