Topinka Partners Up

By Amy Hart in News on Dec 9, 2005 3:52PM

It looks like Judy Baar Topinka, the Republican party’s frontrunner for the governor, has found herself a running mate.

Topinka has tapped DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett to be her lieutenant governor. Birkett, who had considered running for governor himself, lost the 2002 general election for attorney general to Lisa Madigan.

Birkett has not officially agreed to run with Topinka quite yet, but all signs point to him doing so.

Most recently Birkett was in the news for finally getting a grand jury indictment in the Nicarico case, a case in which he originally pursued Rolando Cruz, who ended up serving time on death row before being pardoned by then Governor George Ryan.

Birkett is a conservative, whereas Topinka is considered to be more moderate. A conservative running mate to a moderate gubenatorial candidate? Where have we heard this before? Oh right, just a couple of days ago when conservative Steve Rauschenberger dropped out of the governor’s race to run as lieutenant governor under moderate candidate Ron Gidwitz.

Topinka is obviously trying to reach out to those Republicans who find her to be not far enough on the right, but will choosing Birkett cause some in the center to think twice about voting for her?