Reporting from Tri-States Public Radio's Jason Parrott.
State Senator Kirk Dillard has selected a west-central Illinois lawmaker to join him on the ballot in his bid to be the state’s next Governor.
State Representative Jil Tracy stood before a crowd of about 150 in Quincy, Ill.'s Washington Park and accepted Dillard’s request to run as lieutenant governor.
The Quincy Republican says she took a close look at all of the Republican candidates for Governor before making her decision.
“They’re all great men… and as I said, I appreciate anybody for taking up this task," Tracy says. "However, if you look at Sen. Dillard’s strengths, his breadth of experience, I think definitely together, with my background and business exposure, I think definitely we are the right team.”
Dillard says Tracy brings a lot to the ticket.
“Jil brings geographic diversity, growing up in southern Illinois, is here from western Illinois," Dillard says. "But she is a business woman, she is incredibly bright, a tough problem solver."
Tracy has served in the Illinois House since 2006. She previously worked in the Illinois Attorney General’s office.
Tracy says she will remain in office during the campaign.
