The Register- Mail  7/13/10

By: Eric Timmons

Democratic Illinois treasurer candidate Robin Kelly received Mayor Sal Garza’s backing during a campaign stop Tuesday in Galesburg.

Garza said that, although the mayor’s position is non-partisan, he still thought it was important to seek out candidates who “are going to play the greatest role in bringing services to Galesburg.”

Kelly, a Bradley University graduate, the chief of staff under Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, is running against state Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, in the November general election.

“I’m really not sure what his program is,” she said of her rival Tuesday.

Speaking at Innkeeper’s coffee shop, she said she had the experience “to hit the ground running on day one” in the job.

She said the state treasurer’s office was “frugal” and that was a legacy she would continue if elected.

“I want to do more with less,” she said.

Garza said he had experience working with Kelly through his job with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and had been impressed by her work.

“For me it’s quite easy to stand behind a woman like Robin,” he said.

Kelly said she planned to use the state treasurer’s office to create jobs.

“I’ve spent the last three years streamlining and implementing our job creation program and I have a clear plan to move our office forward and put people back to work.”

As treasurer, Kelly said she would implement a 10 percent state loan guarantee to small businesses that create jobs.

The guarantee would give banks the confidence to begin lending again and push the economy forward, she said.

“Piloting a 10 percent loan guarantee program for a year could provide the necessary incentive to lend to creditworthy borrowers despite the recession,” Kelly said.

Kelly also said she would expand the state’s Technology Development Account, which is administered by the treasurer’s office.

The account allows the state to invest in Illinois venture capital firms that then invest in innovative businesses that create high-tech jobs, Kelly said.

Kelly, who studied and lived in Peoria said she would aim to represent the whole state as treasurer.