Whitley decides not to run for governor
Doug Whitley, who took a leave of absence last fall as president and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce to explore a run for the Republican nomination for governor, said Wednesday he’s out of the race. Whitley will return to his chamber job Friday.
Whitley, 59, a former Springfield resident who now lives in Batavia, said he raised more than $100,000, but he didn’t have enough to keep the race going.
“If I was independently wealthy ... I could stay in the race,” he said.
Whitley said he hasn’t decided on who to support for governor, though it will be a Republican.
“I think the Democrats are still missing the boat. … They’re still trying to grow government instead of trying to grow private-sector jobs. They’re doing everything they can to put a spike in the economy instead of helping the economy.”
Whitley said he expects to return to donors money left in his campaign fund.
