Treasurer gets hands dirty with Habitat

By Bill Grimes

Effingham Daily News

Published Saturday, July 19, 2008

Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias said spending the afternoon helping build a home in 90-plus degree heat beats the political maelstrom Springfield has become.

“It’s embarassing to be a Democrat and disheartening to be an Illinoisan,” Giannoulias said, during a break in working on the future home of Clark and Brian Wiebking, who expect to move into their new house this fall. Effingham County Habitat for Humanity is building the home.

Giannoulias said he tries to stay above the constant fighting between fellow Democrats Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan.

“We run our office as professionally as possible, working with Democrats and Republicans,” he said, adding he doesn’t try to mediate in the war between Blagojevich and Madigan.

“You have people fighting and putting their ego and personal agenda above helping people,” he said. “It’s tough to deal with.”

That’s why Giannoulias, who said he’d never worked on a Habitat home before, was glad to be putting up siding on the exterior of the Wiebking’s future home.

“I’ve donated money before, but never actually worked on a project,” he said.

Giannoulias said the state still has a $15 billion investment portfolio, despite the state’s budget woes. Among initiatives promoted by the treasurer’s office include a program that allows businesses seeking more energy efficiency to receive lower interest rates for such improvements. He is also seeking to help homeowners facing foreclosure through giving lenders incentives to offer conventional mortgages at affordable payment and interest rates.

Giannoulias helped Clark and Brian Wiebking build their 900-square-foot home in the 200 block of Virginia Street. Local coordinator PaulaRae Johnson said she hoped father and son could move into the home by early October.

“We’ve been fortunate to have good, experienced help,” said Johnson of the numerous volunteers involved in building the Habitat house.

  
     
 
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