18 / March 1998 Illinois Issues

DON'T GET NO RESPECT

The Rodney Dangerfields of the statewide
campaigns face their biggest challenge:
generating public interest

by Jessica Winski
Illustrations by William Crook Jr.

When he was campaigning for lieutenant governor in 1972, Jim Nowlan was a guest on "Conversation," a radio talk show serving Sterling and Rock Falls. The program opened with two listener calls, and Nowlan gave what he thought were pretty good answers. But the phones stopped ringing and he found himself searching for ways to fill the time, elaborating on issues in state government. When the phone finally rang, he and the host both grabbed for it and anxiously awaited the caller's question. The voice on the other end of the line said: "I'd like to offer the female listeners my favorite recipe for carrot cake."

The message: It's difficult for candidates for the lesser executive offices to capture voters' interest.

"Difficult? It was impossible," says Nowlan, who served in the legislature and is now a political analyst with the University of Illinois' Institute of Government and Public Affairs. "After a year running around the state trying to be known, I was less well-known than I was at the beginning."

Indeed, even incumbents in the lower-down-the-ballot positions have trouble getting the public to take notice. "No one pays attention to these offices," state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka says, referring to two other statewide posts, comptroller and treasurer. "They just aren't as sexy as being governor."

Sexy or not, in mere days Illinois voters will be asked to decide among 11 Republicans and Democrats plus six Reform Party candidates running for four of the most obscure state offices: lieutenant governor, comptroller, treasurer and attorney general.

It's a scenario that has sparked debate over the years. In 1967, Terry Sanford, former governor of North Carolina, wrote that, except for governor, "the people barely know the offices exist, and cannot possibly keep up with their activities and performances." Some 30 years later nothing has changed, says Paul Simon, who served a term as lieutenant governor and two as U.S. senator and runs his own public policy institute at Southern Illinois University.

"Honestly, I'd have to say that most voters don't know what the constitutional officers do. They may know that the secretary of state signs their drivers' licenses."

But if voters don't pay attention to the candidates or the offices, the question arises: Should they have any say? In fact, several states have removed such decisions from voters. In Maine and New Jersey, for example, voters elect only the governor. At the other extreme, though, some states have expanded the list of elected officials to include the heads of agriculture or natural resources. Californians, for

Illinois Issues March 1998 / 19

instance, elect their insurance commissioner. Illinois is about average in electing six constitutional officers.

Still, efforts to shorten the ballot have been undertaken in this state, including the current push to consolidate the duties of comptroller and treasurer. That proposal, however, has less to do with easing the load for voters and more to do with saving money.

"Anyone who is thinking in this state is aware of the duplicative nature of the offices," says Topinka, who argues consolidation could save taxpayers between $10 million and $12 million dollars per year. That proposal to amend the state Constitution passed the Senate last fall and now awaits action in the House. If the House passes the proposal by May 4, it will go on the November ballot.

Topinka believes the time to act is now, when she and state Comptroller Loleta Didrickson both support consolidation. "When you have a treasurer or comptroller who are not in favor of this, then you automatically get the legislature kind of backing off. They don't want to step on anyone's toes. It becomes a political hot potato." With 84 co-sponsors in the House thus far, Topinka is hopeful.

Meanwhile, state Sen. Howard Car- roll wants to eliminate the lieutenant governor's office. The Chicago Democrat's proposed constitutional amendment to accomplish that is under review by the Senate Executive Committee.

"The lieutenant governor serves no function but to call the doctor and see if the [governor's] breathing," Carroll has told the Chicago Tribune. (In the last 180 years, a lieutenant governor has stepped in to assume the duties of the governor only five times.)

Certainly, Republican Dave O'Neal didn't do the office any favors when he resigned in 1981 out of boredom. O'Neal had been elected with Jim Thompson in 1976 and 1978, but, maintaining he had been given little to do, O'Neal hoped that stepping aside would force changes in the powers and responsibilities of the post. Ironically, the office sat vacant for 17 months and, by all appearances, the business — and the politics — of the state was little affected.

At any rate, the authors of the current state Constitution had already changed the lieutenant governor's powers and responsibilities. In 1970, the lieutenant governor lost the job of presiding over the Senate. Any other "duties" were left to the discretion of the governor.

Political scientists David Kenney and Barbara Brown of SIU note in Basic Illinois Government that Republican Lt. Gov. George Ryan, restored "some semblance of respectability [to the post] after the oblivion to which Dave O'Neal's resignation assigned it." And Republican Gov. Jim Edgar has charged the current lieutenant governor, Bob Kustra, with promoting economic development and substance abuse prevention. Kustra also has been a player in higher education policy, including the successful move to restructure university boards.

Yet even Kustra has seemed bored with the post. In 1994, he planned to leave the office to become a radio talk show host, then reconsidered after Edgar suffered a heart attack and asked him to stay on.

Indeed, Edgar's heart condition — and Kustra's change of heart — highlights the primary reason for keeping the office: to guarantee, should the governor be unable to serve, that he or she would be succeeded by someone from the same political party. The attorney general, who is elected independently, is next in line to succeed the governor.

During the Constitutional Convention, delegates also debated whether to make all executive officers but governor appointive. Proponents contended the governor should be able to choose his lawyer and money managers. They argued that forcing the governor to work with executive officers selected by the people is akin to allowing voters to select the president's Cabinet. Moreover, they noted, when executive officers belong to opposing parties, conflict can arise. That was the case in 1974 when a controversy arose between Democratic Gov. Dan Walker and Republican Attorney General William Scott over who should control lawyers employed by the executive agencies. And in the early '90s, Edgar and Democratic Attorney General Roland Burris clashed over the extent of the attorney general's role as the state's lawyer.

Despite the debate, Con-Con delegates chose to make only the state school chief's job appointive.

One reason political parties don't favor more appointive posts is that the lower executive offices provide a good training ground — and a good launching pad — for their candidates. The secretary of state's office, for example, is considered a stepping-stone to the governor's mansion — one George Ryan hopes will propel him to the top job, as it did his predecessor. Paul Simon, arguably a household name today, got his start in statewide office as lieutenant governor. He moved

For More Information Illinois Issues has profiled five candidates for governor. On the Democratic ticket, see articles on John Schmidt (June, page 22); Jim Burns (July/August, page 22); Glenn Poshard (November, page 27); and Roland Burris (January, page 24). We also profiled Republican George Ryan (February, page 20). For a profile of the secretary of state candidates from both parties, see January, page 30. Since publication of that article, Democrat Penny Severns was removed from the ballot. Included in that article are two candidates on that party's ticket (Tim McCarthy and Jesse White) and two candidates on the Republican ticket (Robert Churchill and Al Salvi). All of these articles also are available through the magazine's home page. Our new web site address is: www.uis.edu/~ilissues/ilissues.htm. Just look up the site and follow our links. Read up and vote March 17.

20 / March 1998 Illinois Issues

on to Washington, D.C. Similarly, state Comptroller Loleta Didrickson hopes to move on to the U.S. Senate.

Aside from helping politicians to build name recognition, the lesser executive posts give politicians an opportunity to gain experience in governance, or at least some seasoning in a statewide campaign.

Meanwhile, this year, Illinois voters will choose among candidates for all six constitutional offices. Here's a rundown on the lesser known statewide posts.

The lieutenant governors independent of the chief executive in the primary, but presumptive Republican gubernatorial nominee George Ryan recruited his choice for the second spot anyway: first-term Republican state Rep. Corinne Wood of Lake Forest. If, as expected, those two win their primary races this month, they'll be an official team in the fall general election. No surprise, Ryan's choice could help shore up support where he is weakest. Wood could help improve his chances with female voters; and her support for abortion rights could provide a counterbalance to Ryan's opposition to abortion in most cases.

Wood has previously worked as a private attorney, as well as a lawyer for a state agency. She says she plans to carry on Kustra's program to promote economic development in smaller communities. Ryan and Wood say they will unveil a series of policy initiatives following the March primary covering such issues as affordable health care and day care.

Former state Treasurer Pat Quinn of Chicago and Kane County Coroner Mary Lou Kearns of St. Charles are vying for the lieutenant governor spot on the Democratic ticket.

Quinn, a Chicagoan, has the advantage in name recognition. He has served in statewide office already. And he's well-known for his successful effort in 1980 to cut the size of the Illinois House. Quinn also waged two unsuccessful statewide campaigns: secretary of state in 1994 and U.S. Senate in 1996.

A founder of the consumer-oriented Citizens Utility Board, Quinn says he will continue to be an activist if elected. He favors "reform" in both the health and car insurance industries. He would, for instance, prohibit discrimination in insurance rates based on geography.

Calling Illinois' tax code the "most unfair in the country," Quinn also would use the office to push for tax relief. He would double the credit property taxpayers get on their state income tax, from 5 percent to 10 percent. And he would double the personal exemption on income taxes from $1,000. Kearns, who has won election six times as county coroner in Republican stronghold Kane County, touts her appeal to the voters in Chicago's collar counties. Like Quinn, she is no stranger to statewide races. She lost a close primary race for Illinois comptroller in 1994. Kearns would draw on her background as a registered nurse with a master's degree in public health to develop policy initiatives in public health and health care, with a focus on Medicaid cost containment and the quality of managed care. She would seek to replicate an anti-gang initiative she launched at the local level. The educational program was designed for young people sentenced in court for gang violence. The four Democratic gubernatorial candidates — Chicagoans Roland Burris and John Schmidt, Glenn Poshard of Marion and Jim Burns of Evanston — have expressed a willingness to work with either of these candidates. The attorney general is the nation's most frequently elected state executive. Illinois' top lawyer represents the state and its officers before courts. Incumbent Republican Jim Ryan of Bensenville passed up a U.S. Senate run to seek re-election. He says he wants to continue his work on children's issues. He has, for example,

Illinois Issues March 1998 / 21

created a child exploitation unit that monitors the Internet for pedophiles and child pornographers. Citing the need for an overhaul in the state's child support program, Ryan has recently pushed lawmakers to shift the responsibility for collection to his office from the Department of Public Aid.

Miriam Santos, city treasurer of Chicago, is the lone candidate on the Democratic side. She is only the second woman and the first Hispanic elected to a city post in Chicago. In addition to strong name recognition in the city, she enjoys the support of the Latino community and endorsements from the Democratic State Central Committee and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. Daley's backing surprised some because he rarely endorses in primary races and because Santos has publicly battled with him during her tenure. Some speculate Daley would be happy to see her move up — and out of city politics.

Santos would update the technology to track child support collections. She would speed up state compensation payments to crime victims. And, drawing on her expertise in city pension funds, she envisions a role overseeing the state pension systems.

The comptroller is the state's chief fiscal officer, responsible for authorizing payments from the state treasury. She reports regularly on the state's fiscal health.

The Republican primary for this office features two millionaires: state Sen. Chris Lauzen of Aurora and Elgin businessman Harry Seigle.

Lauzen, an accountant who specializes in serving small businesses, is in his second term as a lawmaker. He backs a proposal to double the percentage of property taxes Illinois homeowners can deduct from their state income taxes. If elected, he would create a school funding report card designed to give Illinoisans a close look at how state education dollars are spent. The report would include information on the cost of salaries, administration, technology and textbooks.

Seigle is offering his business expertise and his tenure as former chairman of the Illinois Development Finance Authority. Saying he would treat Illinois citizens like customers, Seigle emphasizes that a comptroller's office under his control would get checks to state vendors on time. He would place first priority on getting payments to nonprofit organizations.

Both Lauzen and Seigle support the move to consolidate the offices of comptroller and treasurer.

The Democratic candidate for this post is Daniel Hynes, son of former Cook County Assessor and state "Senate President Thomas Hynes. A Chicago lawyer, Hynes is hoping, at 29, that his candidacy will spark interest among the state's younger voters. This is his first run for public office. He has received the endorsement of his party's state central committee.

As comptroller, he would push for establishment of an official "rainy day" fund for economic downturns. Illinois is among a handful of states that do not have such a savings account. Alaska and Michigan have funds in excess of $1 billion.

The treasurer receives and invests all state funds. Republican incumbent Judy Baar Topinka is seeking her second term, the first treasurer in 20 years to do so. She says under her guidance, the state has experienced a significant increase in investment earnings, totalling $277 million last year. In 1994, before she took over, only $162 million was earned.

Topinka has conducted a series of statewide sessions on the safety and soundness of public funds. She has prompted the introduction of legislation requiring all taxing bodies in Illinois that invest public money to follow written investment policies. She believes such policies would help safeguard Illinois local governments from the risky investments that caused Orange County, California, to go bankrupt.

Battling to take Topinka on in the general election are Democratic candidates Jerry Geneva, the mayor of southeast suburban Calumet City, and Daniel McLaughlin, mayor of south- west suburban Orland Park.

McLaughlin admits the jump from mayor of a town of 47,600 to state treasurer would be a big one, but he cites his five-year record as evidence the state's coffers would be in good hands: He says he passed five balanced budgets, attracted more than 100 new businesses and increased his community's general revenue fund by $4 million.

As state treasurer, McLaughlin says he would work to restore the level of the state's investments in linked deposit programs, which have been cut from $700 million to $377 million during Topinka's tenure. Through linked deposit programs, low-interest loans are made available for use in four areas: agriculture, social programs, job creation and disaster recovery. McLaughlin wants to see the funds put to work to help women and minority business owners get cash for business creation and expansion. He also would form an investment advisory board with experts from throughout the state.

Like McLaughlin, Genova is trying to make the jump from local office. His focus is also the state's linked deposit programs. He would use the low-interest loans to help first-time home buyers, women and minority- owned businesses, as well as older communities in need of rebuilding. Additionally, he would utilize the loans to help families prepay their children's college tuition and would better promote an existing program to help people buy farms.

These Rodney Danger fields of statewide office face a more immediate challenge in the next few days: capturing voters' attention. Jim Nowlan knows what they're up against. "I'll bet some candidate will confess to a similar story," he says, remembering his experience in competing with carrot cake recipes on talk radio.

In fact, Lauzen may already have one. On his round-the-state announcement tour, he was met by only two reporters on the last touchdown, Chicago's Meigs Field, a traditional stop in the media-heavy and vote-rich metropolitan region. Faced with such a poor turnout, Lauzen, perhaps wisely, decided to forego the standard speech from the podium.

22 / March 1998 Illinois Issues