Got this from Phil over at Facebook. Looks like there is a coalition brewing to try and get some new blood into the state government here in Illinois. Thank god somebody is trying. William J Kelly has started his Reform Illinois in 2010 over on his blog.

William Kelly, Director of Reform Illinois, an Illinois nonprofit group, committed to government reform, announced today that his organization will run a reform slate of candidates in the 2010 Republican primary. “Today, I am announcing a new project from Rebuild Illinois.com. We are going to run a reform slate of candidates in the Republican primary for 2010. This is especially important now that Gov. Quinn’s reform commission does not seem to be living up to their promises. We can’t wait for another election cycle to go by and hope that the same cast of characters is going to do anything different,” remarked Kelly.

According to the Associated Press, Patrick Collins, Chairman of the reform panel appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn, has been critical. “If we’re trying to turn down the volume of big-money politics, this doesn’t do it,” says Collins. Collins points out that Illinois has virtually no restrictions on fundraising, which allowed former Governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, to solicit donations of $25,000 and $50,000 at a time. Many of his big donors ended up with government contracts or appointments to state boards. Former governor Republican George Ryan is serving a 6 1/2-year federal sentence, in part because of similar allegations that he did favors for campaign donors.

“Real reform isn’t easy. It’s like rolling a boulder up a hill –like the proverbial Sisyphus – only to have it roll back down on him and start all over again,” says Kelly. “As citizens of Illinois, we have to hope that, eventually, that rock will make it to the top. But we need good people to help us get it there.”

By choosing to run a reform slate of candidates in the GOP primary, Rebuild Illinois may be upsetting a political establishment apple cart for both political parties. Kelly thinks that is exactly what needs to be done. “There is a difference between someone who runs for office just for the sake of winning and the person who has the guts to fundamentally reform government and the many bad people in it. It’s often hard to tell which one is which,” adds Kelly. “However, we have to step up to the plate and have some guts, take back our future – so there is one. And with Rebuild Illinois’ reform slate of candidates that is what we are going to do.”

For information or to schedule a media interview with William Kelly of Reform Illinois, please contact Laura Grock or Phil Collins at (312) 943-1100 or (312) 943-1106.

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