The last budget surplus in Illinois was when Dillard was Edgar's chief of staff. Dillard obviously knows what to do now that Democrats have run us into the ditch.

Gaming Revenues provide for local control and a new revenue stream without raising the general tax rate. Why did Nybo not vote on this critical vote, like he also didn't on the DREAM act and the budget proposal from the last session?

Red light cameras are a local issue. Just recently, the Elmhurst City Council voted on a stop sign in a controversial location. Nybo obviously thinks that such decisions are better made by know-it-alls in Springfield rather than local elected officials.

Again, we have the opinions of Fitzpatrick trying to sway voters. In a recent article on Nybo's petition submittal, the Dillard camp made no comments. Yet here comes the Nybo people to slam Dillard on his article. Let's ask another question, why did Nybo submit only 2800 signatures when Dillard submitted 3000 from over 100 volunteers? Could it be that the support Fitzpatrick is always touting be softer than it really is?

For those people who think Roskam is a good legislator, bear in mind he is disqualified from serving using the Nybo/Fitzpatrick logic since he has been in office more than the arbitrary 20 years.

Frank, 8 posts, you've been a busy guy. We'll answer all of them. You haven't been completely truthful here friend. We'll fill in the blanks. When Dillard was Edgar's Chief of Staff (after serving as Thompson's Patronage Chief), Pate Philip was Senate President. He was instrumental in creating that surplus, far moreso than a Chief of Staff. Did Edgar do anything in the mansion or did Kirk sit in the big chair down there?
Gaming Revenues are a consistently shrinking source of revenue. There's not a bigger pot, just more competition for less dollars and a much higher social price being paid. Local control? Not.
Nybo didn't vote on it because he was off the floor in a meeting with the Governor (you know that, but you like to say it anyway. He takes his voting key with him so no one else casts his vote. He was on the record against gaming expansion. Always has been.
A stop sign vs. Red light cameras giving speeding tickets. That's the weakest rationalization yet. Over 50% of Chicago will be equipped with your cash grab cameras. No safety enhancement will be realized. This experiment has failed elsewhere. But it does raise revenue until the taxpayers throw out the people who approve them.

Nybo submitted 2800+ signatures because the rules state "no more than 3000". We collected well in excess of 3000. I'll remind you Frank that ours were collected on the porches of homeowners. We didn't go to a single train station, high school football game, Veterans Day event (tacky), Halloween trick or treat event or any other huge public event to collect signatures. Door to door, one by one, over 3000, throughout the entire district.

Roskam is a great legislator Frank. He hasn't served in any body for 20 years. If memory serves, he served 8 in the State Senate. He's been in Congress for 5 years. You move up or out. That's what he's done. You're guy is a nothing close to a Peter Roskam. I guarantee you wouldn't see him vote for Embryonic Stem Cell Research, the Dream Act, Red light speeding tickets, or the budgets and borrowing schemes your guy has voted for. Guarantee it!! He knows what tax increases are and doesn't call them "general". Compare their senate records. Have a kleenex handy.

More negativity by the Nybo camp.

Re: Budget Surplus

Dillard was instrumental in taking the budget deficit to a surplus, and spearhead the reduction in state government. Ask Sen. Philip and Gov. Edgar, both of whom support Dillard.

Re Gaming: I thought a representatives allegiance was to his constituents, and not the Quinn. He wasn't on the record when it counted, you know, the final vote. What you fail to point out is studies show gaming expansion provides new revenue streams as people choose Illinois over Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. Chicago has numerous conventions, which will expand even more because of the recently passed McPier legislation passed by Dillard, with out of state people gaming at the proposed Chicago casino. You also leave out the tens of thousands of agricultural jobs that will be saved as part of the gaming bill as our horse racing industry is strengthened.

Re: Speed cameras. The point, which you must fail to grasp, is local control of local issues. This is part of the IL Republican Party platform. I'm sure you and the Nybo camp see this as an issue where your enlightened knowledge trumps that of the local police superintendent and city councilmen. If they choose a method of law enforcement to apprehend local law-breakers that doesn't fit with your worldview, that's no concern of yours. Local control is local control, and if the experiment fails in Chicago, it's up to them to fix it. It is not an issue for Springfield know-it-alls.

If you collected well in excess of 3000, why did you not submit them? Dillard was the ONLY incumbent in the Senate to submit 3000 signatures, and over 100 people volunteered to help him do so. One voter at a time, just like Nybo.

Dillard has the same right to life rating as Sen. Brady, and has been called a fiscal and social conservative by arguably the most conservative newspaper in this state. His bone fides on this issue are without question, no matter how you spin it.

Keep rationalizing those positions on Gambling revenues creating surplus and Red Light Speeding Tickets being part of the Republican Platform under some subsection on Local Control Frank. It's a terrible argument. I grasp this; more gambling is not going to solve our budget crisis. The Lottery didn't save education and the boats didn't save our medicaid system. More people have gotten wealthy from it and shared the wealth with some legislators. Guess who. Families have been negatively affected. It's such a Republican issue that 3 Senators supported it, including oddly enough, your candidate. Only 2 from DuPage. I'm positive of where the voters in this district are on this one Frank. I have grasped that.

Cincinnatus commented on the article Kirk Dillard Files Nominating Petitions for 24th Senate District Run
"If you collected well in excess of 3000, why did you not submit them? Dillard was the ONLY incumbent in the Senate to submit 3000 signatures, and over 100 people volunteered to help him do so. One voter at a time, just like Nybo. Dillard has the same right to life rating as Sen. Brady, and has been called a fiscal and social conservative by arguably the most conservative newspaper in this state. His bone fides on this issue are without question, no matter how you spin it."

Frank, we did submit 2800+. What difference is there to adding 150 or 400 more when the rules limit you to 3000? His Bona Fides are deeply in question on the Embryonic Stem Cell Research vote. Seek your own counsel and google that.

The last time the budget was balanced was when Dillard was Edgar's chief of staff. He knows how to make things right, and is the go-to guy for critical legislation. He has forgotten more than Nybo will ever know.

No Frank, He's the go to guy for Rahm Emanuel's legislation; gambling, dream act, Red light speeding tickets. He's one of very few on the GOP side Rahm can count on EVERY time. I believe he has forgotten more than Nybo will ever know. Especially about things Nybo would never want to know. Foolish comment Frank. BTW, why's he so quiet about Bill Cellini? They knew each other very well. He hovered around the steps during the Blago trial to comment to every media source. Cellini trial; he was lost. Hmmm.

I do not need your counsel on what is foolish and what is not, Kevin. This is not a discussion about me and you, but about your candidate. Again, the Nybo camp is not able to go 5 minutes without an attack on someone or something. It's all they have. This negativity is causing concern among the hundreds of voters I have talked to. It highlights a pathetic weakness in the Nybo campaign, there is no positive agenda like Dillard's jobs or budget plans, they can only attack. They have no positive agenda, and if they do, it's thin gruel.

You are also making a serious accusation about Cellini. Do you have any proof of any improprieties, Kevin? If so, you should be contacting the Federal prosecutors. If not, you are just using a campaign of innuendo and lies, something I've come to expect from such a weak campaign.

Frank, That's a somewhat testy response from a guy who's posted no less than 10 times in one morning. You are making claims and "taking credit" for things that are just not completely true or true at all. We're making a very positive case out there. Rid the state of Blago Style Billboards, Epi Pen Legislation for children with food allergies, Workers Comp Reform, investment in High Tech Corridor companies (not using taxpayer dollars!!). Lots of good things. Great legislation in the hopper. No Dream Act, No Red light Speeding Tickets, No Gambling Expansion. Do you think you get to cast votes down in Springfield and not take responsibility for them in your district Frank? I'll leave the other issue alone for now, but google that one too.

Not kick the can down the road? No Vote on Gaming. No Vote on DREAM. Present on budget bill HB1883. You're right, he doesn't kick the can down the road, he doesn't even try...

Already told you Frank. He wasn't on the floor and doesn't leave his voting key when he's not there. Bill Sponsors were well aware that he was in Strong Opposition to the Dream Act and Gambling Expansion. Check the record Frank, he's on the record opposing both. Your guy is on the record as among the few in our party supporting both. He's Rahm's go-to guy.

There are term limits on all elected offices, Mike. It's called elections. Do you claim some special insight into things that an elected official's constituents do not have? Dillard is an acknowledged leader by members of the legislature, think tanks, the media, and most importantly his constituents.

Weak argument Frank. If he was so in touch with media, think tanks and most importantly his constituents, he's realize that they're all in favor of term limits. In many communities they are starting to demand them. A guy like him has the most to lose from this. Folks are tired of people who find it too comfortable . 20 years in the Legislature, more before that with Edgar and Thompson is long enough. Move up or out. It's not a lifetime entitlement.

Again, we'll let the voters decide what is a weak argument, Kevin, not you. Voters realize that it takes leaders, and leaders take time to develop. Dillard has been shown to be a leader in this state, not a marginalized back-bencher with extreme views, but a man who can reach across the aisle and make a significant difference.

I have pointed out a recent survey to you done by the Simon institute at SIU. Here's the question they asked:

"Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for a political candidate who is willing to make compromises in order to get things done."

79.6% agreed.

Your candidate positions himself as a rigid, extreme ideologue, out of step with his constituents and the people in Illinois, and one who can only campaign negatively. We'll soon see how Dillard's positive approach to changing this state matches up with the constant stream of attack and negativity from you and the Nybo campaign.

Frank, you're absolutely correct. The voters will get to decide. Your criticism "Back bencher with extreme views" is sort of an odd way to illustrate how you're taking the "high road" and criticism of votes for Embryonic Stem Cell Research (rationalized by Mr. Lewis as 'they're throwing them out anyway') Dream Act, RTA Tax, Gambling Expansion, Red Light Speeding Cameras, etc. are somehow negative campaigning. It's merely an illustration of the differences between 2 men running for the same position. Honestly I know them both as nice guys. I haven't accused anyone of being an extreme idealogue. You keep rationalizing positions that are not "in step" with this district or this party. Then you pull an innocuous position statement out from a study by the Paul Simon Institute to support your position. I agree that people want some compromise. You've criticized Chris for supporting Workman's Comp Reform even though your candidate voted for it. He made that vote because he was positive his district wanted reforms to save $600M in employment cost so more people would get jobs. Did your guy support that or not? If he did, there's NO room for criticism from you on this. I love going to door to door for Chris, just as I have done for Dan and Peter (Henry before that, and Erlenborn before that) for many years. We have an extremely positive message out there. The Nybo campaign is a very strong and disciplined organization. That doesn't mean you or anyone else gets a free shot.

You need to check your facts, Michael, and not get your information from misleading politicians and their campaigns. Dillard was sworn into the State Senate as an elected official in 1995, far less than a quarter of a century. You can confirm this information using Google if you are so inclined.

Frank, you're splitting hairs here. He was appointed into the Senate in 1993. You still take the oath by the way and get sworn in. He worked in the Edgar Administration and Thompson Administration before that. He's been in Springfield for a quarter century. You can Google that too. Or, Frank, you could just acknowledge it instead of trying to be clever with when he was technically elected vs. when he sat down on the senate floor with the privilege of voting. That was 1993.

Cincinnatus, I stand corrected. If you go to http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?GA=97&MemberID=1641 you will see that he has been serving as State Senator (unless the Senate page is wrong) since 1993 NOT 1995 as you implied. Add to this the current term and you do have 23 years. I was indeed two years off. But then so were you. If your guy wins he will only be serving 23 years in the Senate. Still sounds like "Looooooong- Term" limits to me.

Your very reasoned arguments make the case for Dillard's reelection, Kevin. As any person dealing with government will tell you, it takes time to learn how to legislate, and temperament and demeanor to build coalitions to advance conservative principles, especially here in Illinois where government is dominated by liberal Democrats. Taking an "all-or-nothing-at-all" approach to leading in Illinois will lead to abject failure. Dillard has demonstrated time and again that he is singularly qualified to lead in Illinois, while Nybo has shown none of these traits.

Sorry for the confusion I must have created for you Frank. There are many people who are quick study's in learning legislation. They don't go on to learn how to prolong their legislative careers by embracing special legislation that makes a few happy, but doesn't do anything for the folks back home who they're supposed to be serving. We have moved close to the brink where "all or nothing" will soon be the only option as China doesn't even want to lend us money any more. Abject failure is exactly where we are right now Frank. Your candidate has not demonstrated that he is singularly qualified to lead Illinois. If he did, Senator Radogno would not be Senate leader and Governor Quinn would not be Governor. I guess we can blame the voters for that, huh? It's not the liberal Democrats who scare me the most. It's the people who accommodate them.