Today’s number: 20,000
Monday, Aug 8, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* AP…
Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says a voter referendum aimed at imposing term limits on Chicago’s mayor and creating a consumer advocacy position won’t make the November ballot.
Quinn told The Associated Press he’s short of the roughly 53,000 signatures required by a Monday deadline. The Democrat says his goal is to get 100,000 and he’s got roughly 20,000.
He launched the petition drive in June, but wouldn’t say which election. He tells AP he’s aiming for 2018’s primary, when Illinois next elects a governor. Quinn hasn’t definitively ruled out another gubernatorial run.
Discuss.
- so... - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:41 pm:
Epic fail
- NorthsideNoMore - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:44 pm:
Pat….it’s time to fade away.
- Lester Holt's Mustache - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
After two months of working to reach a goal, Pat Quinn is less than halfway done with a week left before the deadline. That sounds about right.
- Clark - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:52 pm:
I still really think this is weird that he wants term limits for JUST the mayor and not alderman, state reps, etc. Considering over half (probably a little less if I remember correctly) of the city aldermen have been serving for close to 10+ years, it makes more sense for city/statewide term limits.
- Anonymous - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:58 pm:
Lester Holt’s Mustache - the only thing missing is a condescending mascot.
- Amalia - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
buh bye.
- Norseman - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:00 pm:
Incompetent Quinn shows up again. Please don’t show up in 2018.
- A guy - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:06 pm:
The concert season at Millennium Park is almost over. Too many repeat visitors there. This is going to take a while.
- Lester Holt's Mustache - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:07 pm:
Awaiting “Terry the term-limited Tapir”
- Rahm's Middle Finger - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:07 pm:
There simply weren’t enough ironing boards for people to sign on.
- Denisquared - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:16 pm:
He is a talented and smart guy who loves Illinois. He needs a better focus.
- Captain Illini - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:20 pm:
Harold Washington was right all along…
- IrishPirate - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:21 pm:
I saw Quinn collecting signatures in July at a fest on the NW side of Chicago. He’ll run for something. It’s what he does. I’d even say it’s who he is. Win or lose you can count on him running.
- Grand Avenue - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:41 pm:
Someone could make some serious hay with a Chicago Mayoral term limits referendum - but they would have to make it an explicitly anti-Rahm campaign, and Quinn wasn’t willing to go there.
- The Professor - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:45 pm:
This is an open democracy so Pat Quinn can attempt whatever he wants. He was a very poor governor. He can throw bombs but was unable to lead. Mr. Quinn should find something to do with his remaining years but elected office is not in the cards. He is someone we must tolerate - so - accept his shenanigans with a grain of salt.
- Cubs in '16 - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:50 pm:
===Someone could make some serious hay with a Chicago Mayoral term limits referendum - but they would have to make it an explicitly anti-Rahm campaign, and Quinn wasn’t willing to go there.===
That’s a great point. People are in favor of term limits in the context of bad politicians but would they really want to place limits on one that is effective?
- Curious - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 4:55 pm:
If he doesn’t have the sigs, I truly hope nobody (other electeds) pile on in the press, and just let this play out for what it is. Let the man exit stage right of his own accord. He’ll probably have another trick up his sleeve, but this does not bode well for his political future. He should go teach property tax law at Northwestern or something.
- OneMan - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:00 pm:
Tippy The Term Limited Turtle
- Anon - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:01 pm:
===The Democrat says his goal is to get 100,000 and he’s got roughly 20,000.===
Probably should have started before June.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:12 pm:
To get a sense of how big an epic fail this is, let’s remember that public referenda and signature campaigns are Pat’s bread and butter. This is the one thing he supposedly knows how to do. How he could FAIL this spectacularly is simply mind-boggling.
- Gooner - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:19 pm:
It is nice to see that he’s found a hobby for his retirement.
- Cheryl44 - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:41 pm:
That’s a shame. Term limits is something we really ought to at least discuss.
- Bwahahahah! - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 5:59 pm:
Go away Quinn.
- Amalia - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 6:19 pm:
how can I miss you if you won’t go away!?!
- Belden Ave - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 6:21 pm:
I don’t think Pat put forth a serious effort to collect these signatures, I contacted him to help, and he never got back to me, and Pat knows that I can produce signiatures.
- Sue - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 7:24 pm:
What a bafoon. Of all the problems facing Chicago/ Illinois who cares about mayoral term limits. Rahm will be gone at the end of his term if not sooner anyway. Quinn would do the most good if he removed himself from public discourse
- Tinsel Town - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 7:27 pm:
What did Pat Quinn do while Governor?
Spend $55,000,000 earmarked to reduce Chicago gang violence, channeled into his re election…. and he still lost.
- Chicago West Side - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 7:32 pm:
Tinsel Town - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 7:27 pm:
What did Pat Quinn do while Governor?
Spend $55,000,000 earmarked to reduce Chicago gang violence, channeled into his re election…. and he still lost.
Chicago West Side
Is Pat Quinn directly responsible for the blood in Chicago’s streets?
- Samuel Gompers - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 7:32 pm:
Timmy the Term Limit Toucan?
- Anonymous - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 8:45 pm:
“What did Pat Quinn do while Governor?”
“Spent $55,000,000 earmarked to reduce Chicago gang violence, channeled into his re election…. and he still lost.”
I thought the allegations were that Quinn defeated Brady by using public funds earmarked for an anti-violence program to target precincts for a Quinn GOTV effort.
- Moist von Lipwig - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 8:49 pm:
http://takechargechicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/tcc_Petition.pdf
I’m not a lawyer, but looking at the preamble, the signatures are still good — all the ones that he collected before and after August 8 are still good through December of next yr.
- The_Equalizer - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 9:12 pm:
As someone else said, good bomb thrower, poor governor. I believe he could still do some good in Illinois, he’s got the smarts and gumption, just not in a high elective office. That ship has sailed (hopefully).
- City Zen - Monday, Aug 8, 16 @ 9:14 pm:
== but would they really want to place limits on one that is effective?==
One effective politician. That sounds about right.
- Gone - Tuesday, Aug 9, 16 @ 8:42 am:
This guy was Governor for 6 years.