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Former Democratic state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias on Sunday endorsed Republican Tom Cross over Democrat Mike Frerichs for the job of managing Illinois money.

While Im not in politics anymore, and who Im friends with and who I think would be a good leader is probably not important to a lot of people, I do appreciate the fact that Tom Cross has done his homework on the office of treasurer, said Giannoulias, a senior director at BNY Mellon Wealth Management and chairman of the Illinois Community College Board.

Appearing on WGN radio, Giannoulias said Cross understands the role (of treasurer) and when we talk about people willing to break with their party and do whats right, I think he represents one of those people.

Cross, of Oswego, is the former Republican leader of the Illinois House and has been a state lawmaker for 21 years. Frerichs, of Champaign, has served in the state Senate since 2007.

Giannoulias, who served one term as state treasurer before narrowly losing a 2010 bid for the U.S. Senate against Republican Mark Kirk, said he did not want to bash the Democratic nominee.

But he noted Frerichs has criticized outgoing GOP state Treasurer Dan Rutherford for putting a premium on investments outside the state and U.S. Rutherford, however, has said the states only foreign investment is in Israel bonds. Frerichs campaign said it never intended to divest the state of Israel bonds.

I think his statements on Israel bonds werent carefully thought out. Its been one of the better investments in the state treasurers office, Giannoulias said of Frerichs. Giannoulias also appeared critical of Frerichs back-and-forth on the issue of combining the offices of state treasurer and comptroller. Frerichs had supported the idea, later appeared to back off the position, but then said he was in favor of combining the offices. Cross supports merging the two offices.

I feel like in Springfield, if theyre really talking about trying to find ways to save money, maybe combining the offices is important of comptroller and treasurer, Giannoulias said.

While Im a proud Democrat, proud of what we have done, I do think there are certain people who run for office on both sides who are willing to reach across the aisle. Ive known Tom Cross for awhile. I think hes got courage. I think hes a good guy, Giannoulias said.

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Democrat Giannoulias backs Republican Cross for state treasurer

Gerald Ensley, Tallahassee Democrat 5:51 p.m. EDT September 21, 2014

Dorothy Clifford, Jan. 13, 1930- Sept. 21, 2014 (Photo: Democrat files )

Dorothy Clifford, doyenne of the Tallahassee Democrat newsroom and arbiter of the Tallahassee social scene for more than 40 years, died Sunday morning.

Clifford, 84, died shortly after sunrise at her northside home, with her two daughters by her bedside. Clifford, who was under hospice care for the past month, had suffered lung and heart problems for a decade.

Clifford worked at the Tallahassee Democrat from 1959 until her retirement in 2001. She began her career as assistant women's editor, in a day when that was the name applied to the features/lifestyle section. She became the newspaper's women's editor in 1961 and in 1962 landed the newspaper a national award as the best women's section among small daily newspapers.

After a 10-year hiatus to raise her three children, Clifford returned in 1971 as assistant city editor, before moving back to editor of the women's section. She led the department into the 1990s, before seguing into a role as features reporter and columnist winning several national and state editing and writing awards.

For decades, Clifford was the newspaper's social historian. Most famously, she wrote the Democrat's weekly "Capital Scene" column a round-up of parties, gatherings and events laden with bold-faced names of those who attended. Though the term society column might make some wince including Clifford it was considered a badge of honor to be mentioned in her column.

The column demonstrated Clifford's extensive knowledge of Tallahassee families and made her a go-to source in the newsroom for background on many news stories. In the later years of her career, she was renowned for her obituaries on the passing of longtime Tallahasseeans, stories laden with details because she knew the people intimately.

"Dorothy was a gem for the Democrat and a joy to work with, for all of us who had that privilege," said Carrol Dadisman, Tallahassee Democrat publisher from 1981 to 1997. "For many years, her knowledge of Tallahassee and her faithful reporting of its people and events made us a better newspaper. Her reporting reflected the community, and her personality and dedication made her a great community ambassador for the Democrat."

Clifford was beloved for her personality, which was equal parts graciousness, charm, inquisitiveness and piercing intelligence. She insisted on good manners and decorum while also occasionally wielding a sharp tongue.

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Democrat legend Dorothy Clifford dies at 84

Kansas Court: Remove Democrat From Senate Ballot
Kansas must remove the name of the Democratic candidate against Republican Sen. Pat Roberts from the ballot, the state Supreme Court declared Thursday, in a ...

By: WochitGeneralNews

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Kansas Court: Remove Democrat From Senate Ballot - Video

Democrat Multiculturalism at Work - Vote Them All Out!
Muslim teenager beats up girl. Since Democrats support this Real War on Women and Islamic Shariah Law Globally - Why do you still vote Democrat? This is what Islam really looks like and your...

By: INFORMED TV

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Democrat Multiculturalism at Work - Vote Them All Out! - Video

Kansas will send voters living overseas a ballot for the November election with no Democratic candidate for a U.S. Senate race that has unexpectedly become one of the most hotly-contested in the nation.

But Republican Secretary of State Kris Kobach said Friday he is not abandoning efforts to get Democrats to name a replacement candidate for Chad Taylor. The Democrat dropped out of the race earlier this month, giving independent Greg Orman a better shot at defeating three-term Republican Sen. Pat Roberts.

Republicans are in the odd position of pushing Democrats to have a candidate. Many Democrats don't want a nominee because they see Orman as the strongest rival to Roberts and don't want to split the anti-Roberts vote. The state Supreme Court stepped in once and is being asked to do so again.

The race in Kansas vaulted to the top tier in the national fight over control of the Senate after Roberts emerged vulnerable from a nasty primary in August. Kansas is a Republican-leaning state, but Orman, a 45-year-old Olathe businessman, is leading or close behind the 78-year-old Roberts in some recent opinion polls.

Even as Kobach directed counties to mail out overseas ballots by Saturday, he continued to argue that state law requires Democrats to pick a new candidate. The law says when a candidate vacancy occurs, it "shall" be filled by a party committee.

"Nothing has changed," said Kobach, a conservative Republican who is supporting Roberts.

The dispute over the Kansas ballot erupted earlier this month when Taylor stopped campaigning and sent a letter to Kobach's office to withdraw. Kobach said the letter wasn't detailed enough to comply with state law, but the Kansas Supreme Court ruled Thursday that it was sufficient and ordered Taylor's name removed.

Pedro Irigonegaray, a Topeka attorney who represented Taylor, said the law Kobach cites in pushing Democrats to name a replacement does not require every vacancy to be filled.

"I believe that what Mr. Kobach is saying is a perversion of the statute," Irigonegary said. "How can a secretary of state compel a candidate to run? That's ludicrous."

That issue is before the Supreme Court because of a petition filed by a Democratic voter from Kansas City asking the justices to force Democrats to pick a new candidate. The petition was filed minutes after Thursday's Supreme Court ruling, and the voter's son works for GOP Gov. Sam Brownback's re-election campaign.

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Some Kansas Ballots to Have No Democrat for Senate