Posted by Rick Pearson at 12:30 p.m.
Republican governor candidate Bill Brady says that in the match-up of running mates, voters should look at Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Sheila Simon and ask whether “we want another attorney-academician in politics.”
Speaking on WGN-AM’s “Greg Jarrett Show” this morning, Brady touted his own running mate, 27-year-old Jason Plummer of Edwardsville, as someone who “understands the private sector” and the need to grow jobs. That, he said, was in contrast to the 49-year-old Simon, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s running mate, who teaches in the law school at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
“I think it’s more the academician against a person who runs a family business—someone who’s involved in that,” Brady said.
Plummer has faced questions about the depth of his business resume, which is largely built upon working in his father’s RP Lumber store chain and related businesses.
“Jason Plummer knows what it’s like to meet a payroll. He knows what it’s like to risk capital to go out and invest in people and jobs,” Brady said. “Sheila Simon comes from a longstanding credible political family but she’s an academician and I think the people are looking for someone who understands the importance of jobs and keeping jobs.”
Plummer has touted his creation and operation of a wireless Internet provider while still a college undergrad, but public records show it was his father who owned the firm and Plummer was never listed as an officer. Plummer also served one term as chairman of the Madison County Republican Party.
Unlike Plummer, Simon has been elected to public office—a four-year stint on the Carbondale City Council which she gave up for a failed 2007 bid for mayor. Simon also served as an assistant county state’s attorney.