* This is some way to run a railroad. Sheila Simon apparently won’t be at the unveiling press conference this afternoon…
Simon said teaching duties at Southern Illinois University’s law school will keep her in Carbondale Friday. The governor is expected to make his announcement in Chicago.
And she hasn’t yet been told by the governor that she’s his pick…
[Sheila] Simon, 49, said Thursday night that she had not talked to the governor about his decision but said she was “excited” to hear that sources had confirmed she was his preferred candidate.
“If it is offered, I will accept,” Simon said.
* So, why the move away from Sen. Garrett? As I told subscribers today, Quinn’s tax hike was a big factor…
State Sen. Susan Garrett of Lake Forest had been considered Quinn’s top candidate, but she recently declined to embrace Quinn’s call for an income-tax increase for education.
Unlike Garrett, Simon is fully on board…
When Quinn and Simon talked before he made his decision, they “focused a lot on whether we would be compatible, and I said, ‘Yes, I support his proposal for a tax increase,’” she said.
And this trait says more than maybe Quinn meant to say…
“I know Sheila,” Quinn said. “I’ve worked with Sheila. She has a servant’s heart, and that’s exactly what Illinois needs in a lieutenant governor.
Simon’s strengths…
“I am someone who fits the bill geographically, broadens the ticket a little bit. I think women’s votes are a primary concern in the campaign, and I think I can help there. … I have some name recognition that will help get me in the door a few places.”
All true.
* Rep. Art Turner isn’t giving up. From an e-mail to supporters…
With all the phone calls and excitement surrounding Saturday’s selection by the Democratic State Central Committee of the party’s nominee for Lt. Governor, supporters have organized buses to leave on Saturday morning to hold our leaders accountable and witness this historic event.
Could things get raucous? We’ll have to wait and see. Turner’s supporters, including members of the state central committee, held a press conference yesterday…
Rep. Charles Jefferson, D-Rockford, who like Turner is black, warned at a news conference Thursday that, if Turner is overlooked for the nomination, “there might be consequences.”
“We’re not here to threaten him today,” Jefferson said of Quinn. “We’re asking him to do the right thing.”
Deny he may, but this sounds like a threat to me…
State Rep. Charles Jefferson, a Rockford Democrat, said the party’s selection of anyone other than Turner might be viewed as an affront to black voters, who overwhelmingly supported Quinn in the close primary.
“A lot of people are going to say maybe this is a slap in the face to the African-American community,” Jefferson said.
More…
Rep. Karen Yarbrough (D-Maywood), a state central committee member, said Simon contacted her Thursday.
“She asked me for my support for being for lieutenant governor. I simply said I was going to be supporting somebody that actually ran in this process,” Yarbrough said.
*** UPDATE *** From the Turner campaign…
Statement on Sheila Simon
“Sheila Simon was Rep. Turner’s son’s law school professor, and he speaks the world of her. But it is up to the Democratic State Central Committee to make this important decision on who should be the Party’s nominee for Lt. Governor. We still think Rep. Art Turner is the best qualified, most experienced person for the job. And we believe that the committee members are more interested in quality ideas, significant experience and proven leadership than in a home address or other demographics.”
Bryan Zises, Turner spokesperson
- vole - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 8:52 am:
My respect goes to Ms. Simon for taking her university teaching role seriously. She’ll have a lot of time later for counting Asian carp in the Illinois River.
- UISer - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 8:53 am:
That’s a classy statement from the Turner campaign. That being said, Turner won one county. Quinn should get his pick.
- Justice - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 8:54 am:
Quinn: “Thank you all for attending this important announcement today.” Turns to aide “is Sheila here yet.” Aide: “No sir, she is in Carbondale teaching her students. You know, you did say education is the most important consideration, therefore the new income tax increase.” Quinn “Well this is more important.” Aide “well, sir, you haven’t actually told her she has been selected for Lt. Governor.” Long pause…Quinn…..”How about those cubs.”
- Louis Howe - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 8:56 am:
“A lot of people are going to say maybe this is a slap in the face to the African-American community,” Jefferson said.
Get real Representative. Three of the 6 state democratic statewide candidates are already African-American. AA’s are less than 30% of the democratic primary votes and less than 12% of the general election vote. Do you really believe 67% of the democratic ticket should be Chicago based and AA?
- Alex Carbo - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:01 am:
An ultra liberal law professor from Carbondale is not going to help Quinn pick up suburban women. Does Sheila Simon fit the profile of someone who will relate to that group?
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:06 am:
- An ultra liberal law professor from Carbondale is not going to help Quinn pick up suburban women. -
You’re right, Brady is going to do that for Quinn. I’m pretty much of the mentality that a lt. gov. candidate can’t really help much, only hurt. While Sheila Simon isn’t my first choice, I think she’ll make a fine candidate.
- adult needed - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:09 am:
I tend to lean Quinn over Madigan, but quinn’s had his chance, I mean, 3 chances, to make his pick. time for the dem committee to pick someone who can help Quinn get elected - simon is a poor campaigner and can’t fundraise, and isn’t popular among swing independents. there needs to be an adult in the room to make a smarter pick to beat the repubs - I’m hoping they’ll choose Raja.
- Niles Township - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:09 am:
“A lot of people are going to say maybe this is a slap in the face to the African-American community,”
—————-
I’m getting tired of this arguement. You don’t see the Jewish community jumping up & down saying that a Jew won the primary so he should be replaced with a Jew. Common folks it’s 2010, get with the program. Half of the ticket is African American, and my bet is most African Americans in the state have no clue who Art Turner even is.
- cassandra - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:14 am:
Could Turner be viewed as a threat to Lisa if Quinn only serves one term.
Simon, whose political prominence seems almost entirely based on family bacground, perhaps less so. How many elections has she actually won?
The pro-tax thing, if true, could be a mistake. Two left-leaning candidates strongly favor of raising income taxes could make things easier, not harder, for Brady, given what we are told is the anti-incumbency mood.
- grand old partisan - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:16 am:
Think about what the Governor is saying to women here: you’re welcome to be part of my team as long as I know you and think you have a good heart, you agree with all my policy positions and have a famous last name.
One question that is noticeably absent here, and has been throughout the Dems selection process: is this person qualified to be Governor should the need arise? Now, I know there are about 15 Dems out there ready to reply with something snarky about Jason Plummer. But that’s sort of my point. For all the hay that was made about him not being qualified, you’d think the Guv would be looking for someone with more credentials than a single term on the Carbondale city council.
- slap in the face? - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:17 am:
When Quinn wanted duckworth, I understood. but now that he has gone with 3 others over Turner, I can see why the African American political community may actually be upset, and not just using this as an excuse to seem upset.
but quinn and the DSCC know that Turner isn’t the right choice to help win independent voters - he too ran a bad campaign, and didn’t raise funds, and only was popular in chicago, where quinn voters are anyway.
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:18 am:
i am white and will not support quinn if simon is lt.gov.candidate. art turner is qualified.ran and finished second. What quinn isdoing is most cynical kind of racism i.e. appointing tner would make too many blacks on ticket. This is exactly kind of politics, Quinn used to rail about…I guess power does corrupt!!!!
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:19 am:
Time to read “Radical Chic and Mau-mauing the
Flak Catchers” yet again.
- Cindy Lou - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:21 am:
Meh, I don’t have a problem with Shelia Simon, in fact I can likely support her faster than I would have Susan Garrett, but I’m still miffed Turner is getting kicked to the curb so to say.
Yeah, I get it’s now in the hands of the DSCC and why, but as a voter who actually went and voted in Feb and made my selection on the persons actually on the ballot, the ones who actually made an effort to run for and want the office, I don’t like now starting afresh and dismissing Turner.
I voted for Turner, not because he’s black, not because he’s from the Chicago area… I will also support Simon, not because she’s female, not because she’s downstate…I don’t vote for candidates based on color, location or gender. Heck if all it took to gain my support/vote was being from downstate, I’d be supporting Brady/Plummer, which of course will not be the case.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:24 am:
Wow, it’s amateur hour at the Quinn campaign. Does he ever think through anything? Who is running the show over there? Quinn? His brother?
Get it together Governor. You’re wasting time and making yourself look like an idiot in the process.
- Cap Fax reader - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:26 am:
Can’t believe how poorly Quinn has handled all this. First Duckworth, and then Garrett got into this because his staff encourged her at the last minute. Simon seems to be his third choice.
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:26 am:
grand old partisan - Please, agreeing with an income tax increase and blindly agreeing with all policies are hardly the same thing. And Sheila is far more qualified than just her stint on city council. Her credentials are very impressive and actually involve public policy, unlike Plummer’s.
- Are You Kidding? - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:29 am:
Shelia Simon LOST to Brad Cole for mayor of Carbondale.
Brad Cole finished 4th in the Republican primary for LT.Gov……and she is going to help the Dem Ticket?
Her own hometown didn’t vote for her????
- KeepSmiling - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:32 am:
Great. Quinn, who seems to have no leadership qualities whatsoever, picks someone who he seems confident will stand behind him. That can’t possibly be Mike’s preferred strategy. We’ll see what happens.
My thinking is that if keeping the field clear for Lisa is at all a consideration, it may be just as well to pick a man who does well with women. Too bad Naperville’s Mayor Pradle didn’t throw his hat in the Lt Gov ring. Executive experience, Officer Friendly, very well-liked. And no threat to Lisa. Oh well. It is what it is.
- Zora - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:34 am:
To the folks who are criticizing Quinn for taking time on his choice and looking at more than one candidate:
What would you be writing here if he’d made a speedy decision? If he hadn’t taken time to sell his choice to as many members of the DSCC as possible? If we had an unvetted candidate and un-unified party leadership?
We are many months away from the general election. There’s lots of time to mend fences and roll things out right. I think he did a good job balancing available time, the necessary and annoying parts of the process and the need to make a decision.
- grand old partisan - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:51 am:
Small Town Liberal: Fair enough. Maybe I don’t know enough to make such a blanket statement like that. Perhaps you could help educate me: on which key policy issues does Ms. Simon disagree with the Governor? And could you elaborate on the credentials that qualify her to govern the state?
The only think I’ve found in any of the articles concerning her potential selection, other than her brief city council stint and famous lineage, is that she served on the Reform Commission….but that was also at Quinn’s behest, and it stands to reason that perhaps he chose her for that for the same reasons he wants her for LtG: he knows her and thinks she has a good heart, she agree with him on relevant policy issues and has a famous last name. So I guess we’re right back where we started.
- Former Card Carrying Repub - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:54 am:
UISer, refer to Are You Kidding’s post. Simon couldn’t win an election for mayor, and she wants to boost the Dem ticket with Southern votes?
I see this thing getting ugly. PQ sure has some really good people working on his campaign.
- TTL, III - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:57 am:
Does Quinn have the votes on the committee to get his pick? Will MJM really let a woman from a different political “dynasty” that close to the governorship? Let’s be honest, the committee grumbles a lot, but they still vote MJM’s way every time.
And I’m not pontificating - I’m really curious as to how people think this is going to shake out.
- Nikoli - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 9:58 am:
Yeah, Simon is not a good choice for Quinn. She has very little experience in elected office. As another commenter pointed out, she’s only served on the Carbondale city council for a very short time.
Also, as has been pointed out, she lost to Brad Cole in the mayor’s race a while back. Speaking as a SIUC alumni and someone who’s seen Brad Cole at both city council meetings and Pinch Penny Pub hitting on college girls, Brad Cole is not a quality candidate. So for her to take a 13 point loss from a guy who has gotten lucky his whole political life, I can’t imagine she’ll be able to do what she needs to do this fall to help Quinn.
Ultimately, I suspect you’ll see more of Paul Simon in television commercials than you will of Shelia…
- Zora - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:06 am:
@Nikoli, “Brad Cole is not a quality candidate.”
Agree, and that’s why state Republicans pumped unprecedented resources into a minor mayoral race.
So let’s fault Simon for not taking as seriously as she should have the threat the R’s believed she posed during that race. She didn’t lift her campaign caps when the special interest dollars started pouring in. Boo on her for that.
But I’ll bet she doesn’t make that mistake twice. Didn’t she say at the DSCC meeting that she learned a lot from losing that race?
- Carl Nyberg - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:07 am:
I’m skeptical MJM obsesses about thwarting rivals to LM as much as MJM haters think.
But if Sheila Simon got thrashed in her run for Mayor of Carbondale, how much of a threat would she be to LM in a primary?
The office of lieutenant governor has been a platform for higher office for whom in recent history?
- PPHS - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:09 am:
Why on earth didn’t Quinn make this announcement on the campus of SIU, where Simon could have actually attended?
So, how on earth, if she is a full time professor, does she campaign?
By the way, is Lt. Gov. a step down for her pay scale?
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:13 am:
grand old partisan - You see, this is why its difficult to discuss things with people like you. I wasn’t the one who said Sheila Simon agreed with everything Quinn did, you said that and provided one example. All I said was that that one example wasn’t exactly a great argument. When I make a declarative statement, I’ll provide the evidence.
As to her credentials, its pretty easy to find them. She developed the SIU Law School’s Domestic Violence Clinic, board of directors of the Women’s Center, panel to screen federal judges, etc. Not huge, but certainly not nothing.
- Deep South - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:14 am:
Keep Smiling
Mayor Pradle may be Officer Friendly, but since he’s from Naperville, I’m willing to bet he’s Republican. I’d really be shocked if that turns out otherwise.
- Nikoli - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:14 am:
@Zora
The reason the R’s pumped so much into that race is because they got their collective hats handed to them in 2006. They needed a win and for some reason Andy McKenna decided that was where he was going to draw his line in the sand.
Why that is, I don’t know. Perhaps you’re right and the R’s wanted to cut her off at the knees early in her political life so that they didn’t have to worry about another Simon coming along. All I know is that if they beat her once, they can do it again.
Also, I’m going to go ahead and touch the third rail of this conversation… she’s not camera friendly. While that shouldn’t matter, we live in a shallow culture and just the mere fact that Rich briefly touched on that and now I’m talking about it proves that. But the truth of the matter is that she got her father’s looks. If she were a wise little man in a bow tie, that wouldn’t be a problem, but she’s not and while her looks may not hurt her, they certainly won’t help her.
- babs - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:15 am:
Let me get this straight - squeaky clean good govt types are such a huge commodity in IL that Sheila Simon doesn’t stand out? Maybe in this blog community but to the average voter - nothing says clean and honest like a Simon. Art Turner came in second to a loser. Step aside.
- Deep South - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:16 am:
JBT = not “camera friendly” either. Didn’t seem to make much difference….or did it?
- Nikoli - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:21 am:
@ Deep South
Oh, I totally think her looks hurt her in her run for Governor in 2006. JBT had a lot against her, and I think her appearance didn’t help things much.
Its one thing to vote for her for a “non-important” job like Treasurer or Comptroller, but people want their leaders to be vibrant and attractive. JBT didn’t fit that bill and neither does Shelia Simon. But I digress…
*Clarification: I don’t believe the Treasurer and Comptroller jobs are not important. I’m just speaking to voter perception.
- Elliott Ness - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:24 am:
It is amazing that at the same time the T-baggers are threating congressmen who voted for the Health Care Bill, that Art Turner’s supporters are threating Quinn and the Central Committee.
Turner carried one county. He lost most of the Chicago wards to Hendon. And people are writing on this blog about Shelia Simon’s vote getting ability?
There are three AA’s on the ticket now. an AA from Illinois is the only AA in the U.S. Senate. The President is an AA from Illinois. And Illinois has sent more AA’s to the U. S. Senate than any state in the last 130 years. When is enough enough?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:25 am:
===Why on earth didn’t Quinn make this announcement on the campus of SIU===
Chicago media wouldn’t be there and chicago media is seen by over two-thirds of this state.
- Zora - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:25 am:
Wow, we’re at how a woman looks and it isn’t even 10:30am yet. Excuse me, I have to go do my hair, while the rest of you figure out how a Quinn-Simon ticket can turn out the female vote.
- Nick Adams - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:27 am:
Nikoli About Shelia’s looks. She looks a lot like Hillary Swank, and her looks haven’t hurt her!
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:28 am:
===The office of lieutenant governor has been a platform for higher office for whom in recent history? ===
Paul Simon, Neil Hartigan, George Ryan, Pat Quinn. In other words, a lot of them.
- grand old partisan - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:28 am:
Small Town Liberal – Fair enough on the first point about policy disagreements. But in terms of qualifications, you’ve just done the same thing: I never said she didn’t have any qualifications, I said that she didn’t have enough. Those things that you listed are laudable, but do they make her any more qualifuied her to manage the massive and complex bureaucracy that is Illinois state government than any number of other civicly engaged women accross the state?
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:30 am:
- I never said she didn’t have any qualifications, I said that she didn’t have enough. -
No, you said her only credentials were a single term on city council.
- Just Wondering - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:32 am:
First Quinn tanks the appointment of Kelly Burke because she wouldn’t agree up front to his tax hike, then he dumps Garrett for the same reason. He needs the womens vote but only on his terms.
- Vote Quimby! - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:40 am:
Carbondale may not have supported her, but across the Deep South the Simon name still has a draw. Why do you think she didn’t change her name when she married?
- her looks - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:42 am:
Sheila Simon’s appearance should be entirely out of bounds in consideration - this is offensive to women and should to be to everybody. on the merits, it is a bad choice and hopefully the committee members will realize that a lecturing high horse nutty professor who can’t even be bothered to show up at a press conference involving her will be a lousy campaigner and a lousy choice. only reason she’d even be considered is becuase of her name; hope dems are smart enough to realize her name has great value among progressives who will already be voting for quinn anyway. independents tend to be skeptical of legacy hires.
- Illinois voter - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:43 am:
There are male politicians who are not camera friendly and vibrant either, but I don’t hear comments made about that. But women are held to a different standard. We’re tired of it. As someone said to me many yrs ago, Lisa Madigan had to get a makeover when she ran for AG, but Blago didn’t when he ran for Gov, and he could have used one.
- grand old partisan - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:45 am:
Small Town Liberal – bottom line is this: Sheila Simon is no more qualified to be the back-up Governor than any number of other women in this state who volunteer on civic boards or have even held minor public office. So why is she on the top of the Governor’s list? Because Quinn knows her personally (part of the reasoning he himself has given) and she has a famous last name (part of the reasoning that everyone knows is true). You’re right, maybe she doesn’t agree with him on every point of policy. And she has done some laudable things in the community that I ignored in my original post. But at the end of the day, the only reason she is getting this pick and not another one of the countless other similarly qualified potential candidates is because of who she knows and who she is. Not a very inspiring rationale, is it?
Maybe that’s how I should have articulated this from the start, thanks for helping me flesh it out.
- Anonymous 10:46 - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:50 am:
@ IL Voter — Part of Bill Clinton’s appeal to some women voters was his looks — please don’t pretend that it’s only a consideration for women candidates
Pingback IL Public Employees Take A Pension Hair Cut | Illinois Alliance For Growth - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:51 am:
[…] Next, the reform also slightly opens the door for a future tax increase. In fact, this came up in the discussions of getting State Sen. Susan Garrett on board for Gov. Quinn’s tax hike. The effort wasn’t successful and as of now she is off the short list for being the nominee for Lt. Gov. on the Democratic side. I can imagine this tactic will be tried with others who have said reform first before tax hikes. […]
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:53 am:
- Not a very inspiring rationale, is it? -
As I said, not my first choice, but I don’t think she hurts. You’re welcome.
- KeepSmiling - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:53 am:
Deep South, I can say that Mayor Pradel had no known political affiliations when he first ran in the 90’s, he supported Daley on the O’Hare expansion despite strong opposition by other DuPage mayors - even lobbying with Daley’s team in Washington, is anti-gun, he runs Naperville from a position of non-partiship, and Naperville is not as Republican as you may think. I would be more surprised to learn that Pradel is a Republican than a Democrat. And far less surprised if Pradel simply has no party affiliation. He certainly hasn’t needed it to get elected.
But it wasn’t my intention to speculate on the man’s politics — and I won’t any further. Anyway, his hat’s not even in the ring.
- RJW - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:58 am:
I get tired of people dithering along about how Rep. Turner should be chosen b/c he came in second on the ballot. The last time I checked 2nd place is still losing. There is a process set up to make these kinds of decisions after what happened with the Scott Cohen debacle. The Dem State Central Committee is following that process. The people don’t have a “right” to anything in this process. Primaries are the monsters of political parties and that monster gets really ugly sometimes. I think Illinois’ process for the Lt. Gov is screwy anyway. They should do it like the presidential primaries - choose a candidate in the primary and let the candidate chosen choose his or her running mate later.
Also, if I were a committee member I would be offended at the fact that the black caucus seems to think “they” are owed the spot on the ticket. Nobody owes anybody anything. Besides, if Pat Quinn needs an African-American on the ticket to get their votes he has bigger problems.
- Niles Township - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 11:02 am:
OK, aside from alot of the inside the game stuff being thrown around here, this is how I look at Sheila’s selection:
Pros: A name that is like the gold standard, she will help downstate and with women.
Con: She is a terrible campaigner.
On balance, no one votes for the Lite Guv choice. Quick, name our last 10 Lites Guvs…excaclty.
She may help on the fringes if she does not make any mistake campaigning, but overall this is much ado about nothing.
- Illinois voter - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 11:04 am:
@Anonymous I agree with you, but that is not my point. My point is if a woman is not telegenic it is mentioned in the media, and then she has to get a makeover. Men don’t.
- Robert - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 11:09 am:
Niles Township, agree that she is a terrible campaigner, who may make gaffes throughout - hard to keep a professor in line - she won’t even be there this afternoon, if it happens! another con would be that she won’t help Quinn raise money; like it or not, fundraising ability is critical to winning.
- Will County Woman - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 11:11 am:
“To the folks who are criticizing Quinn for taking time on his choice and looking at more than one candidate: What would you be writing here if he’d made a speedy decision? If he hadn’t taken time to sell his choice to as many members of the DSCC as possible?…” zora
Zora, please. It is not and never was Quinn’s decision to make; he knew that, and therefore should have stayed out of it, or quietly worked with Madigan. that he didn’t is why he is catching all of this heat/grief, and rightfully so. he helped make this whole thing into the circus that it became with his constantly dropping names in the media about who he wanted.
and this dem lt. guv nonsense just highlights a big problem of his: he’s too busy constantly running for governor and worrying about elections, than being governor and governing. (read: unfocused or focused on all the wrong things)
- 47th Ward - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 11:11 am:
===Quick, name our last 10 Lites Guvs===
Vacant, Quinn, Wood, Vacant, Kustra, Ryan, Vacant, Neal, Howlett, Hartigan, Simon.
I’m not sure that’s exact, but it’s off the top of my head. I swear I didn’t use the Google.
- Amalia - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 11:14 am:
let’s think back and recall how much hand ringing there was when the dems had a candidate for comptroller unopposed in 1998, a man who had graduated from college only 8 years earlier, and law school 5 years earlier who had never been elected to office, elected to deal with the State’s money.
So I’m so not fretting over the choice of Sheila Simon, who has run, won, and lost for public office, who has served with distinction to bring the State out of the muck on reform issues,
who is a law professor, and whose family heritage brings honor to the ticket.
this one may not be the one I wanted, but I can get excited about this choice for our ticket.
- Secret Square - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 11:16 am:
I think there is a difference, even for women, between “physically attractive” and “telegenic.” The two are not always synonymous.
A woman who isn’t young, shapely, or Hollywood-star beautiful can still be an interesting speaker, an effective fundraiser, and have the ability to connect with voters. I think JBT had those abilities up to a point (but her fundraising ability was no match for Blago’s).
Likewise a drop-dead gorgeous woman could be one of the most boring speakers ever or make a complete fool of herself on TV. I’m sure we can all think of examples.
From what I gather, the problem for Sheila Simon may be that she is neither conventionally attractive nor telegenic. (I say that as a middle-aged female who also is neither.)
- Levois - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 11:19 am:
Where were all these black politicos before the February Democratic primaries? They could’ve gotten Turner in this spot in the first place. They need to sit down.
- Jaded - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 11:26 am:
Just another example of the Quinn circus. “I’m for Duckworth, I mean Simon, I mean Garrett, I mean Simon again”. What a joke. He couldn’t lead a one man band down a one way street.
- Will County Woman - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 11:27 am:
Quinn is no beauty either. If voters are going by looks alone, then Brady wins in a landslide because let’s face it…he is very attractive (just as an aside he should stick to the contact lenses whenever possible because the eye glasses don’t work for me!) .
But, let’s not hold shiela to a higher standard than we are holding quinn. illinois doesn’t have any real lookers in politics anyway (never have), so why should we start worrying about that minor detail now?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 11:28 am:
OK, let’s move along. She’s not telegenic, we know that. It’s been debated. Move along.
- Deep South - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 12:03 pm:
====Naperville is not as Republican as you may think====
What? Huh? I lived in Naperville some time ago. Have things changed that much?
- Pot calling kettle - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 12:09 pm:
Rep. Black just spoke in support of Rep. Turner on the House floor!
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 12:10 pm:
Uploading the video at the moment, PCK.
- babs - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 12:26 pm:
GOP – “bottom line is this: Sheila Simon is no more qualified to be the back-up Governor than any number of other women in this state who volunteer on civic boards or have even held minor public office.” Same could be said for any number of MEN in this state. Sorry but your chauvinism is showing.
- What the heck - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 12:38 pm:
Plain and simply the african american electorate and elected officials should be upset. Sheila Simon is a qualified women yes but you already have two women on the ticket that Quinn can campaign with! To the issue of 3 out of 6 of the offices being held by African-Americans, I never heard this arguement when it was all irish men on the ticket!!!!!!
- Anon E. Mouse - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 1:03 pm:
@ Illinois voter - “There are male politicians who are not camera friendly and vibrant either, but I don’t hear comments made about that. But women are held to a different standard.”
Looks shouldn’t matter, but they do for both men and women. Do you think that Barack Obama would be President if he looked like Emil Jones?
- VanillaMan - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 1:13 pm:
OK - bring on the accusations of backroom dealmaking. No matter what happened or how innocent or civic minded it was, you don’t handle these situations this way.
1.) How this happened says that Quinn would rather play politics than let the primary voters decide should get the nomination. Some are cynical enough to say,”Well, that’s how politics is played”. Others are skeptical enough to say, “Well, Quinn is just like any other politician at a time when we just don’t need just another politician.”
2.) At a time when we are watching Rod Blagojevich go to trial, watching Roland Burris hide from public, and discovering that it seems that many Democratic leaders are doing backroom deals while Illinois burns, it seems that who you know is more important than who gets our votes.
- grand old partisan - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 1:27 pm:
babs - you’re absolutely right. but the basis for eliminating men from that equation was not chauvinism, it was a belief that Quinn was going to pick a women in order to protect a vulnerable spot in his base coalition. I thought that was close enough to conventional wisdom to make such a disclaimer unnecessary.
- Loop Lady - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 1:45 pm:
WCW: It’s not Quinn’s decision to make? His opinion of that person is first and foremost to the process…he has to work with the LG on a daily basis, especially during session, when he is supposed to be governing, responding to natural disasters, attending meetings in Washington…the level of trust/confidence as a team player he must have for his 2nd in command is huge…once again, your shoot from the hip remarks highlight your outsider, nose pressed against the glass status…try thinking just a bit before you type…
- Ghost - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 2:13 pm:
I give turner and his folks big points for their statement on shiela simon. Class act; conveys their push for Turner without the need to backslide or degrade Simon.
Too bad we can’t have both Turner and Simon
- dupage dan - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:09 pm:
Loop Lady,
My understanding is that the DSCC makes the decision as to who the LG candidate is, not PQ. PQ can propose but he ain’t the one who gets to decide.
- Anonymous ZZZ - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:11 pm:
Loop Lady, if you think a Governor and his Lt. Governor work together on a “daily” basis, I think you may be the one who’s an outsider. Take it from someone who has worked for a Lt. Governor.
- Loop Lady - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:18 pm:
AnonZZZ: I too have worked with a LG, so I stand by my statement…I really doubt that DSCC is gonna buck Quinn’s pick.
Like I said, he’s the one who has gotta work with that person…if he makes a bad choice, then the Committee can say, they just drafted his pick…lt’s chat on Monday, shall we gents?
- dupage dan - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:06 pm:
LL,
PQ loses either way. If he gets to keep his pick, he doesn’t gain any edge against the opposition. Sheila Simon is about as politically accomplished as Plummer. By all accounts not a dynamic campaigner/fund raiser. If the DSCC picks someone else, PQ looks toothless. Just sayin.
- dupage dan - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:09 pm:
BTW,
In another section of this blog, a person with more info than I claimed that Simon lost support by sitting on both sides of the abortion debate. I mean, how could Paul Simon’s daughter lose an election in Simon country anyway? In a liberal college town like Carbondale? Wow, what a pick!
- girllawyer - Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:34 pm:
I’m not sure it is logical and Quinn has handled this (like most everything)badly but I have to admit that the idea of voting for Sheila Simon appeals to me. Makes it a little easier to vote for Quinn even though he’s been a huge disappointment.