Topinka picks Edgar to lead transition team

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By Tory Brecht | Wednesday, October 25, 2006 1:04 AM CDT | () comments

Kevin E. Schmidt/QUAD-CITY TIMES Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka stopped Tuesday at the Quad-City International Airport as part of a five-city tour to announce that former Gov. Jim Edgar is her choice to head up her transition team if she wins the election Nov. 7.

Illinois gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka stopped Tuesday in the Quad-Cities as part of a five-city tour to announce former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar as her choice to head up a transition team if she is elected.

“He’s a person of great integrity and has respect for taxpayers’ money,” said Topinka, who has served as state treasurer since 1994, including five years during the Edgar administration. “He was a governor who had the people’s trust and he still has it today.”

Edgar, who held office from 1991 to 1999, praised Topinka’s fiscal responsibility.

“Judy has never been a captive of any politician,” Edgar said. “She has always answered only to the people of Illinois and that’s the kind of governor she will be.”

Both Topinka and Edgar said the transition team would be made up of a diverse group from many political backgrounds.

“It won’t be limited to just Republicans, but Democrats and independents as well,” Edgar said. “It’s going to take bi-partisan effort to get us out of the mess we’re in today.”

Topinka said her opponent, current Gov. Rob Blagojevich, brags about balancing the state budget, but notes that State Comptroller Dan Hynes indicated there is a $3 billion deficit.

Sheila Nix, a spokeswoman for the Blagojevich campaign, said Topinka is confusing two sets of numbers.

When Blagojevich took office, the general revenue budget was in a $3 million deficit and the state’s structural debt was at a deficit of $4.1 billion. Since then, the general revenue budget has been balanced and the structural debt — much of which was created while Topinka was treasurer — has been reduced by $1.1 billion, Nix said.

As for the naming of Edgar as a transition team leader, it’s further proof that Topinka is in over her head, Nix said.

“We think Treasurer Topinka can’t hide behind Jim Edgar,” she said. “She needs to stand on her own. No announcements she makes about transition plans can hide the fact she would cut health care, refuse to raise minimum wage and refuse to expand pre-school.”

Tory Brecht can be contacted at (563) 383-2329 or tbrecht@qctimes.com.