Still eyeing a statewide office, Carbondale Mayor Brad Cole met with a Republican state senator with gubernatorial intentions last week during the Legislature’s special session in Springfield.

During a visit to the state Capitol last week, Cole met with Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, to discuss the 2010 general election. Dillard said he plans to begin his gubernatorial campaign formally with a tour of the state July 9.

Dillard said his conversation with Cole stopped short of forming a campaign partnership.

Advertisement

‘We didn’t get that specific when we met in Springfield, but I think it’s great he wants to run statewide,’ he said.

Cole, a Republican, told supporters he is considering a run for statewide office and specifically mentioned a possible campaign for lieutenant governor. He did not return voicemail messages to his campaign phone number for comments about this column.

John Jackson, a visiting political science professor from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, said Cole is more likely to run for lieutenant governor. Attorney general is a position for lawyers and comptroller is a more specified office, he said.

Political observers had speculated Cole would move out of his City Hall office to become a southern Illinois legislator if Sen. Dave Luechtefeld were to retire. Luechtefeld, an Okawville Republican, has said he does not intend to retire any time soon.

Eric Robinson, a former spokesman to Judy Baar Topinka’s Republican campaign for governor in 2006, said it is common for a gubernatorial candidate to team up with a candidate for lieutenant governor for the primary election.

In Illinois, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separate campaigns in the primary. Primary victors form partisan partnerships for the general election.

Dillard, who plans to use online social networks and his connection to former Gov. Jim Edgar to muster support, would be the fifth Republican to enter the race for governor. Other contenders include conservative commentator Dan Proft, Bob Schillerstrom, chairman of the DuPage County Board, and state Sens. Bill Brady of Bloomington and Matt Murphy of Palatine.

Advertisement*

Dillard said if he and Cole were to support one another’s campaign, each could provide the other name recognition in his respective part of the state.

‘(Cole’s) candidacy gets more attractive for candidates like me who need a partner from downstate,’ he said.

Dillard said his statewide tour would include a stop in either Marion or Carbondale, but he said he preferred Carbondale so he could bring the campaign to ‘Brad’s turf.’

Lorimor is a junior studying journalism and political science.

‘