By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – State Senator Bill Brady of Bloomington is taking sides in an apparent primary fight to win the Republican nomination for Illinois governor.
Senate Minority Leader Brady, himself a former candidate for governor, said he’s backing incumbent Bruce Rauner, who’s facing a primary challenge from conservative State Representative Jeanne Ives of Wheaton.
Brady told WJBC’s Sam Wood he is supporting Rauner even though the governor signed pro-choice legislation expanding taxpayer funding for abortions.
Brady noted the two agree on reducing taxes, term limits, reducing government bureaucracy to help small businesses, and education reform.
“The governor is doing a lot of good things,” said Brady. “I haven’t found a politician I’ve agreed with 100 percent of the time on anything, but I do agree very much of what the governor is accomplishing, and continues to try to accomplish.”
Two other Bloomington Republicans, State Senator Jason Barickman and State Representative Dan Brady, have yet to endorse a candidate for governor.
On another topic, Brady said it’s exciting that Canada’s Brandt Industries is looking to provide hundreds of manufacturing jobs in McLean County even though some representatives from local taxing bodies were reluctant to offer property tax breaks to the agriculture firm.
Brady said financial incentives for companies like Brandt or Amazon are worth the investment because they would generate tax revenue.
“I believe in a case like Brandt, in a case like Mitsubishi Motors, or others, it does do that,” Brady explained. “I think in a case of Amazon, it will do things. Then you get the added benefit of people looking to you as a growing community.”
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
