PJ-S: Murphy for Lt. Governor
1/24/2010
On Jan. 29 last year, Illinois voters got a clear reminder of why the office of lieutenant governor matters as Pat Quinn took over the reins from disgraced predecessor Rod Blagojevich.
Now with another election looming, plenty of candidates have set their sights on an office that ordinarily means little but holds the potential to impact the entire state. So obviously the biggest factor voters have to weigh is this: Which person is best able to take over as the state's CEO should the governor be unable to perform his duties for whatever reason? Suffice it to say, this isn't a place to start learning the ropes of Illinois government.
Six Republicans are seeking their party's nomination. They are Matt Murphy, 39, a two-term state senator from Palatine; Brad Cole, 38, in his second term as mayor of Carbondale; Dennis Cook, 31, a school board president in Orland Park; Jason Plummer, 27, vice president of his family's lumber business and a former Madison County GOP chairman; Randy White, 52, a member of the Hancock County Board; and Don Tracy, 59, a Springfield lawyer originally from western Illinois.
All the above want state government's spending trimmed - particularly given the growth in expenditures the last seven years - and none favor increasing income taxes. Likewise, nobody here would dramatically expand what amounts to a limited position in a cash-strapped government. That said, two stand above the rest: Murphy and Cole.
Murphy has paired himself with GOP gubernatorial candidate and businessman Andy McKenna on an unofficial ticket, though the nominees for the two offices are chosen separately in the primary. Clearly an energetic up-and-comer among minority Republicans in the Senate, he's been a consistent voice the last couple of years for forcing state government to live within its means. The deficit reduction committee he co-chaired identified $3 billion in potential savings, but the effects there have yet to be fully felt. He's most vocal about his opposition to tax hikes.
Murphy believes this job ought to be more of a partnership with the governor, playing a supporting role in advancing a common agenda rather than carving out a specific policy focus for himself.
Cole briefly ran the southern Illinois office of Gov. George Ryan, though he was never tied to any wrongdoing in that administration. He also held several lesser posts in state government before that, and is described as a sharp, effective leader. He'd focus on the nuts and bolts of the office - the Rural Affairs Council, Illinois Main Street program and the Illinois River Coordinating Council. He plans to pay more attention to downstate communities and rural problems, primarily through the bully pulpit the office provides rather than any new program or funding.
We're confident either could competently fill the state's No. 2 spot, but we give the edge to Matt Murphy for his more recent experience in Springfield and his emphasis on a partnership that would leave him ready to take over, if needed. He is endorsed.
Peoria Journal Star
January 24, 2010
