Gidwitz says won’t defer to Topinka

Terri Hickey, Communications Director for Republican Gubernatorial Primary candidate Ron Gidwitz, reacted this afternoon in a phone interview to Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka’s statements that “it is quite probable,” that Topinka will run in her Party’s primary for Governor. [See Greg Hinz article, here]. Topinka, in her third term as State Treasurer, is likely to make a formal declaration of her candidacy for Governor within two weeks.

To watch the most recent Ron Gidwitz “Public Affairs,” webcast interview, go here.
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Jeff Berkowitz: Are you saying affirmatively that there is no way Ron Gidwitz will get out of this primary and he will be in it through March 31, 2006 Election Day?

Hickey: He is in the race to stay.

Berkowitz: No way he would make an arrangement or deal and consider a statewide office—perhaps a run for Treasurer?

Hickey: He is running for Governor.

Berkowitz: He won’t run under any circumstances for any other statewide office?

Hickey: No.

Berkowitz: What do you say [to the argument] that if you do that you enable [by splitting the socially moderate vote] somebody who is more socially conservative to win?

Hickey: We are looking forward to a good debate as to who has the best record to turn this state around. Ron is a fiscal conservative who believes in less taxes and small or more efficient government and he is the only candidate who has come out with a plan to change the culture of corruption in Springfield and those are the issues that he is running on and those are the important issues to the future of Illinois.
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Phone interview, 1:00 pm, November 7, 2005
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