Here is the debate scorecard as I promised, this link talks about the scoring system I will use.  It is a sliding 6-5-4-3 scale with bonus points.

Topic 1-Homeland Security

Jim Ryan, Bill Brady, Dan Proft, Kirk Dillard, Adam Andrzjewski, and Bob Schillerstrom all had very good answers to start a healthy exchange on the topic.  Each candidate provided a solution to helping keep Illinois safe.  From Jim Ryan talking about his experiences as Illinois Attorney General to pass one of the first anti-terror bills in the nation, to Kirk Dillard talking about his experiences handling crisis in the Edgar Administration the two veteran candidates spoke well.  Schillerstrom, Andrzjewski, and Proft talked about new solutions they would bring in solving homeland security issues.  Schillerstrom sold voters well on emergency preparedness to Andrzjewski wanting to have e-verify at the state level.  These six candidates get five points.  Andy McKenna made an effort to talk on the subject, but came out very flat on the topic and did not provide a solution.  McKenna gets 4 points on the first topic.

Standings

Bill Brady 5

Adam Andrzjewski 5

Dan Proft 5

Kirk Dillard 5

Jim Edgar 5

Bob Schillerstrom 5
Andy McKenna 4

Topic 2-The Bogus Stimulus

The second topic of the debate talked about the Stimulus and job creation.  The candidate who hit a big home run was Bob Schillerstrom.  Bob Schillerstrom talked about his credentials that he has already proven to create jobs for DuPage County while the rest of Illinois has lagged behind.  Schillerstrom earns a 6 for his outstanding answer.    Bill Brady, Adam Andrzjewski, and Dan Proft had great responses too.  From Bill Brady’s plan to have a $2,000 per job tax credit, to Adam Andrzjewski wanting to reform workers compensation and tort reform.  Brady and Andrzjewski had some good plans.  They would earn a five, but the two candidates get a bonus point for a quality response.  Dan Proft also had a good response citing Indiana having inflation-population growth caps as a key towards Indiana being a job creation hub.  Proft would propose this if elected Governor.  Proft too earns five points plus a bonus point.  Jim Ryan and Kirk Dillard came out flat on this question.  Dillard talks about “Destination Economy” but Dillard failed to sell voters on the specifics of his plan.  Jim Ryan circulated around the question barely giving voters a specific plan.  Andy McKenna had no specific plan talking about how to create jobs.  McKenna’s bad response does not earn him any points while Dillard and Ryan only earn 4 points.

Standings

Bill Brady 11

Adam Andrzjewski 11

Dan Proft 11

Bob Schillerstrom 11

Kirk Dillard 9

Jim Ryan 9
Andy McKenna 4

Topic 3-The Illinois Budget

A hot topic in Illinois is the budget problems that have plagued the Prairie State during the Blagojevich Administration.    During this round of the debate, virtually every candidate presented a different solution in solving the budget problems for Illinois.

For the second straight topic, Bob Schillerstrom led the way on the Illinois budget.  Schillerstrom is for zero based budgeting.  Schillerstrom has put it to work in DuPage County when he was County Executive  and proven it.  Schillerstrom scores another six points for a quality response.   Adam Andrzejewski earns 6 points for pointing out that Illinois needs forensic auditing to reform Illinois books.  Andrezejewski  also earns a bonus point for slamming the current transparency bill signed into law and would demand more reforms including mandating all local government units have their checkbooks open to the public.  That is a pretty good clean attack by the underdog candidate showing how he can lead Illinois and why he earns a bonus point.  Bill Brady earns a 6 for discussing in a substantive manner how he would reform certain departments of Illinois Government that are a strain to state government including Medicaid and the Department of Corrections.  Brady cited overtime costs strain the budget.  Dan Proft concurred with Mr. Andrezejewski  for support of forensic auditing citing that Illinois counts debt as revenue.  However, Proft wasted an opportunity to show how he could lead on the  budget.  For that effort Proft earns five points.  Kirk Dillard earned a quality five point response.  Dillard talked about restructuring the pension system and medicaid as his top two things to fix the budget.  Dillard earns a bonus point for a clean attack by slamming Blago’s free transit rides for 65 and older and said that the waste caused by Blago could of have went to needy college students who are struggling.  Andy McKenna made an effort in this round to talk about how he could lead Illinois on the budget.  McKenna said he would make the hard budget cuts.  McKenna said he would advocate for the Illinois Sunshine Act and reforming Medicaid to fix the budget.  McKenna comes up this time with 5 points for his effort.  Jim Ryan however was very flat on this question.  Ryan failed to come up with a solution of his own to solving the Illinois budget problem.  For this round Ryan will not earn any points.

Standings

Adam Andrzjewski 18

Bob Schillerstrom 17

Bill Brady 17

Dan Proft 16

Kirk Dillard 15

Jim Ryan 9

Andy McKenna 9

Topic 4-ObamaCare

In this topic, the issue of Health Care brought some interesting responses.  When asked about Illinois and their stake on the health care vote the response differed by candidate.  Adam Andrzejewski hit a home-run in this round citing that Illinois has a big stake in the vote.  Mr. Andrzejewski scored big points by not just saying he would sue Barack Obama if ObamaCare passes but pass a four point plan for real health care reform including tort reform, price transparency, posting doctor’s scorecards, and eliminate the Illinois Health Facilities Board which rations health care facilities.  For this, Andrzejewski earns six points plus an extra bonus point.  Bob Schillerstrom earned a quality six point response for how he would deliver real health care reform.  Schillerstrom talked about improving primary care in Illinois and not warehousing the developmentally disabled in Illinois by moving towards group homes and not institutionalized settings.  Schillerstrom would sue Obama if ObamaCare passes.  Bill Brady talked about passing tort reform in Illinois and reforming the worker’s compensation laws to reform health care.  Brady like Schillerstrom and Andrzejewski would issue a 10th Amendment challenge to sue Barack Obama if ObamaCare passes.  Brady for that effort earns a quality six points.  Dan Proft talked on invoking the tenth amendment on ObamaCare but did not have much of a plan in which he earns just four points.  Andy McKenna, Kirk Dillard, and Jim Ryan failed to make an attempt during the debate to justify their role in improving health care in the State of Illinois.  Dillard may have stopped Obama on ObamaCare in the Illinois Senate, but he wasted a big opportunity during the debate last night to prove he is the leading GOP voice on health care.

Standings

Adam Andrzjewski 25

Bob Schillerstrom 23

Bill Brady 23

Dan Proft 2o

Kirk Dillard 15

Jim Ryan 9

Andy McKenna 9

Topic 5-Education (Rapid Fire Round)

During the debate, education was the topic during the rapid fire round in round five.  In this round, Adam Andrzejewski hit a big home run along with Bob Schillerstrom and Dan Proft.  In the time he was allotted , Andrzejewski made clear of his four point plan to solve education problems in the Prairie State.   This includes an executive order to demand transparency for all school districts in Illinois, having a $500 tax credit for private school tuition, promoting choice and competition, and eliminating the Illinois State Board of Education.   For this round, Adam gets six points plus a bonus point.  Bob Schillerstrom earns six points and a bonus point for pointing out his plan for education well and for a clean attack of Jim Ryan.  Schillerstrom slammed Ryan for running around the issue while promoting an all of the above education plan meaning choice, charter, home school, and private schools for all.   Dan Proft, also earns six points and a two bonus points for well articulating his universal school choice plan and for a clean attack towards Jim Ryan and Kirk Dillard.  Bill Brady got six points for well describing a school choice “opt-in” program at the state level.  Brady’s plan would be different as it would go to the voters via referendum to approve vouchers for a certain district.  Kirk Dillard, Andy McKenna, and Jim Ryan did not offer a solution and basically talked around the subject in which they would not earn points in this round.

Standings

Adam Andrzjewski 32

Bob Schillerstrom 30

Bill Brady 29

Dan Proft 28

Kirk Dillard 15

Jim Ryan 9

Andy McKenna 9

Topic 6-Abe Lincoln

This round was more of a personal insight on a great character.  The candidates all talked on how Abe Lincoln meant to themselves and their families.  The responses were all good so they all earn six points.

Standings

Adam Andrzjewski 38

Bob Schillerstrom 36

Bill Brady 35

Dan Proft 34

Kirk Dillard 21

Jim Ryan 15

Andy McKenna 15

Topic 7-Activist submitted questions

The debate got a little interesting as there were activist submitted questions as each candidate was asked a question on a different topic.   During this round, Andy McKenna gained some steam by producing some well rounded responses on Parental Notification and high speed rail.  For that effort he gets five points.  Bob Schillerstrom did not let up with his momentum during the debate as he articulated again the need to end the warehousing of the developmentally disabled in Illinois and pushing for smart transportation investments without breaking the Illinois State Budget.  Schillerstrom earns six points plus two bonus points for two well responded Rapid Fire responses.   Adam Andrzjewski earns six points plus two bonus points for denouncing his support towards expanded casino gambling in Illinois and for clean attacks on Bill Brady and Kirk Dillard for their support of expanded casino gambling.  Bill Brady earns six points for how he would reform the Illinois Property Tax Cap Act of 2006 to cut down on the number of levy elections in Illinois school districts.  Dan Proft earned five points for his responses as he could of have done a little better on addressing how to keep Illinois college graduates in Illinois.  Kirk Dillard earned six points for how to re-brand Illinois tourism for one of his few good responses on the night.  Jim Ryan barely talked anything on his pension reform plan so he does not earn any points.

Standings

Adam Andrzjewski 46

Bob Schillerstrom 44

Bill Brady 41

Dan Proft 39

Kirk Dillard 27

Andy McKenna 21

Jim Ryan 15

Topic 8-Closing Statements

In the final round, the closing statements were a chance for the candidate to close the sale.  The candidates that closed the sale were Adam Andrzjewski, Bob Schillerstrom, Dan Proft, and Bill Brady.  Andrzjewski and Schillerstrom made the case in the best way possible in which they would be the best person to be the GOP’s nominee but to be the next Governor of Illinois.  Schillerstrom gets two bonus points for well describing his background during the closing statement and overall during the debate.  Both talked about leadership with Andrzjewski’s demands to lead to Reagan Revolution to Bob Schillerstrom who touted his credentials as DuPage County Executive.  For these closing statements they get six points.  Bill Brady and Dan Proft talked about Virginia and New Jersey.  However, Proft talks about turning Springfield upside down while Brady touted his small business experience.  They both get five points for quality closing statements.  Kirk Dillard, Jim Ryan, and Andy McKenna failed to close the sale during the closing statements in which they will not earn any points.

Standings

Adam Andrzjewski 52

Bob Schillerstrom 52

Bill Brady 46

Dan Proft 44

Kirk Dillard 27

Andy McKenna 21

Jim Ryan 15

The result is the debate ended in a tie between Adam Andrzejewski and Bob Schillerstrom.  They both proven tonight they are ready to lead Illinois.  Dan Proft and Bill Brady had a good performance, but both had their small amount of flaws during the debate.  Andy McKenna debated flat while Kirk Dillard and Jim Ryan failed to sell their past experiences to become the GOP nominee for governor.

Slick talking Mike Tate has given us a new laugh alert by this time putting a misplaced attack on the Republican Party of Wisconsin over Sarah Palin’s appearance in Milwaukee. Reince Priebus the GOP Chairman of Wisconsin has said that this event is not a Republican Party of Wisconsin event as the event is run by Wisconsin Right to Life as WRTL is imposing the media blackout not the GOP.

Mike Tate called Reince’s response: ” a cop-out”.  Excuse me Mike, you shot the puck way too wide on this one thinking you got a political power play goal.  Reince Priebus has had zero involvement in bringing Sarah Palin to Milwaukee this weekend.  That is a silly response you get from a party leader who will not admit his party is in serious trouble without a major governor candidate and his party engaging in Illinois style corruption.  Also, add on his previous racial slurs towards taxpayers and you got another Mike Tate laugh alert.

The looney Mike Tate hits just keep on coming.  This blog will continue to expose his failed leadership to the people of Wisconsin until he gets the message from the people.

Good Morning.  As I am about to head back up for Sarah Palin in Milwaukee later tonight, I wanted to extend a special thanks to Communications Director Maggie Heydt and State GOP Chairman Pat Brady for allowing the North Shore Exponent to blog last night’s debate live from the historic Chicago Hilton  in the media area.

Despite a couple other bloggers could not make it, I was able to provide a outlet for the people of Illinois to know more about the Governor’s candidates in-depth and how the issues are affecting a state that is trying to move forward from its corrupt past.

All the campaigns were very gracious in handling media requests and answering questions that I asked.  With less than 90 days away, the most intense GOP primary in the nation awaits us.  I am very excited to cover this race along with the battle for Wisconsin in 2010.  The two most competitive Governor’s races in the US are in our backyard here in the Midwest.  The North Shore Exponent will have your ticket to all the twists and turns.

 

I just got out of the Green room and here are snippets from the post-debate reaction with whoever I had a chance to ask questions with:

“I am proud of the candidates having a substantive, healthy debate.  Here to you are the Governors of Illinois.” -IRP Chairman Pat Brady.

“When looking at my leadership for DuPage County, I have set priorities during my tenure as County Executive and the 2010 budget for the county will be at 2003 level.”-Bob Schillerstrom on DuPage County’s AAA bond rating while as county executive.

“I am better than someone who was an Attorney General or a staffer because I have had experience governing a unit of Government.”-Bob Schillerstrom on why he is better fit to lead than Jim Ryan or Kirk Dillard.

“My term limits plan is better because mine will ask the people to put the issue of term limits through a 300,000 signature petition instead of having Michael Madigan hold the fate of a resolution calling for a ballot question on term limits.”-Adam Andrzjewski on term limits and why his plan is better than Bill Brady’s

“I do not know what Adam’s plan is on term limits, so I can’t respond to the differences between my plan and his plan.”-Bill Brady, Illinois State Senator on defending his term limits plan.

Thank you for viewing our coverage of tonight’s debate.  I will have the debate scorecard later tonight.

Dan Proft talked about Chris Christie’s closing statement saying: “It’s time to turn Trenton upside down.”  Proft said he would turn Springfield upside down.

Jim Ryan said that the 2010 Illinois Governor’s election is a defining moment in Illinois history.  Ryan said the social contract was breached by Blagojevich.  Ryan said gov’t should be on the side of the people .

Bob Schillerstrom said that Illinois has a huge opportunity to turn it around in 2010.  Mr. Schillerstrom says his DuPage Co. Experience will help give a clean break to Illinois.  Schillerstrom said DuPage is a model GOP government.  Schillerstrom said that DuPage has a AAA bond rating, which is a step higher than Milw. Co. Executive Scott Walker who has a double AA bond rating.  Walker is running for GOP Governor in Wisconsin.

Adam Andrzejewski said “why do you fight and what you are fighting for?”  Andrzejewski said he would fight for a new Reagan Revolution in Illinois.  Andrzejewski said that 2010 is a leadership election.  Andrzejewski emphasized his forensic auditing to get Illinois back on track.  Andrzejewski said he is for a 7 day read the bill period.

Bill Brady has said that his business experience will help him get jobs back into Illinois.  Brady said the candidate must best sell these principles in order to win from top to bottom.  Brady said the wins in NJ and VA are because of leadership of great candidates like Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell.  Brady says he is the leader to go across party lines to win.

Kirk Dillard said that Illinois is in crisis.  Dillard has said his experience as former Gov. Jim Edgar’s Chief of Staff to balance budgets and his new “destination economy” plan are two keys to his candidacy.  Dillard said he would talk the talk on ethics.  Dillard said he would shut down the campaign fund once he is sworn in.  Dillard said the Chicago Tribune touted him as a rare find in Illinois politics.

Andy McKenna talked about 1,000 people in Illinois going to jail for public corruption in the last 30 years, and said that Gov. Quinn is “Blago Lite”.   McKenna touted his business experience and making Springfield live within its means to being a good Governor in his opinion.

We are having more activist submitted questions.

Bob Schillerstrom talked about the need to improve transportation infastructure citing Illinois being the hub of everything from air to rail.  Someone cited IL’s poor bridges.

Adam Andrzejewski is against expanded casino gambling.  Andrzejewski blasted Dillard and Brady for their support for gambling along with his opposition against a Chicago casino.  A woman asked Adam about her opposition to Casino gambling.

Bill Brady talked about stopping faux reform in Illinois.   Brady talked his government reform package including his support for term limits.

Kirk Dillard said that the economy will dominate the 2010 election in Illinois.  Dillard said it was the key for GOP wins in NJ and VA.   Dillard said he would focus on the economy to win.    Dillard said we need to lead by example on Ethics.

Andy McKenna was asked on the Illinois Parental Notification Act.   McKenna slammed the federal judge’s decision to put an injunction on the law.  McKenna said it was a slap in the face to the Legislature that passed the law in 1995.

 

Dan Proft just talked about how he would get more jobs to IL college students.  Proft said tax cuts and spending cuts are the anwser.  Question from Moline, IL college student

Jim Ryan is for pension reform.

Bob Schillerstrom slammed the State of Illinois for warehousing the developmentally disabled.  Schillerstrom is for more community based housing.

Question from a Arlington Hts woman on creating community housing for developmentally disabled.

Adam Andrzejewski talked about busting the Charter school cap in Illinois and making it unlimited.

Bill Brady was asked about the 1996 Illinois Property Tax Cap law.  Brady has said that school districts must control their property taxes used for education.  Brady cited 25% increases in Cook County.  Brady said state dollars must pay property tax bill.

Kirk Dillard was asked about tourism.   Dillard has said that Chicago is a great foreign destination and would try to increase Chicago’s international image and re-branding downstate tourisim.;

Andy McKenna was asked on high speed rail.   McKenna said the fiscal wreck like what is happening right now should prevent high speed rail.

Andy McKenna said that Lincoln had a great economic vision for Illinois and for America.  Lincoln according to McKenna was an innovator for his time.

Dan Proft said that Lincoln’s personal story inspired him.   Proft said his perseverance inspired him.

Jim Ryan said that Lincoln was the best President of his time.  Ryan said that Lincoln was a symbol of strength for a nation in turmoil.

Bob Schillerstrom said that Lincoln was a example of leadership during tough times.  Schillerstrom cited how Lincoln abolished slavery as an example of his time.  Schillerstrom said we need a new Lincoln to destroy the old ways.

Adam Andrzejewski said Honest Abe was what inspired him.  Andrzejewski said the Illinois Republican Party cannot be a patronage party anymore.  Andrzejewski has said the patronage wing needs to marry the reform wing to defeat Chicago.

Bill Brady said Lincoln understood having a clean break from the politics from the past.  Brady also talked about his admiration of Ronald Reagan, a favorite son of Illinois.

Kirk Dillard talked about his wive’s family in which had lineage to Lincoln.  Dillard said: “we need to bring a team of rivals together” and learn from Lincoln’s lesson on race relations.

Now we begin the Rapid Fire Round.

The topic is Education.

Kirk Dillard stressed his support for Charter and Choice schools to improve Illinois.

Andy McKenna is for school choice, charter schools, and home schools. McKenna is for vouchers.

Dan Proft slammed candidates for not having a specific plan for action on education.  Proft cited 32% statewide increase in K-12 spending which does not work.   Proft is for universal statewide school choice.  Proft said the money should be attached to the students not the school board.

Jim Ryan talks about equality of opportunity.  However, Ryan is for Charter schools and restructuring funding.  Ryan is for merit pay and vouchers.  Ryan has said that the IL Constitution demands opportunity for all and choice is the anwser.

Bob Schillerstrom slammed Jim Ryan for running around the issue.  Schillerstrom is for competition on a wide scale including home schooling, charter schools meaning an all the above policy.

Adam Andrzejewski cites his four point program.  1. top to bottom transparency on IL’s $22 million school budget and school districts.  2. Defend private schools and promote competition, this means triple $500 income tax credit for private school basis.

Bill Brady is for eliminating the Charter school cap, and for a statewide opt-in voucher program.  Brady said it should be done via referendum if the school board fails.  Brady is for eliminating the Illinois State Board of Education.  Brady says its time to take back our schools