Dan Rutherford

Dan Rutherford (born May 26, 1955) is an American politician who served as the 73rd Treasurer of Illinois from 2011 to 2015. A member of the Republican Party, he previously was the Illinois State Senator from the 53rd district from 2003 to 2011 and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003.

Dan Rutherford
73rd Treasurer of Illinois
In office
January 10, 2011 – January 12, 2015
GovernorPat Quinn
Preceded byAlexi Giannoulias
Succeeded byMike Frerichs
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 53rd district
In office
2003–2011
Succeeded byShane Cultra
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 87th district
In office
1993–2003
Succeeded byBill Mitchell
Personal details
Born (1955-05-26) May 26, 1955
Pontiac, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Alma materIllinois State University

Early life and education

Rutherford was born in Pontiac, Illinois.[1] During elementary and high school Dan Rutherford worked at his parent’s pizza restaurant.[2] and attended Pontiac Township High School. Following high school, Rutherford attended Illinois State University. While at Illinois State University, Rutherford was elected Student Body President.[3]

Business career

While on a business trip to Japan in 1984, Rutherford became familiar with the ServiceMaster Company. One year later, he joined the Downers Grove, Illinois-headquartered company as an executive. Rutherford eventually became responsible for expansion of the company's businesses internationally, licensing services in Chile, Brazil, Honduras, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Guam, Venezuela, South Africa, Spain, and a host of other countries. ServiceMaster is a family of service companies with trade names such as ServiceMaster clean, Terminix, Tru-Green Chem Lawn, Merry Maids, American Home Shield, and Rescue Rooter.

Political career

1980 Reagan campaign

Dan Rutherford's public service career began following his graduation from Illinois State University as a legislative assistant in Springfield. In the GOP (Republican) Primary of 1980, Rutherford (then 24 years old) coordinated a congressional district for Governor Ronald Reagan's campaign. Rutherford's work in coordinating that congressional district earned recognition from the Reagan National Campaign and he was subsequently tapped to serve as the Executive Director for the 1980 Reagan-Bush campaign.

Illinois General Assembly

In 1993, Rutherford was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. Rutherford eventually became Assistant Republican Leader.

In the 2002 Republican primary, Rutherford defeated Brian Heller, a member of the Tazewell County Board, for the Republican nomination for the newly drawn 53rd district.[4] In the Senate, Rutherford served as the ranking Republican for the Financial Institutions Committee and was a member of the Environment & Energy Committee. Senator Rutherford also served on the bi-partisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

As a lawmaker, Senator Dan Rutherford sponsored and directed legislation which changed the formula for reimbursing nursing homes for care of the elderly. The new system bases rates on the medical needs of the resident, rather than just their geographic location in the state.

Political campaigns

2006 Illinois Secretary of State campaign
See also: 2006 Illinois state elections § Secretary of State

On September 12, 2005, Rutherford officially announced his campaign for the office of Illinois Secretary of State. Rutherford faced incumbent Democratic Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, of Jesse White Tumbling Team fame, and Green Party candidate Karen Young Peterson,[5] in the November, 2006 election, but lost to Jesse White.

2010 Illinois Treasurer campaign
See also: 2010 Illinois elections § Treasurer

Rutherford won the open seat of Illinois Treasurer. Also running were Democratic nominee Robin Kelly, Green Party Party nominee Scott K. Summers and Libertarian nominee James Pauly.

2014 Governor
See also: 2014 Illinois gubernatorial election
Gubernatorial campaign logo

On June 2, 2013, Dan Rutherford officially announced his candidacy for Governor of Illinois.[6] His running mate was attorney Steve Kim.

Rutherford lost in the 4-way Republican primary to businessman Bruce Rauner, taking 7.55% of the vote.

2014 Scandal

In February 2014, a former employee of Rutherford, Edmund Michalowski, filed a federal complaint alleging that Rutherford had sexually harassed him and had pressured him to do political work on state time.[7][8] The complaint was filed just a few weeks before Rutherford was scheduled to face off against the other contenders in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Rutherford denied all allegations[9] and charged that they were the work of his political opponent, Bruce Rauner.[10] Rutherford vowed that he would continue on in the race[11] A judge dismissed some of Michalowski's claims, such as Michalowski being forced to do political work on state time and Michalowski re-filed in April 2016, alleging harassment by Rutherford and four others. In November 2017, attorneys for Rutherford and Michalowski agreed that the lawsuit be "dismissed without prejudice", meaning that it could be re-filed.[12]

Personal

Dan Rutherford has never been married. He has crewed in many Chicago-to-Mackinac Island races and is an Advanced Certified Diver. Dan Rutherford has traveled to all seven continents.[13] His favorite food is pizza.[14]

Electoral history
  • 2010 election for Treasurer of Illinois[15]
    • Dan Rutherford (R), 49.9%
    • Robin Kelly (D), 45.1%
    • Scott Summers (G), 3.2%
    • James Pauly (L), 1.9%
  • 2006 election for Secretary of State of Illinois

References
  1. "Meet Dan Rutherford". Illinois State Treausrer. Associated Press. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  2. "About Dan Rutherford". Illinois State Treasurer. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  3. Bond, Brendan (January 1, 2014). "Fun Facts V: Dan Rutherford". Reboot Illinois. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  4. "Rutherford wins senate spot". Daily Journal. March 20, 2002. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-10-17. Retrieved 2006-10-18.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Dan Rutherford Running for Governor 2014 June 2, 2013". Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  7. Dietrich, Matt (February 10, 2014). "HERE IS EX-EMPLOYEE'S HARASSMENT LAWSUIT AGAINST RUTHERFORD". Reboot Illinois. Associated Press. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  8. Chase, John; Garcia, Monique (February 10, 2014). "Rutherford fires back at allegations of sexual harassment, political pressure". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  9. Pearson, Rick (February 1, 2014). "GOP governor candidate denies unknown allegations". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  10. Dietrich, Matt (February 1, 2014). "Rutherford charges Rauner behind effort to "destroy him"". Reboot Illinois. Associated Press. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  11. "Dan Rutherford: 'I'm going to continue on'". Politico. Associated Press. February 11, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  12. Sam Charles (November 22, 2017). "Dan Rutherford federal sex harassment suit dismissed". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  13. Bond, Brendan (January 1, 2014). "Fun Facts V: Dan Rutherford". Reboot Illinois. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  14. Marcus, Judy (March 6, 2014). "The favorite meal of Republican primary candidate Dan Rutherford". Sugar Buzz Chicago. Associated Press. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 5, 2010. Retrieved November 3, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
Political offices
Preceded by
Alexi Giannoulias		 Treasurer of Illinois
2011 - 2015		 Succeeded by
Mike Frerichs
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