Rutherford Announces Bid for GOP State Treasurer Nomination

State Senator Dan Rutherford is making it official --- he's running for state treasurer.

The Pontiac Republican is holding press conferences around the state Monday to announce his candidacy. But he's already posted his statement on his YouTube page.

Rutherford blames Democrats for Illinois' financial mess, including high taxes in Chicago and Cook County, and the push by the governor and state Senate Democrats to raise the state income tax."I believe it's time", says Rutherford in his YouTube statement, "that the chief financial officer of the state of Illinois stand up and articulate those types of concerns and problems, and show that there has to be a rational path to follow."

Rutherford says the best solution to Illinois' financial troubles is job creation --- and he promises to push a job creation policy as treasurer.

Rutherford also used his campaign announcement to take a swipe at the current treasurer, Democrat Alexi Giannoulias. He cited the purchase by the treasurer's office of a 26-thousand dollar hybrid SUV, using money from the Bright Start college education savings program, and said it's something he would never allow as state treasurer. Giannoulias is expected to run for Senate next year, not treasurer. But his chief of staff, former lawmaker Robin Kelly, is a possible Democratic choice for the officer.

Rutherford is an executive with the ServiceMaster Company, and a state senator since 2002. He's the ranking Republican on the Senate Financial Institutions Committee, and say that, plus his business experience, will help him be an effective treasurer.