2006 Governor hopeful visits area, touts education reform

If elected governor in 2006, Ron Gidwitz promises to live in Springfield, not Chicago and he also vows to use his background in education to improve grade schools and help college students afford the raising costs of tuition. But first, Gidwitz, a wealthy businessman and former Chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, must drum up support for his campaign, which is now in it's exploratory stage.

Since announcing his intent to run three weeks ago, Gidwitz, a Republican who has been openly critical of the state's current administration, has been on a tour of the state including a stop at SIUC, trying to get a feel for issues that matter most to voters. For now, Gidwitz is targeting specifically Republican voters, who will be casting ballots in the primary election.

Through his grassroots research, he said three things top the list of concerns in the state: jobs, education and healthcare. And while each may require it's own remedy, Gidwitz said many of the concerns are connected to a strong education system, which he said has faced unnecessary cutbacks under the helm of Governor Rod Blagojevich.

"We have world class institutions in this state, public and private," Gidwitz said. "And if we are interested in creating jobs, if were interested in long-term prosperity then we ought to be investing in things in which we are strong and will create jobs in the future. "I mean we have stuff that is incredible, and what do we do? We cut back. If you want to build something you don't cut."

And for Illinois students that make it to college, Gidwitz, who is also chairman of the Illinois Coalition for Jobs, Growth and Prosperity, said their needs to be jobs to greet them when they graduate. Right now, he said many grads are lured to other states because of better employment opportunities. Last year, 2.3 million jobs were created across the country, compared to 12,000 in Illinois; a number Gatwick said could be higher if Illinois was more job friendly.

"It requires a long-term plan that starts with analyzing the key-cost elements of doing business here and how we can effect it," Gidwitz said. "It's awfully hard to persuade someone to move their factory to Illinois, if the state, after promising incentives doesn't pay the incentives, and I have heard stories about that."

Gidwitz, the former president and CEO of Helene Curtis Industries, said his business background and experience with educational issues makes him qualified to be governor. Additionally, he said while he has held positions of influence, he hasn't been able to get things done the way a governorship would allow. "I want to be the next governor," Gidwitz said. "I think it's very clear what this governor stands for, high cost and lower quality. I don't happen to think that's an appropriate avenue."

And while Gidwitz is starting his campaign admittedly early, Mike Lawrence, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at SIUC said it is far from unusual, particularly for candidates from the political party that is not in power.

"He's not well known around the state and his goal right now is to meet people in all regions and begin to gather support," Lawrence said. "Illinois is a big state, and the campaign is a long road, and he is taking his first step on that road."