Democratic Gov. Blagojevich and Republican rival Judy Baar Topinka argued Tuesday over who could best answer voters’ concerns about ethics and how to pay for schools and health care.
Topinka contended voters “did not elect this governor king” to make public policy decisions unilaterally without the active involvement of state lawmakers.
Blagojevich said that Topinka must find it “liberating” to “just make things up” in attacking his first-term record.
Sitting side-by-side in the Tribune editorial board room in what is likely to be their last face-to-face meeting before the Nov. 7 election, Blagojevich sought to rebut ethical questions that have clouded his first term, while Topinka tried to make the case that she has the vision to be governor.
But each candidate left voters with more questions to ponder after a 101-minute forum in which Blagojevich stayed largely on message by focusing on his list of accomplishments, and Topinka responded with sarcasm and accusations of scandal.
Blagojevich said he didn’t know whether his family received additional checks from a longtime friend who wrote one for $1,500 in 2003 to one of the governor’s daughters after the friend’s wife got a state job.
Questioned about federal and state investigations into allegations of wrongdoing involving hiring, contracting and fundraising by his administration, Blagojevich repeatedly would not answer whether he had hired a criminal defense attorney.
Topinka, the three-term state treasurer, repeatedly responded to questions about how she would improve the state by criticizing Blagojevich’s failures and accusing him of being an absentee governor. She maintained her office does not issue no-bid contracts, but she struggled to explain that some no-bid contracts are, in fact, awarded.
The governor also tried to put an end to future questions from reporters when he was asked whether federal agents had questioned him about the $1,500 check that a Blagojevich daughter got from Michael Ascaridis in 2003. Ascaridis, a longtime friend of the governor, wrote the check after his wife, Beverly Ascaridis, had gotten a state job only weeks before.
“What I’m not going to do is engage in a whole bunch of responding to rumor, partisan accusations, leaks and innuendoes,” Blagojevich said. “I want to set a record here that I’m not going to engage in that. And I’m not going to respond to those questions, except to say ‘no’ to your question.”
Symbolizing the fundamental strategies of their campaigns, Blagojevich said he had earnestly tried to reform the scandal-tarred political legacy of the state last personified by his predecessor, George Ryan, while Topinka contended she has upheld the public’s trust.
“We have made real changes and strides in ethics,” the governor said. “It’s not perfect. There are all kinds of things going around, but that is sort of the nature of politics, especially when you open a can of worms and are interested in trying to get things done the right way.”
Topinka said her quarter-century in public service qualified her for governor.
“I’ve served, I think, admirably in the House and the Senate,” she said. “For 12 years, I’ve respectfully handled the state treasurer’s office and a $56 billion budget with good investments, sound investments, a clean office. No attacks by the auditor general, attorney general, U.S. attorney, FBI.”
