-By Warner Todd Huston
Kirk Dillard told Pioneer Local reporter Amy Deis that he lost because Bob Schillerstrom dropped out too late and Ryan came in too late, both, he said, took thousands of votes from him leading to a bare primary edge-out by Bill Brady.
He especially pinpoints Schillerstrom for the loss.
“His 7,000 votes would have made the race; I was very much hindered by them,” Dillard said.
It may sound like sour grapes on Dillard’s part, but I cannot dispute that the thought rests on solid ground.
After all, Bill Brady hardly showed up at all in Cook County, DuPage County and the immediate collar counties. On the other hand, Schillerstrom didn’t show up at all south of Interstate 80! And north of that east/west tollway was Dillard country, as well as Schillerstrom’s.
It is very likely that most of Schillerstrom and Ryan’s votes would have gone Dillard’s way since both candidate had their base in the same area from which Dillard hails. The same areas that Brady was very, very weak.
But, that’s the way the primary crumbles, if you will.
There is a final word to say about Kirk Dillard’s conduct in this race. He never much got into mud slinging with his campaign. Oh, sure there were some sharp words, but he never got mean spirited. Additionally, even in this final waiting out of counting the last absentee ballot he’s been above reproach in his actions. He’s firmly invoked his rights to wait for the final counting before a victor is announced but he’s done so without much over-the-top vitriol.
Good for him on that level, anyway.
Continue reading “
Dillard Blames Schillerstrom and Ryan for Loss”