Schillerstrom rally planned for Sunday

DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom believes he is the man to lead the state of Illinois out of its political doldrums.

After six weeks of talking to voters throughout the state, Schillerstrom also believes there is enough enthusiasm among voters to make a run at the governor's job during the fall election of November 2010. This Sunday, the well-established DuPage County politician plans to announce his candidacy at 1 p.m. at the Hotel Arista, 2139 City Gate Lane in Naperville.

Campaign spokesman Brad Hahn told The Sun-Times News Group on Wednesday afternoon that while Schillerstrom understands voters' apathy in light of the performance of the last two governors, the DuPage County Chairman's record speaks for itself.

"Bob Schillerstrom is the right man for this job and believes that being governor is the next step," Hahn said. "He has been chairman on the County Board here in DuPage for 10 years — a county that alone is bigger than six states. He has balanced the budget every year, lowered property taxes seven out of 10 years, and worked with local employers here in the business community to secure jobs. DuPage has the lowest unemployment in the Chicago area."

Hahn also touted Schillerstrom's efforts to "make government more efficient by reducing staff as well as spending." He has also showed leadership regarding ethics and surpassing state standards regarding overseeing county purchases.

"Bob Schillerstrom has shown that government needs to be held accountable, and despite voter apathy in light of our last two governors who have been arrested, voters don't have to wonder what will happen this time — his record speaks for itself," Hahn said.

Hahn said Schillerstrom will join a growing list of possible gubernatorial candidates including Republican Bill Brady from Bloomington, as well as others who have either declared or been talked about such as state Sens. Matt Murphy and Kirk Dillard, political commentator Dan Proft, as well as another local figure who has been the subject of some speculation — DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett.

Following the rally in his hometown of Naperville, Schillerstrom will travel Monday and Tuesday to Rockford, the Quad Cities, Peoria, St. Louis metro area, Springfield and Champaign. The announcement rally will be streamed live online at www.bobforillinois.com.