Republican gubernatorial nominee Ju...

Republican gubernatorial nominee Judy Baar Topinka said Monday single in kind of her first steps as governor will be to make known a comprehensive plan to rebuild crumbling roads, fix rusting bridges and permanent fund the rest of the state's transportation exigencys -- an area in which she said Gov Blagojevich has failed.

"It takes time," she said. "It takes hard work. It takes leadership. And you know what else? In order to make it happen, you have to point out up."

The last was a dig at the pair the Democratic governor's reputation for not spending a apportionment of time in Springfield and his absence from the luncheon where Topinka was speaking.

The Metropolitan Planning Council promot it as a potential "blockbuster" forum between Blagojevich and his Republican rival. if it were not that the governor told the organization's leaders last week that he would be in Las Vegas instead, attending the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters' convention, where he is scheduled to give the keynote address today.

Topinka took a not many digs at Blagojevich for not showing up moreover she spent more time criticizing his record as governor. The state treasurer ridiculed his $22 billion highway and mass transit program as "meager."

LITTLE INFO in succession PLAN

Topinka moveed few details on her admit capital improvement plan, but said as governor she would direct her chief of staff, stock director and transportation secretary to work with legislators, public officials and organizations to devise a plan that appropriates the state's long-term needs.

"And we will offer together a funding plan that dedicates specific dollars to pay for it," she said. "We are going to pay our way."

Blagojevich campaign spokesman Doug Scofield called Topinka's remarks "hypocritical," saying the governor's more ambitious infrastructure plan died in the Legislature because Republicans refused to promised for it.

"We had a worthy capital plan on the table that was killed by way of lack of Republican support, and Judy Baar Topinka not at any time lifted a finger to help it," Scofield said.

Scofield also dismissed criticism of Blagojevich's absence forward Monday.

"The governor has at no time confirmed that he would do this date, always said that this was a tentative date, likewise we didn't cancel anything, didn't change anything," he said.

Council president MarySue Barrett said she was "frustrated" and "disappointed" by way of the turn of events unless conceded that the governor in no degree promised he would show up She accepted his tender to address the group tribe 7.

The moderator, WBBM-AM political editor Craig Dellimore, reminded the vulgar herd of Blagojevich's habit of tardiness.

"Let's just think of this as him being a month late," Dellimore said.

sfornek@suntimes.com

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided by the agency of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved