By DOUG WILSON
Herald-Whig Senior Writer
Illinois gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan met a voter in Moline who put the state's political climate in context.
"He asked me, 'Are you going to raise my taxes?' I said 'No,' and he said, 'Liar,' " Ryan said during a visit to Quincy on Wednesday.
Ryan has three main goals in his campaign that tie together the problems and worries of the state -- improving the economy, getting the state's fiscal house in order and restoring people's faith in state government.
The Moline voter does not trust politicians to fix the state budget without a tax. Many other people are either out of work or worried about their jobs, so restoring the trust of businesses will be a key to success.
"The last thing we should do is even think about raising taxes," Ryan said.
He said that has been the Democratic response to the current budget crisis. His plan is to cut wasteful programs from state government.
Ryan would appoint an efficiency panel to go through the budget top to bottom. In some cases, duplicate programs can be consolidated. In other cases, spending may not be absolutely necessary.
Medicaid patients should be in managed care programs which can save "a considerable amount of money" for the state, Ryan said. He also wants to reform the pension system so future retirees won't get such generous benefits or such expensive health care coverage.
"It's not rocket science. We just have to spend less and save more and use some of the money from the natural revenue growth to pay down some of our debt," Ryan said.
As one of seven candidates seeking the Republican nomination, Ryan said his name recognition is an obvious advantage. A poll done by Ayers, McHenry & amp; Associates Inc. from Sept. 28-Oct. 1, showed that Ryan was favored by 33 percent of respondents expecting to vote in the Republican primary. Sen. Bill Brady, Bloomington, was in second place with 11 percent.
In a look ahead toward the general election, Ryan came within five points of Gov. Pat Quinn's numbers in that same poll.
When Ryan was the GOP standard bearer in the governor's race in 2002, he raised a big campaign fund. It was much smaller than the war chest raised by Rod Blagojevich, plus Ryan had been in a bruising primary campaign. The Ryan name also was confusing to many people at a time when Gov. George Ryan was under federal investigation.
Jim Ryan said there won't be a problem with his last name now, because George Ryan is in prison.
"I'm the only one in the Republican field who has won a statewide office," Ryan said.
That experience as a two-term attorney general will be an important part of Ryan's campaign.
The other GOP hopefuls are Adam Andrzejewski and Sen. Kirk Dillard, both of Hinsdale; Brady; Bob Schillerstrom of Naperville; and Dan Proft and Andy McKenna, both of Chicago.
-- dwilson@whig.com/221-3372
