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* The governor just announced his choice of Sheila Simon for lt. governor…
“This is a very important day,” Quinn said speaking at the Allegro Hotel in downtown Chicago. “I do want to commend the party for the open process. Having been Lieutenant Governor, I know it’s an important position…My choice is Sheila Simon.” […]
“I think its important to have downstate balance,” Quinn said today. “It’s important to have a downstater.”
More…
Quinn said Friday that Sheila Simon has an exemplary record of public service and her family’s name is synonymous with public service.
We’ll have video of Rep. Turner’s reaction posted soon.
…Adding… Here’s the vid…
*** UPDATE 1 *** This is a paraphrase, but hopefully we can find the actual quote…
Quinn responded to black criticism over his pick by saying voters know he’s on their side and that Simon’s family fought for civil rights.
*** UPDATE 2 *** An interesting question, from the Daily Herald Twitter page…
Quinn picks Simon, won’t say who he voted for in Feb for lt gov “I believe in the right of privacy.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** Uh-oh…
67th District Representative Chuck Jefferson is angry that Quinn didn’t select Turner. As a result, the Rockford democrat says he’s pulling all his support of Quinn and urging other black lawmakers to do the same.
Just about everybody else in the Black Caucus has said that they’ll support the ticket, but tensions are apparently starting to bubble up.
…Adding… The esteemed Charlie Wheeler posted these numbers in comments and they’re well worth a front page reference…
General Election, November 4, 2008
Total Ballots Cast
5,577,509Cook County
2,933,502 52.6 percent
Collar Counties
1,345,166 24.1 percent
96 other counties
1,298,841 23.3 percentSource: Illinois State Board of Elections.
“Official Vote–General Election–November 4, 2008.”
…Adding More… Louis Howe gives us the more pertinent 2006 numbers…
Ballots Cast 2006
Cook County 1,350,915 38%
Collar Five 764,409 21%
Downstate 1,472,352 41%
Total 3,587,676 100%
*** UPDATE 4 *** From Rep. Turner’s 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
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:02 pm
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What are the chances that Madigan would publicly rebuke Quinn by having the State Central Committee put Turner or some other non-Simon candidate in the slot anyway?
Comment by ABCBoy Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:05 pm
OK - now pass the bill eliminating this stupid public office.
Once again we seem to want it both ways, fill the office with someone with a famous last name for political advantage, and exterminate the office when we end up with a clown nominee, you know, for political advantage.
Watch our Governor By Default flip, then flop.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:08 pm
this isn’t going to be a win-win tomorrow for the dems.
Comment by OneMan Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:10 pm
== “I think its important to have downstate balance,” Quinn said today. “It’s important to have a downstater.” ==
So supporting your tax increase has nothing to do with it
Comment by OneMan Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:11 pm
Is PQ daring MJM to put someone else in the slot now that he has made his choice(sss)?
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:13 pm
the democratic state central committee has a problem on its hands, thats for sure. quinn wants simon, but he doesn’t have the votes; understandably so, as she’s a poor campaigner and is less qualified statewide than either turner or raja.
Comment by Robert Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:16 pm
What a shame. What a shame. What Quinn doesn’t realize is that Turner will help him with his vision MUCH MUCH more than Simon.
Quinn obviously needs help from someone experienced in the legislature. And besides that, Turner is revered on both sides of the aisle. I hope the Central Committee votes for Turner. At this point, they must help Quinn help himself.
Comment by Lo J. Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:16 pm
OneMan, did he really say that? lol his first two choices weren’t from downstate.
also are we sure he didn’t qualify his choice with something like “today my choice is; tomorrow my choice might be somebody else”
Comment by Robert Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:17 pm
I don’t see any way that Sheila Simon helps the guy win votes. As far as electoral politics goes, she has shown zero ability to win votes, raise money, etc.
The Democratic State Central Committee should be focused on helping the Democratic candidates for office. No way Sheila Simon brings any votes to any Democratic campaign, even her own.
He’s made a heap of trouble for himself among the Democratic party leaders now. He may have been better off leaving the spot empty.
Comment by siriusly Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:20 pm
What does PQ do if the DSCC(MJM) decides on someone else after he publicly declares his one true lite gov? I wonder what a PQ tantrum would look like?
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:20 pm
Boy…
I really like Sheila, and I loved her father. But, shouldn’t she have run for Lt. Gov. if she wanted the job?
Comment by Bardo2 Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:20 pm
Funny Quinn didnt think it was important to have a downstater when he was courting Duckworth for the job
Comment by fed up Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:21 pm
What a goof. It is one thing to let MJM and Co know his choice, but to announce it. Is he daring them to do what he wants? Has that worked for him in the past? Why can’t he learn that he is not doing this all by himself?
Comment by Just the Basics Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:27 pm
@dupage dan: I think the only thing he could do is to smile politely and say it was their choice, and he thinks the world of , reminds everyone the democratic party has a lot of leaders, and that he is looking forward to winning in November.
Comment by Robert Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:27 pm
Pols usually get their way on votes like this by buying out the opposition. Ya know, with jobs. Quinn isn’t like that which means they could buck him.
Comment by Phineas J. Whoopee Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:28 pm
Quinn sure says important a lot.
Comment by Mr. Ethics Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:28 pm
Fed up, agreed, Funny Quinn didnt think it was important to have a downstater when he was courting SUSAN GARRETT for the job. Oops.
Comment by Jeff Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:29 pm
Yes it appears he really said that about downstate… He is gonna have to explain that one.
Comment by OneMan Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:31 pm
Is Quinn trying to lose?
Seriously.
Right now, the ONLY reason I will vote for him is “Because his name is not Brady.”
Simon could not win a local race, much less be of help statewide. If he was intent on choosing a woman, there are 50 he could have chosen that would have been qualified and also could help deliver votes. Instead, he chose somebocdy based on the qualification of “Has a nice name.”
Comment by OdysseusVL Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:31 pm
this cohen, dscc picking the nomination, eliminating the office, is setting a scary stage for some bad mojo to befall the next gov. dem or repub..
Comment by scary Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:37 pm
um, Art, you got votes all over the state? yeah, AND YOU LOST.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:38 pm
Rule #1 for a lt. gov. candidate - do no harm. Unless there are skeletons in her closet, Shelia passes rule #1.
Neither we nor regular voters who don’t wait around on Friday afternoon to see who the governor wants to be his running mate will be talking about this a month from now.
Comment by Montrose Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:43 pm
the ONLY reason I will vote for him is “Because his name is not Brady.”
———————
In most voters minds, that will be enough.
Comment by Niles Township Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:49 pm
For the love of all that is good, PLEASE someone explain to Quinn that he may be a nice guy but he is a horrible politician. I will vote for you because you’re better than the other guy, but only if you get your act together by hiring a campaign manager and stop talking.
Comment by HELP US!! Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:50 pm
@Niles Township,
Most voters? Most voters want 4 more years of this stuff? Sheesh.
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:52 pm
Quinn does not deserve Art Turner. A class guy who has been treated poorly by a no class Governor.
Comment by Obamas' Puppy Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:52 pm
I think Turner would have been a great canidate. But lets not forget about the organized hendon faction whose support couldhave been lost with a turner pick, and the problems created with turner.
Turner lost the election because Hendon organized against him, so picking turner would be a little nose thumbing internally that whoudl not have heped quinn prevail either. Simon to me is not as strong as turner, but in theeory she is more of aneutral pick then turner would have been.
Comment by Ghost Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:53 pm
HELP US!!
Hiring a campagin manager means PQ has to listen to someone else and, possibly, take their advice. Have we seen anything remotely like that from PQ’s camp? NO. Do not wait for this man to listen to anyone else. He hasn’t done it in his entire political career - what makes you think he will do it now, or, heaven forbid, after he wins. This man is deaf to reason and logic.
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:55 pm
Turner wins either way. He’ll ever get the nod tomorrow or, if he wants, a good job in the administration now and maybe a better won if Quinn wins.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 3:58 pm
Most voters? Most voters want 4 more years of this stuff? Sheesh.
—————
No they don’t want this stuff, but they will want Brady’s “stuff” even less.
Comment by Niles Township Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:00 pm
Dillard would have won in landslide, btu Brady will lose this one easily to Quinn. I know what the polls say, but we are not in November yet.
Comment by Niles Township Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:01 pm
NT,
November can’t some soon enough. I supported Dillard. As things heat up this summer it will be interesting to see. Too many variables in these tumultuous times. Be careful what you pray for, my mother always said, you just might get it.
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:12 pm
I’m confused: should Simon NOT be the pick because she lost a race, or should Turner BE the pick because he lost a race?
Comment by Way South of the Border Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:15 pm
There are many ways in which Sheila Simon would be a good pick, but if the governor just sprung this in public on the State Central Committee, then that is very strange. I can’t quite figure out whether Quinn is a genius or an idiot. He does things in a manner that seem calculated to make everything collapse in chaos, but he keeps winning elections (for example, the last primary) that he should lose, given the caliber of the opposing candidate and the degree to which he makes so many people mad at him.
Comment by jake Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:16 pm
twenty bucks says he voted for cohen
Comment by bob Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:21 pm
Art Turner sounds impressive. The more I hear him the more I like him.
I think he would be the better candidate, and if necessary, would look good in a bow tie.
Don’t let up Art, don’t let up!
Comment by Justice Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:25 pm
Well, I hope the State Central Committeemen hear all finalists remaining remarks and think long and hard who the best *qualified* candidate for Lt. Governor would be. Raja K. is qualified, he is hard-working, can raise good money, and is motivated to actually bring the change we need to this State. Just something to consider, come tomorrow…
Comment by Raja Aficianado Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:26 pm
I’d feel much better about Illinois if our fall choices were Hynes and Dillard.
Comment by Independent Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:27 pm
She couldn’t get elected Mayor of Carbondale…..duh. People down here don’t want her either. Just when I think Quinn can’t get any weirder, he surprises me. What a shame. There has to be a more qualified candadate then this?
Comment by Daxx Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:27 pm
Agree with Raja Aficiando
Comment by Suburban voter Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:30 pm
Downstate will cast more general election votes than Chicago and subCook combined and nearly twice the votes cast by the 5 collar counties. Now why wouldn’t the democrats want 1 of the 6 statewide candidates from downstate? Quinn gets a two-fer with Simon, a progressive woman and a downstater. It silences Brady’s anti-Chicago rant appeal and will help motivate discouraged downstate democrat base voters.
Comment by Louis Howe Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:34 pm
Independent - I’m with you on that one. More choice, less circus.
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:36 pm
LH,
Keep hope alive! Just cause you’re from downstate doesn’t mean people are gonna vote for you. Like it or not - people didn’t vote for Simon in a simple mayoral election. How does that prop up hapless PQ?
Comment by dupage dan Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:38 pm
Any decision this far from the election is a gamble, but if the Central Committee goes ahead and selects two left-leaning Democratic liberals, it seems like they are picking for 2008 not 2010. Like generals fighting the last war and all that.
On the other hand, it will be a clear choice for the voters. Nothing conservative about our Pat or about Sheila–nothing liberal about Brady/Plummer.
Comment by cassandra Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:43 pm
How did we as Democrats end up with this guy leading our ticket? I’m ashamed…
Comment by Anon Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:49 pm
With Sheila Simon by his side and Alexi Giannoulias on the top of the ticket, this Democratic ticket is really starting to remind me of 1994’s (Lisa Madigan excepted of course).
Comment by siriusly Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:50 pm
Let’s not forget that it was downstate that brought us Rod over Vallis.
Comment by Ashamed to be from Illinois Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:55 pm
does anyone know where there is a list of who has what weighted vote on the central committee? I am too lazy to figure it out myself today.
Comment by Been There Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 4:59 pm
Dupage Dan…I wouldn’t read too much into a local race for Mayor. As I am sure you know, local races are generally determined by local issues. I met Shelia a couple times, she seems personable and if Quinn’s smart he’ll use her mostly downstate and with women groups. I really don’t believe the Brady campaign will engage Quinn on their Lt. Gov choices. I expect that Shelia will play a low key role in any fall campaign exchanges.
Comment by Louis Howe Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 5:05 pm
Point of Reference:
General Election, November 4, 2008
Total Ballots Cast
5,577,509
Cook County
2,933,502 52.6 percent
Collar Counties
1,345,166 24.1 percent
96 other counties
1,298, 841 23.3 percent
Source: Illinois State Board of Elections.
“Official Vote–General Election–November 4, 2008.”
Comment by Charlie Wheeler Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 5:08 pm
Can Quinn be that dense that he does not understand that people are fed up with legacies getting key jobs because of who their fathers are? With all the slamming they have done on Plummer, will anyone conclude that Quinn surveyed the entire landscape and chose Sheila Simon because she is the most qualified? Seriously as a Republican, I cant believe he is handing us this script. I’m not sure she can even deliver usually DEM Jackson County for this ticket. Brady/Plummer by 5 –maybe more.
Comment by Cousin Ralph Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 5:10 pm
For the love of God, let the Democratic Nominee for Governor select his runnung mate.
Comment by Roz Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 5:16 pm
@cousinralph: quinn - maybe. the central committe, i hope not. hope they are bright enough to pick the best choice to woo independent voters in november - raja, who is quite popular in the suburbs.
Comment by that dense? Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 5:18 pm
I am doing this without actually knowing the weighted vote (because I am too lazy to go figure it out). But from looking at the list of members and guessing who they would vote for and guessing their weight, I think Art might still pull this one off. If Art can get a few of the upstate white women on the committee to go with him and Madigan goes along he can still grab this thing.
Comment by Been There Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 5:24 pm
===and Madigan goes along===
I seriously doubt that will happen. The only way it would happen is if Turner already had a majority. Black committeepersons have about a quarter of the weighted vote. They don’t have enough to stop this.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 5:27 pm
Charlie…Use 2006
Ballots Cast 2006
Cook County 1,350,915 38%
Collar Five 764,409 21%
Downstate 1,472,352 41%
Total 3,587,676 100%
Comment by Louis Howe Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 5:30 pm
===Black committeepersons have about a quarter of the weighted vote===
Thought they had more, but as I said, I was too lazy to check.
Art was telling me all those who committed to him about a week ago and it included more than blacks. Enough to win. But, as we all know, getting a phone call from the gov (or Madigan) has a way of changing those commitments.
Comment by Been There Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 5:39 pm
Hey
what people are you for??? You have not met with African American leadership since you became governor, so you will not get Sheila Simon tomorrow and African Americans aren’t with you!!!!!
Comment by Huh? Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 6:54 pm
Why does everyone keep saying Pat Quinn should be able to choose his running mate? Did Bill Brady get to choose his?
Comment by Its Just Me Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 7:05 pm
Possibilities scenarios re Quinn and Simon
Quinn picked her after determining she was who the Central Committee was most likely to pick. He’s totally passive, but looks to be the leader.
Quinn picked Simon after finding out the Central Committee was split. Looking at the split, he hoped to tip a few votes her way.
Quinn finds out the Central Committee will pick Turner and announces his pick is Simon. 1) Quinn looks independent. 2) The Central Committee looks independent. 3) There is a nod to downstate without having to burden the ticket with a downstater. 4) Quinn can make peace with Hendon and his folks, while the Turner block is also appeased.
Quinn is just being Quinn and went with Simon without checking with anyone else (or caring what anyone thought).
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:28 pm
Go with Turner - Just Go With Turner.
Comment by Out There Friday, Mar 26, 10 @ 10:47 pm
Niles Township,,,,
I can say, as a state worker the Quinn and blago team has given us the worse management in the 20 plus years of service. Quinn has displayed poor management skills and has not made any improvements. I can say that Brady and plummer both have more management skills, than Quinn, Blago, and Simon put together. People are tired and upset how the democrats are running the state. We will see a change of the guards this fall.
Comment by ironman Saturday, Mar 27, 10 @ 12:42 am
Downstate 1,415,336 39.4%
Suburban 821,425 22.9%
Cook 1,350,915 37.7%
3,587,676
Comment by Mark Shelden Saturday, Mar 27, 10 @ 9:19 am
Operation Crooked Code Update: Petru Cladovan
The feds, prosecutors, and judge finally admit and conclude amid all set forth charges that Petru Cladovan is and was innocent AND ALL CHARGES WERE DROPPED today 3/30/2010. Petru Cladovan was found that he never had intent and/or knowledge of any bribes and all accusation were misinterpretation of twisted perfected lies by so called “expeditor”, who was forced to start operating, as a mole with the feds, and with whom orchestrated this entrapment only to reduce her possible charges sentence of 130yrs if convicted. This same “expeditor” ironically under oath admitted and testified that Petru Cladovan had no implication nor knowledge of her illegal business transactions and that all business between her and Petru Cladovan were 100% LEGAL and legit!!! It is only fair to say that after two long years of false accusations, wrongfully indicted, and defamation not limited to by the government and by media to Petru Cladovan and his family, the truth and innocent prevails.
Comment by the truth Wednesday, Mar 31, 10 @ 12:17 pm