The people of Illinois are ready for a change of guard in Springfield, Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Schmidt told supporters at a campaign rally Friday night.

It has been 22 years since we have had a Democratic governor in office, Schmidt said. I think people understand that it has been too long, and it is time for a change.

About 100 people, a quarter of them SIUC students, gathered at the fund-raiser to show their support for Schmidt.

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I’ve read the materials and I think John Schmidt is the most pro-student candidate in the gubernatorial race, Student Trustee Pat Kelly said.

Schmidt said that as a result of this period of Republican control, many things, such as the prison system, have been allowed to decay.

Illinois has allowed gangs to run its prisons, Schmidt said. Last year brought the indictment of the leader of the Latin Kings for running one of the largest drug rings in the state from inside Menard.

This is an extreme example of what happens when one party is allowed to remain in control for such a long time.

Schmidt said overall the state government is in a state of ill repair because of Republican rule.

You can take almost any one of the agencies of our state government and you will find a bureaucracy that has grown lazy and fat under one parties’ rule, Schmidt said. I think people look at that Springfield government and are ready for someone new.

They look at George Ryan and they see the classic candidate of the status quo.

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Schmidt is also a strong supporter of abortion rights and said he plans to pass legislation, if elected, guaranteeing a woman’s right to choose.

It is the woman herself, not any government, that must make the choice for her, Schmidt said. Illinois wants a government who supports the right of choice, and I will sign legislation to support that right.

Schmidt also has proposed numerous initiatives to improve education and funding for education in Illinois.

In January, Schmidt proposed the CLIMB Scholarship Plan that guarantees full tuition at any Illinois public college, university or community college for any student who earns a cumulative B average throughout high school. To maintain the full scholarship, college students must maintain a B average. The college-level Illinois merit based scholarship plan is based on a similar plan used in Georgia, called the Hope Scholarship Plan.

Schmidt’s opponents have expressed doubt over the feasibility and affordability of such a plan.

We can afford this plan, it is not just some pie in the sky idea, Schmidt said. Besides, this will send a simple message to students that if you work hard and study hard we will reward you.

Schmidt said based on the Georgia model, they believe this plan will cost $40 million the first year and then $160 million by the fourth year. He said they have taken a conservative projection of the growth of state revenue and based the plan on that. Schmidt said he also plans to slow growth of spending in other areas.

Schmidt has also proposed appropriations to increase education funding at every level. He also proposed a $350 million technology grant program that will attempt to bring Illinois’ schools up to standard in the nation. Illinois is 47th in the nation in Internet availability and is 44th in the nation in student-to-computer ratio.

This is investing in the future of the work force, Schmidt said. We can afford to do this if we make it first priority.

Factoid:March 17 is the Democratic primary for governor.