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Dan Rutherford
From Ballotpedia
| Dan Rutherford | ||
 | ||
| Illinois Treasurer | ||
| Incumbent | ||
| In office | ||
| January 10, 2011 - Present | ||
| Term ends | ||
| January 12, 2015 | ||
| Years in position | 1 | |
| Party | Republican | |
| Compensation | ||
| Base salary | $130,800 | |
| Elections and appointments | ||
| First elected | November 2, 2010 | |
| Next election | November 4, 2014 | |
| Term limits | N/A | |
| Prior offices | ||
| Illinois State Senate | ||
| 2003 - 2010 | ||
| Education | ||
| Bachelor's | Illinois State University | |
| Websites | ||
| Office website | ||
Contents |
Rutherford was first elected Illinois Treasurer in 2010, succeeding Alexi Giannoulias.[1] Rutherford's term as Treasurer expires in 2015.
Rutherford graduated from Illinois State with his Bachelor's degree in 1978. Rutherford also served as a Legislative Assistant for former State Representative Tom Ewing from 1978 to 1980 and was a Business Executive.
State treasurer
When they were first elected, Rutherford and comptroller Judy Baar Topinka said they plan to flex their muscle as the state’s fiscal officers, with an aim at Gov. Pat Quinn’s borrowing. Quinn has called borrowing one of his “budget pillars,” yet the state treasurer and comptroller must sign-off on short term borrowing, according to Illinois state law requires.
“I have a number of questions about any type of short term borrowing,” Topinka said. “What will the money be used for, how long will it be out, and is there money for the state to pay it back?”
Topinka said she will not issue blank checks to the governor. Rutherford thinks he has a mandate to be tough and that voters picked Republicans to hold the fiscal offices of the state for a reason.
“[One] thing that I think is going to be impactful is to have people who are willing to articulate what may be a differing opinion on the finances of the state.”
Rutherford said that not all borrowing is bad, but he does worry about Illinois’ mounting debt and the state’s ability to repay what it borrows. [1]
Issues
Civil Unions
Rep. Rutherford was the only GOP lawmaker to vote yes on the civil unions legislation before it headed to Gov. Quinn’s desk.[2]
Debt
While Rutherford cannot stop lawmakers from borrowing billions to pay the state’s backlog of unpaid bills, he does plan to deter this practice by making it more expensive.
On May 23, 2011, Rutherford said he could not support adding to Illinois' burgeoning debt.
He released his own report that states Illinois total debt would cost every household in the state $42,000. Rutherford arrived at the number by adding Illinois’ $140 billion in unfunded pension and health-care liabilities, the state’s $45 billion bond debt, and the nearly $8 billion in unpaid bills.
The treasurer said lawmakers must cut spending and live within their means in order for Illinois to pay off the debt.
“You can’t borrow anymore money,” said Rutherford. “And if I need to send letters to the rating companies to tell them the treasurer of Illinois is opposed to any more borrowing, I’ll go ahead and do that.”
Rutherford said alerting national rating agencies and bond houses could make it more expensive for Illinois to borrow. He said hopes that step would give lawmakers pause before asking for a billion dollars.[3]
Elections
2010
Rutherford won his campaign for state treasurer in the November 2, 2010 election.[1]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Republican Dan Rutherford won re-election to the Illinois State Senate District 53 receiving 90,199 votes.[4]
| Illinois State Senate, District 53 (2008) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Dan Rutherford (R)
| 90,199 | |||
Campaign donors
Ballotpedia collects information on campaign donors for each year in which a candidate or incumbent is running for election. The following table offers a breakdown of Dan Rutherford's donors each year.[5] Click [show] for more information.
| Dan Rutherford's Campaign Contributions | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Illinois Treasurer | 2008 Illinois State Senate District 53 | 2006 Illinois Secretary of State (Lost general election) | 2004 Illinois State Senate District 53 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total Raised | $2,040,372 | $770,475 | $1,566,837 | $912,585 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Raised by General Election Opponent | $790,389 | n/a | $2,153,578 | n/a | |||||||||||||||
| Top 5 contributors | Danny Rutherford | $200,162 | Muneer Satter | $50,000 | Jimmy Johns Franchise | $74,900 | Dan Rutherford | $61,153 | |||||||||||
| James Liautaud | $100,000 | Terence Graunke | $25,000 | James N Pritzker Political Participation Fund | $45,000 | Lexington Square Inc | $11,500 | ||||||||||||
| James N Pritzker Political Participation Fund | $58,000 | James Liautaud | $25,000 | James Liautaud | $31,000 | Committee for Legislative Action | $11,500 | ||||||||||||
| James Pritzker | $50,000 | Committee for Legislative Action | $10,000 | Illinois Manufacturers Association | $11,000 | Community Bankers Association of Illinois | $9,500 | ||||||||||||
| Maclean-Fogg Co | $35,000 | Illinois Bankers Association | $7,500 | Jeffrey Diederich | $10,500 | Illinois Realtors Association | $9,175 | ||||||||||||
| Individuals | $968,970 | $358,273 | $551,546 | $249,381 | |||||||||||||||
| Institutions | $650,865 | $262,812 | $588,520 | $410,532 | |||||||||||||||
| In-state donations | $1,645,846 | $713,365 | $1,443,173 | $846,522 | |||||||||||||||
| Out-of-state donations | $68,275 | $48,856 | $98,380 | $63,609 | |||||||||||||||
Criticism for raises
Rutherford, along with Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, came under criticism in September 2011 for giving pay raises during a fiscal crisis. Topinka gave 56 employees raises of at least 3 percent and several employees raises up to 15 percent. Rutherford gave out 19 raises averaging 16 percent increases. The issue came to light by an analysis of payroll records by the Better Government Association, a Chicago nonprofit group.[6]
Personal
Rutherford resides in Pontiac, Illinois.
External links
- Dan Rutherford's campaign website
- Sen. Rutherford's website
- Biography from the Illinois General Assembly
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1998, 1996
- Dan Rutherford on Facebook
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "New Ill. GOP comptroller, treasurer: no blank checks for Dem gov’s borrowing," Illinois Statehouse News, November 10, 2010
- ↑ "Dan Rutherford on Civil Unions," Illinois Statehouse News, December 1, 2010
- ↑ "Illinois treasurer says ‘no’ to more debt to pay state bills," By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News, May 23, 2011
- ↑ Illinois Senate election results for 2008
- ↑ Follow the Money.org
- ↑ Forbes, "Watchdog questions comptroller, treasurer raises," September 26, 2011
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alexi Giannoulias | Illinois State Treasurer 2011–present | Succeeded by Current |
| Preceded by ' | Illinois Senate District 53 2003–2010 | Succeeded by Shane Cultra |
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