Dan Rutherford issued a statement regarding Jesse White's announcement in Saturday's Springfield State Journal-Register that he will no longer accept campaign contributions from his employees.   Rutherford said,  "I am happy to hear that Jesse White will no longer be accepting contributions from his Secretary of State employees.  This has been my position all along.   I do not accept contributions from my Senate employees now.  I have said throughout this campaign that employees whose salary increases and evaluations are determined by the Secretary should not be allowed to contribute personally through gifts or through political donations to one's campaign.  I think it's fundamentally wrong."  

"This latest about-face by Jesse White on this issue is interesting, considering the number of high-level staff that were shown as contributors on his last financial report.  Employees listed as Administrative Personnel in the Illinois Blue Book who also appeared on his last campaign report filed with the State Board of Elections are Stephen Roth, $600 4/26/06; Terry Coombes, $500 4/26/06; Jacqueline Price, $500 4/26/06; Linda Piccioli, $500 4/26/06; Anthony Burnett, $300 6/6/06; Annette Czarobski, $500 6/6/06; Chester Czesak, $250 6/14/06; Jacqueline Dicianni, $500 6/6/06; Elizabeth Kaufman, $400 6/6/06; Allen Mitzenmacher, $500 6/28/06; Carol Lampard, $500 4/26/06; Kenneth Buzbee $500, 4/26/06; Delores Martin, $500 4/26/06; Michael Mayer, $500 4/26/06; Kenneth Durbin, $500 4/26/06; Al DiSilvestro, $500 6/6/06; and Dale Swinford, $500 5/23/06.  

"I have accepted multiple debate invitations, and in light of these improprieties coming out, I can see why Jesse White is avoiding any public discussion with me on this issue by ducking these debates.  One wonders why, after seven years, Jesse White chose a little over six weeks before this election to reverse his policy. "

Rutherford is running against White for the office of Secretary of State in November.