GOP Lt Governor Hopeful Plummer Campaigns in Champaign-Urbana
GOP lieutenant governor candidate Jason Plummer says state government needs the sort of experience he's gained while working for the family company.
The 27-year-old Plummer is a vice-president at Edwardsville-based R-P Lumber. The company founded by Plummer's father operates more than 40 retail stores in Illinois and Missouri, and is also involved in commercial development and banking.
"So we really understand the private sector side of things", Plummer told a group of supporters during a campaign stop in Champaign on Wednesday. "We understand what it takes to create jobs in Illinois. We understand what it takes to grow business in Illinois. And what I like to say is, you know, we need more people in Springfield that know what it's like to make a payroll every two weeks. We need more people in Springfield that know what it's like to sign the front end of a check and not just endorse the back."
Plummer says that, if elected, he'll work with GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady to balance the state budget and create private sector jobs. He says the lieutenant governor's office was "underutilized" by Pat Quinn.
"I watched Pat Quinn and Rod Blagojevich brag in the newspaper that they had not talked to each other in two years", says Plummer. "Well, how can you manage an enterprise the size of the state of Illinois if the two top people don't communicate? I'm going to work hand in hand with Bill Brady --- strong partnership, use the office, elevate the office, and focus on issues where we're struggling."
Plummer's visit to Champaign-Urbana comes two days after a campaign visit from Governor Quinn and his new running mate, Sheila Simon. Plummer says the nomination of Simon makes it clear that the Democratic ticket is committed to more spending and big government.
In addition to the Quinn/Simon and Brady/Plummer pairings, Green Party gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney and lieutenant governor candidate Don W. Crawford are also on the ballot in November.