Dan Rutherford
Dan Rutherford (b. May 26, 1955, in Pontiac, Illinois) was the Republican Treasurer of Illinois from 2011 to 2015. First elected in 2010, Rutherford succeeded Alexi Giannoulias.[1] Rutherfod's seat came up for election in November 2014, and he did not run for another term as treasurer. His term ended on January 12, 2015, and his elected successor, Democrat Mike Frerichs, took over the office.
Rutherford was a candidate for Governor of Illinois in the 2014 elections. He officially launched his campaign on June 3, 2013, and later selected Steve Kim as his running mate.[2] He and Kim ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in the primary election on March 18.
Rutherford represented District 53 in the Illinois State Senate from 2003-2010, and served as Senate Assistant Minority Leader. Prior to that, Rutherford served ten years in the Illinois House of Representatives.[1]
Before becoming a politician, Rutherford had a career as a business executive. He also worked as legislative assistant to former state Rep. Tom Ewing from 1978 to 1980.[3]
Biography
Rutherford is a native of Pontiac, Illinois. He graduated in 1978 from Illinois State University with his Bachelor's degree in business administration.[3] He worked as a business executive and as legislative assistant to former State Representative Tom Ewing before launching his career in public service. He was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003.[4]
Education
- B.S. in business administration - Illinois State University (1978)
Political career
State treasurer (2011-2015)
Rutherford served one term as state treasurer, from January 2011 to January 2015. He opted not to seek re-election in 2014, and was succeeded by Democrat Mike Frerichs.
Borrowing
When they were first elected, Rutherford and Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka said they planned to flex their muscle as the state’s fiscal officers, with an aim at Gov. Pat Quinn’s borrowing. Quinn 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.
“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 would not issue blank checks to the governor. Rutherford said he thought he had 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 that he worried about Illinois’ mounting debt and the state’s ability to repay what it borrows.[1]
Debt
While Rutherford cannot stop lawmakers from borrowing billions to pay the state’s backlog of unpaid bills, he said he planned 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 hoped that step would give lawmakers pause before asking for a billion dollars.[5]
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]
Illinois State Senate (2003-2010)
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.[7]
Illinois State House (1993-2003)
Rutherford served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003.
Elections
2014
- See also: Illinois gubernatorial election, 2014
Rutherford ran for Governor of Illinois alongside running mate Steve Kim. He lost in the Republican primary election on March 18, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.[2][8][9]
| Governor and Lt. Governor of Illinois, Republican Primary, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
 Bruce Rauner & Evelyn Sanguinetti |
40.1% | 328,934 | ||
| Kirk Dillard & Jil Tracy | 37.2% | 305,120 | ||
| Bill Brady & Maria Rodriguez | 15.1% | 123,708 | ||
| Dan Rutherford & Steve Kim | 7.6% | 61,948 | ||
| Total Votes | 819,710 | |||
| Election results via Illinois State Board of Elections. | ||||
Issues
2014
- Term limits:
- “Let the local electorate be free to re-elect their own representative.”[10]
- Right to work:
- “The reality is that the Democrats aren’t likely to allow anything...Therefore his campaign “is not focused” on the issue right now, he said in November 2013. “I’m just not going to make that an issue...The makeup of the General Assembly is not going to allow it to happen.” “I’m not going down any conceptual stuff because the point is it is not going to be any part of my term in office.”[11]
- Tax extension:
- "I’m not going to be a governor who promises you I won’t look at revenue if they continue to drive this car off the cliff," Rutherford said, pointing out that "several billion dollars" will no longer be flowing into the state coffers if it is eliminated. "I don’t want it. I don’t want it. I don’t want it," he said. "But it may need to be on the table for negotiation of some form or another."[12]
- Corporate incentives:
- "My contention is I want all of these marquee companies to stay here in the state of Illinois, but we don’t need to have special legislation drafted for just one company... If you’re going to change the law because it’s good for one company, change the law so that it’s all applicable for those of that same type of company."[13]
- Progressive tax:
- "I don’t support the progressive income tax proposal...I would like to see the income tax rolled back." Rutherford continued: "I’m not going to pander or throw bombshells for political reasons. I don’t want this income tax increase to stay. … But let’s be honest, there may need to be some form of revenue on the table for negotiation. … You got to take this out of the hot searing spotlight and sit down, put everything on the table and negotiate what’s best for the long term of the state of Illinois."[14]
2014 debate
In January 2014, Rutherford and three other Republican gubernatorial candidates participated in a debate. “I am not a Republican with horns and a tail,” Rutherford said at the debate. “Republicans in Illinois today are ready for someone who is being blunt and candid."[15]
Race background
Gov. Pat Quinn (D) lost his bid for re-election in 2014 to Republican Bruce Rauner. Quinn previously served as lieutenant governor under Rod Blagojevich. He became governor after Blagojevich's impeachment in 2009 and won a full term in 2010. Quinn was the second-least popular governor up for re-election in 2014, according to approval ratings compiled by FiveThirtyEight. According to multiple outside ratings, Quinn was among the most vulnerable governors in the 2014 electoral cycle.[16][17]
Incumbent Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon (D) announced in February 2013 that she would not run for re-election in 2014 alongside Quinn, her 2010 running mate. Simon later declared her candidacy for state comptroller.[18][19] Quinn chose former Chicago Public Schools chief Paul Vallas as his new running mate.[20]
The 2014 electoral cycle marked the first time in Illinois history that candidates for the offices of governor and lieutenant governor ran on a single ticket in the primary election phase.[20]
As a result of the 2014 elections, Illinois became one of 20 states under divided government and did not have a state government trifecta.
Minor party candidates
Quinn and Rauner ran against Libertarian candidate Chad Grimm. Initially, there were three other minor party or independent tickets in the race, including Michael Oberline (Constitution), Scott Summers (Green), and Michael Hawkins (independent). The Illinois State Board of Elections ruled on petition challenges on August 22, 2014, disqualifying Oberline, Summers, and Hawkins from appearing on the November 4 ballot. It was the first time in a decade that the Libertarian Party, which survived the signature challenge, was the only minor party to compete for Illinois statewide office in the general election.[21]
Polls
General election
All candidates
| Governor of Illinois: All candidates | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pat Quinn* (D) | Bruce Rauner (R) | Chad Grimm (L) | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | |||||||||||||
| We Ask America October 27-28, 2014 | 49.5% | 44.8% | 5.6% | 0% | +/-3 | 2,327 | |||||||||||||
| Southern Illinois University September 23-October 15, 2014 | 40.7% | 42.4% | 3% | 13.9% | +/-3.7 | 691 | |||||||||||||
| Early & Often/We Ask America October 8, 2014 | 44.48% | 41.03% | 6.95% | 7.53% | +/-3 | 1,051 | |||||||||||||
| We Ask America/Reboot Illinois October 6, 2014 | 43.6% | 39.6% | 5.9% | 10.9% | +/-3 | 1,097 | |||||||||||||
| The Chicago Tribune/APC Research, Inc. September 3-12, 2014 | 48% | 37% | 5% | 8% | +/-3.5 | 800 | |||||||||||||
| Global Strategy Group (D-DGA) September 4-7, 2014 | 43% | 40% | 5% | 12% | +/-4 | 605 | |||||||||||||
| We Ask America/Reboot Illinois September 2, 2014 | 37% | 46% | 7% | 10% | +/-3 | 1,064 | |||||||||||||
| AVERAGES | 43.75% | 41.55% | 5.49% | 8.9% | +/-3.31 | 1,090.71 | |||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
**Incumbency is denoted by asterisk (*)
Quinn vs. Rauner
| Governor of Illinois: Pat Quinn vs. Bruce Rauner | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Pat Quinn* (D) | Bruce Rauner (R) | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||||
| New York Times/CBS News/YouGov October 16-23, 2014 | 45% | 41% | 14% | +/-3 | 3,519 | ||||||||||||||
| Rasmussen Reports October 20-22, 2014 | 47% | 48% | 6% | +/-3 | 1,000 | ||||||||||||||
| New York Times/CBS News/YouGov September 20-October 1, 2014 | 46% | 43% | 11% | +/-2 | 3,955 | ||||||||||||||
| New York Times/CBS/YouGov August 18-September 2, 2014 | 40% | 44% | 13% | +/-3.0 | 4,363 | ||||||||||||||
| Garin-Hart-Yang (D) August 12-14, 2014 | 43% | 46% | 11% | +/-3.5 | 802 | ||||||||||||||
| We Ask America/Chicago Sun Times August 6, 2014 | 38% | 51% | 11% | +/-3.12 | 1,085 | ||||||||||||||
| Gravis Marketing/Human Events (R) August 4-5, 2014 | 40% | 48% | 12% | +/-4.0 | 567 | ||||||||||||||
| Rasmussen Reports July 29-30, 2014 | 39% | 44% | 10% | +/-4.0 | 750 | ||||||||||||||
| We Ask America/Capitol Fax July 8, 2014 | 39% | 51% | 10% | +/-3.2 | 940 | ||||||||||||||
| We Ask America/Reboot Illinois June 10-11, 2014 | 37% | 47% | 16% | +/-3.0 | 1,075 | ||||||||||||||
| Rasmussen Reports April 9-10, 2014 | 40% | 43% | 10% | +/-4.0 | 750 | ||||||||||||||
| AVERAGES | 41.27% | 46% | 11.27% | +/-3.26 | 1,709.64 | ||||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
**Incumbency is denoted by asterisk (*)
Republican Primary
| Illinois Governor - 2014 Republican Primary | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Bill Brady | Kirk Dillard | Bruce Rauner | Dan Rutherford | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||
| WeAskAmerica March 16, 2014 | 19.35% | 27.36% | 44.24% | 9.04% | 0% | +/-3.0 | 1,126 | ||||||||||||
| WeAskAmerica March 11, 2014 | 18.9% | 25.76% | 46.46% | 8.88% | 0% | +/-2.9 | 1,235 | ||||||||||||
| WeAskAmerica March 4, 2014 | 11.65% | 14.45% | 39.88% | 8.20% | 25.82% | +/-2.85 | 1,262 | ||||||||||||
| Chicago Tribune/WGN March 1-5, 2014 | 18% | 23% | 36% | 9% | 13% | +/-4 | 600 | ||||||||||||
| WeAskAmerica February 25, 2014 | 12.8% | 17.25% | 35.6% | 7.48% | 26.88% | +/-3 | 1,178 | ||||||||||||
| Chicago Tribune/WGN February 2-8, 2014 | 20% | 11% | 40% | 13% | 15% | +/-4 | 600 | ||||||||||||
| WeAskAmerica November 26, 2013 | 18% | 10% | 26% | 17% | 29% | +/-2.8 | 1,233 | ||||||||||||
| Capitol Fax/We AskAmericaPoll June 20, 2013 | 18% | 11% | 12% | 22% | 38% | +/-2.8 | 1,310 | ||||||||||||
| AVERAGES | 17.09% | 17.48% | 35.02% | 11.83% | 18.46% | +/-3.17 | 1,068 | ||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
**Due to the nature of the comparison, a placeholder figure of 0% is assigned to candidates not included in any given match-up round
2010
Rutherford won his campaign for state treasurer in the November 2, 2010 election.[1]
| Illinois State Treasurer General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Dan Rutherford |
49.7% | 1,811,293 | |
| Democratic | Robin Kelly | 45.3% | 1,650,244 | |
| Green | Scott K. Summers | 3.2% | 115,772 | |
| Libertarian | James Pauly | 1.9% | 68,803 | |
| Total Votes | 3,646,112 | |||
| Election results via Follow The Money | ||||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Republican Dan Rutherford won re-election to the Illinois State Senate District 53 receiving 90,199 votes.[22]
| Illinois State Senate, District 53 General Election, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Dan Rutherford |
100% | 90,199 | |
| Total Votes | 90,199 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Dan + Rutherford + Illinois + Treasurer"
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Rutherford resides in Pontiac, Illinois.[23]
See also
External links
- Social media:
- Summary, biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Profile at Wikipedia
- Campaign contributions at Follow The Money
- Collected news and commentary at The Huffington Post
- Collected news and commentary at The Washington Times
- Collected news and commentary at CBS Chicago
- Collected news and commentary at The Chicago Tribune
- Biography, bills and committees at the 96th Illinois General Assembly
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "New Ill. GOP comptroller, treasurer: no blank checks for Dem gov’s borrowing," Illinois Statehouse News, November 10, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Southern, "Rutherford announces gov. campaign in Southern Illinois," June 2, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Illinois Treasurer, "Meet Treasurer Rutherford" accessed July 28, 2012
- ↑ Illinois State Treasurer, "Meet Treasurer Rutherford," accessed September 15, 2012
- ↑ "Illinois treasurer says ‘no’ to more debt to pay state bills," By Benjamin Yount, Illinois Statehouse News, May 23, 2011
- ↑ Forbes, "Watchdog questions comptroller, treasurer raises," September 26, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ "Dan Rutherford on Civil Unions," Illinois Statehouse News, December 1, 2010
- ↑ Dan Rutherford Illinois State Treasurer, "Dan Rutherford preparing for 2014 bid for Governor," accessed May 21, 2013
- ↑ Journal Gazette & Times-Courier, "Rutherford plans future run for governor," January 9, 2013
- ↑ Illinois News Network, "No agreement on term limits among gubernatorial candidates," October 8, 2013
- ↑ Illinois News Network, "GOP gubernatorial candidates differ on Right to Work," November 25, 2013
- ↑ Illinois News Network, "Tax extension not popular with candidates," February 10, 2014
- ↑ Illinois News Network, "Corporate incentives and the candidates," February 25, 2014
- ↑ Illinois News Network, "Gubernatorial candidates and the progressive tax," February 28, 2014
- ↑ WatchDog.org, "You talking to me? GOP candidates for IL turn to party faithful," January 24, 2014
- ↑ Governing Politics, "2013-2014 Governor's Races: Who's Vulnerable?" December 11, 2012
- ↑ St. Louis Today, "Illinois Gov. Quinn 2nd least popular incumbent going into 2014," April 9, 2013
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Simon will not run again for lieutenant governor," February 13, 2013
- ↑ Chicago Magazine, "What Happens After Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon Quits Pat Quinn’s Team," March 26, 2013
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 CBS Local - Chicago, "2014 Governor Candidates To Choose Running Mates," August 24, 2013
- ↑ Ballot Access News, "Libertarian Party Statewide Slate Will Appear on Illinois Ballot," August 22, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "Illinois Senate election results for 2008," November 4, 2008
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Treasurer Dan Rutherford's Biography," accessed August 28, 2013
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alexi Giannoulias (D) |
Illinois State Treasurer 2011–2015 |
Succeeded by Mike Frerichs (D) |
| Preceded by ' |
Illinois Senate District 53 2003–2010 |
Succeeded by Shane Cultra (R) |
| |||||||||||||||||
