I finally got a chance late Friday to talk at length with Jason Plummer, the somewhat embattled Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.

Rather than post it over the weekend, when few folks would read it, I decided to hold the item until today.

My general impression is that Mr. Plummer, 27, is an awfully nice young man who’s sincere in wanting to serve in public life and has done a whole bunch more than many of his peers.

But he is indeed young, and has had the help of his wealthy lumber-yard family at every step. That makes it fair game to ask about his résumé.

Mr. Plummer’s main argument is that, unlike a lot of Democratic candidates, he’s had a taste of real life because he’s been involved in the family’s lumber and real estate development businesses. “I’ve had to make a payroll,” he puts it. “I’ve worked in dozens of communities to employ people.”

Pushed on what he’s done besides assist his dad, Mr. Plummer notes development of a shopping center, a hotel and a lumber yard in Lincoln, just north of Springfield. “I was the point person” on the shopping center, he says, handling land acquisition and development, among other chores.

Read more at Crain’s Chicago Business