GOP gov candidates want death penalty reinstated

CHICAGO (AP) - The Republican candidates for Illinois governor say they’re in favor of reinstating the death penalty in the state.

The candidates spoke Tuesday at a forum hosted by WMAQ-TV. They are state Sens. Kirk Dillard and Bill Brady, businessman Bruce Rauner (ROW’-nur) and Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford (ROOTH’-ur-furd).

Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011. That was after former Gov. George Ryan halted all executions in Illinois in 2003 over fears that a flawed system had led to wrongful convictions of death row inmates.

Rutherford and Brady say it should be brought back.

Dillard explains that it should be kept for the “worst of the worst” criminals. Rauner says it could be a “workable option” for those who were guilty beyond a doubt.