Prairie State Wire

Jim Dodge, a Republican running to be state treasurer, sees J.B. Pritzker’s handling of the property tax scandal now dogging his campaign as further evidence that he wouldn’t be right for the job of governor of Illinois.

“It says a lot about who he is, and none of it is commendable,” Dodge told the Prairie State Wire. “This situation he finds himself in raises questions about criminality and a scheme to defraud taxpayers.This should not be viewed as an allegation waiting to be proven, but a post-investigation into obvious wrongdoing.”

Pritzker, the Democratic candidate for governor, recently announced plans to pay back $330,000 in property tax breaks and tax refunds after a Cook County inspector general's report concluded that he engaged in a “scheme to defraud” taxpayers, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Mike Frerichs is the Democratic incumbent seeking another term as state treasurer.

Throughout their bitter campaign, Gov. Bruce Rauner has ridiculed his rival as a “tax cheat” who once removed toilets from a home he owns to avoid paying an equitable tax rate.

“What I find most troubling is he didn’t need to do any of this because he’s hurting for money,” said Dodge, running for state treasurer against Democratic incumbent Mike Frerichs. “The $300,000 is probably what he spends a day on his campaign. All this speaks to his judgment.”

The situation shows how out of touch Pritzker is with common voters, Dodge added.

“Real people paying taxes across the state are always hurt by guys like J.B. Pritzker screwing the system,” he said. “He didn’t need the money, but tell that to all the other people being crushed by the state’s high taxes.”

Even now, Dodge said Pritzker’s reimbursement plan has nothing to do with contrition.

“It’s about restitution without resolution,” he said. “I think this is him just trying to get away from this issue as quickly as possible. Why [should] anyone trust him going forward?”