Obama’s Indo-American adviser eyes comptroller post

Raja Krishnamoorthi,who had served as campaign adviser for US President Barack Obama,plans to run for the post of Illinois Comptroller,the state's chief fiscal officer.

Indian-American Raja Krishnamoorthi,who had served as campaign adviser for US President Barack Obama,plans to run for the post of Illinois Comptroller,the state’s chief fiscal officer.

Krishnamoorthi,who served as Deputy Illinois Treasurer,has formed an exploratory committee,which would help him raise funds for the campaign and explore the possibility of running for the post next year.

“Barack Obama’s breakthrough in American politics has inspired me to explore running for statewide office in Illinois. Now it is our chance to bring real reform to Illinois government and more transparency to the state’s finances,” Krishnamoorthi,a Democrat,said.

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The Comptroller’s post is currently held by Dan Hynes. Krishnamoorthi said he would run for the state-wide office should Hynes choose not to run for re-election in 2010.

If Krishnamoorthi wins,he would be the first Asian-American to hold statewide office in Illinois.

Krishnamoorthi would be travelling across the state to meet party leaders and introduce himself as a potential candidate. The primary elections for the post would be held in February 2010 and general elections in November 2010.

As the state’s chief fiscal officer,the comptroller is the keeper of the state’s cheque book and has intimate knowledge of the state’s finances,serving as the people’s fiscal guardian.

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The idea to run for the post came to Krishnamoorthi,35,after the corruption scandal involving former governor Rod Blagojevich came to light.

“We must weed out the corruption and pay-to-play contracts that have contributed to a record state deficit. The comptroller can offer perspective on how to reform the contracting system to end the pay-to-play politics that has gripped the state,” he said.

Krishnamoorthi stepped down from the deputy treasurer position earlier this month to avoid any conflicts of interest and to abide by strict ethical rules and regulations.

He had worked on Obama’s successful 2004 campaign for the US Senate,serving first as the issues director for his primary campaign and then as a senior adviser in his general election campaign.

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A “close friend” of the US President,Krishnamoorthi has known Obama for the last 10 years. In December last year,Krishnamoorthi received an invitation from the Presidential Inaugural Committee to be among friends and family invited to attend Obama’s January 20 inauguration ceremony.

He was also part of the “small group of people” that Obama met after being sworn in as the nation’s first African American President.