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Report: Pat Quinn polling possible mayoral bid

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* Your thoughts?…

Former Gov. Pat Quinn has a poll out asking about term limits and referendums and also includes a question about a Quinn mayoral candidacy. File that under kicking the tires

— Gregory Pratt (@royalpratt) May 23, 2022

And, yes, rumors have been flying for a few days about a possible Quinn run for mayor. Frankly, I was kinda surprised that he didn’t run for secretary of state.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 7:55 am

Comments

I don’t believe the Dems are that desperate.

Comment by Downstate Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 7:57 am
Why am I commenting on this? I suppose it’s the same reason Pat Quinn runs for office - can’t help myself

Comment by Electric Lemonade Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:00 am
An election without Pat Quinn is like a day without sunshine

Comment by DuPage Saint Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:02 am
One of the legislative leaders during his time as Governor has legal problems and the other is a utility contract lobbyist. Guess PQ wasn’t such a bad guy after all

Comment by Y Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:10 am
Nothing says getting modern urban problems solved like bringing in Pat Quinn. For a so-called man of the people he sure has a gigantic ego. Pat - sit this one out. Heck, sit all of them out. No one’s asking for you.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:11 am
With every new candidate announcement Lightfoot looks a little better.

Comment by Uptown Progressive Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:12 am
“An election without Pat Quinn is like a day without sunshine”
An election without Pat Quinn is like a day that doesn’t end in “y”

Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:12 am
Pat, personally you are a great guy. Very approachable and down to earth. I appreciate that but its time to hang it up. Seriously.

Comment by low level Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:13 am
Find you someone who will look at you like Pat Quinn looks at term limits.

Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:18 am
Has there ever been a sell-out worse than Pat Quinn? The man spent his life as a reformist Don Quixote. Then by unbelievable luck, he is elevated to the governor’s chair with anti-corruption sentiment at an all time high. He has the power to really do something so long as he holds firm. He appoints a blue-ribbon committee to come up with a plan. And then…he cuts a deal with Madigan, throws his own commission under the bus in exchange for support for his reelection. NOTHING corrupts like power corrupts.

That said, not surprised he’d kick the tires - he’s got name recognition and lightning has struck for him before, so…

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:21 am
Maybe Grif outta fund a mayor wannabee…for Chicago that is.

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:23 am
I’m OK with it.
Just, please stay away from statewide politics.
Thanks

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:24 am
I will never forgive him for the Cutback Amendment.
But the City Council is way too big. Hmmm.

Nope, a Quinn campaign is still a bad idea. Please go away, Pat.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:28 am
Electing PQ Mayor will make us yearn for the “good old days” of LL.

But he begs a new term limit question, how many times (elections) can a person be allowed to run for office?

Comment by Suburbanon Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:34 am
Maybe it was the city’s pension problems that God put him on Earth to solve?

Comment by Grimlock Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:35 am
[insert gif from Spongebob with the fish saying “how many times do we need to teach you this lesson, old man?!”]

Comment by The Real Downstate Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:35 am
we coulda had Quinn instead of Rauner. think about that. He’s a quirky guy, but one of the most dedicated to public service. Chicago needs something, and I’m hoping it is not Vallas (aka arrogant).

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:42 am
Is he staffed up?

Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:42 am
Squeezy for mayor

Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:50 am
Has he mowed his lawn yet?

Comment by Glengarry Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:51 am
If Pat Q. feels like he can do some good and can raise enough money as well as volunteers to give it a go then - - he should file to run.

Comment by Back to the Future Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:54 am
What year is it

Comment by Nick Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:54 am
Pat Quinn, Steve Kim..and next up Jim Edgar.

Comment by Justintime Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:54 am
Pat Quinn, Steve Kim..and next up Jim Edgar.

Comment by Justintime Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:54 am
What Amalia said.

Comment by Drake Mallard Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:54 am
Quinn’s biggest flaw as governor was that he is just not an administrator. He’s a big-idea guy, but he’s lousy with the details. His administration made dealing with a cable company or health-insurance provider seem like the model of efficiency.

If there’s one political job in Illinois requiring more administrative chops than governor, it’s Chicago mayor. That kind of job is just not in his wheelhouse.

Comment by duck duck goose Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:57 am
A conservative acquaintance of mine once said, “If I had a million dollars in a suitcase and had to leave it with someone overnight, I would trust Pat Quinn.”

But being a decent human being and not personally on the take isn’t enough to be Mayor of Chicago. You need to be charismatic, have an excellent grasp of public policy, and not be afraid to play political hardball. I don’t think that’s Quinn.

Comment by Benjamin Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 8:59 am
Some people just don’t know when to…. By gawd, King; is that Roland Burris’ theme music???

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:01 am
Pro: Quinn is generally a decent guy. A lot of people don’t like him for self interested reasons and because of baggage from the past that they carry around. He is generally decent though, and this is a free country. He can run for whatever office he wants.

Con: Quinn v. anyone in the April runoff would be a messy affair.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:02 am
He won’t run, he just needs some media lovin’. it’s been a while.

Comment by Baloneymous Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:02 am
It is ironic that Quinn thinks we need term limits instead of elections.

Comment by Been There Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:03 am
As Dan Hicks would say “How can I miss you when you won’t go away?”

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:03 am
=we coulda had Quinn instead of Rauner.=

We had Rauner because of Quinn, not instead of.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:04 am
I figured he’d want to run for Comptroller as it is the only statewide office he’s never run for. He needs to accomplish this before he departs the mortal coil.

Comment by SpiDem Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:11 am
Another strike against Pat is the problems of the city at this time require bold, decisive leadership willing to try new ideas. Pat is not exactly bursting with new ideas, except maybe in consumer issues, which are not the priority at this moment. His usual schtick of creating boards and ombuds-people isn’t going to fix issues with crime, youth violence, etc.

He was thrown out of Springfield because let’s face it, he was a meek, milquetoast Governor who didn’t have any ideas and just kept the seat warm. He was replaced by someone who at least claimed to have them. Chicago doesn’t need what Pat Quinn brings right now.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:13 am
Chicago could do worse

and has.

– MrJM

Comment by MisterJayEm Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:15 am
Dems absolutely need to find and entice someone competent to run against LL. But Quinn ain’t it.

Comment by Responsa Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:16 am
==We had Rauner because of Quinn, not instead of. ==

Was just gonna say this. Quinn was an entirely better governor than Rauner, but he was still pretty bad, and that lead people to take a chance on someone who proved to be even worse.

Comment by Arsenal Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:17 am
Pat Quinn….what else can he run for? If there is a ballot with a chance of getting on a public payroll, Pat Quinn wants on it. Pat, it’s time to stay home and hang it up..

Comment by So of I-64 Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:26 am
Great, I hadn’t heard the phrase “make the will of the people the law of the land” for a while.

Comment by Stu Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:30 am
Sigh…

What Pundent said.

Comment by McGuppin Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:32 am
We got Rauner instead of Quinn because PQ put Paul Vallas on the ticket as Lt Gov. A horrible decision that did not add a single vote, and in fact lost votes from women and the minority communities. A truly uninspired decision that cost him the election.

Comment by Lincoln Lad Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:41 am
Pat Quinn always reminds me of Authur “Big Guy” Carlsen from WKRP.

“With God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS6xD-zRuiE

Comment by Dave Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:43 am
Term limits on Pat Quinn.. enjoy retirement, my friend. (No staff, no funds, no chance).

Respectfully speaking.

Comment by Pizza Man Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:44 am
“He was thrown out of Springfield … .”

by the National GOP 2014 trend. Generally that is seen as a 5% edge, yet Quinn only loss by 3.9%. Point to ponder.

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:54 am
===National GOP 2014 trend===

Ignoring Quinn’s relationship with Labor and Labor turning on themselves with Rauner were real things.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:56 am
-Generally that is seen as a 5% edge, yet Quinn only loss by 3.9%. Point to ponder.-

Incumbency and name recognition is also usually an edge.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 9:59 am
=“make the will of the people the law of the land”=

Always easier said than done otherwise there would be law prohibiting Pat Quinn from ever running again.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 10:04 am
But just think of the CapFax caption contest possibilities.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 10:22 am
Lightfoot’s problem is her reactivity and inability to be a good administrator. Quinn is not reactive but has demonstrated no administrative abilities.

Comment by Banish Misfortune Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 10:34 am
= Frankly, I was kinda surprised that he didn’t run for secretary of state. =

Given the ethics issues facing the top 2 Democratic candidates for that office, Quinn might have been a better choice.

Comment by cover Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 10:39 am
Quinn also loaned his old campaign committee $6,000 last week

Comment by Four Eyes Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 10:43 am
Can’t wait to see who else jumps in. You know after this upcoming election there will be a few losers (and maybe a winner or two) throwing their name in for mayor. Has Fioretti announced yet?

Comment by BigLou Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 10:47 am
Even Forrest Gump stopped running at some point.

Comment by Galway Bay Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 10:52 am
Mayor Lightfoot might be a “neoliberal” but never cut pensions two or more times, like Quinn did. Dude was on a mission from God, but the ILSC was the higher power for the illegal Tier I cut.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:00 am
I say go for it. After decades of disaster mayors he could not possibly do worse. Personally I’d get the satisfaction of watching the Democratic “insider” club whine about him running.

Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:03 am
If Raymond (Spanky the Clown) Wardingley isn’t running, that may open a lane for Quinn.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:14 am
Anyone’s better than Lori……
except Squeezy the Pension Python.

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:17 am
Pat Quinn brought about Tier2. Now Illinois has a pension system will pay future retirees less than what they paid in. Tier2 contributes to shortages of teachers, police, and other public employees.
Lightfoot vs Quinn = 2 bad choices.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:20 am
Yikes. Someone that makes Lightfoot look tolerable.

Comment by DougChicago Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:20 am
Please God, no. No. No. No. No. Pretty please. No.

Comment by New Day Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:22 am
NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Comment by Rahm's Parking Meter Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:29 am
=After decades of disaster mayors he could not possibly do worse.=

I have found that when it comes to Pat Quinn, the answer is always, yes he can.

Comment by Pundent Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:35 am
- when it comes to Pat Quinn, the answer is always, yes he can. -

Another in crowd hater heard from.

Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:39 am
== I don’t believe the Dems are that desperate. ==

We aren’t. He is.

Comment by Northsider Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 11:45 am
Uptown Progressive at 8:12 is spot on.

Comment by Original Rambler Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 12:21 pm
-Another in crowd hater heard from.-

Being a self-proclaimed outsider is one thing. Lacking ideas that matter and the ability to implement anything are others. He could just be an outsider because he’s ineffective and annoying, you know. Being annoying isn’t necessarily a virtue.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 12:30 pm
Agree Quinn is an honest, likeable human being.
But also agree he was not a very effective Gov.
Chicago needs a leader, not a mere administrator.
I do not believe Quinn can lead the City.

Comment by thisjustinagain Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 12:34 pm
That egghead runs for everything. I’m not surprised.

Comment by JR Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 12:47 pm
My take on Quinn is, he was accidentally seated in the big chair due to Blago’s fall, and didn’t have a mandate to do anything but be the janitor to clean up the mess. Had he decided not to run, and to just make the hard but needed choices to put Illinois on a good course, then stepping away, we’d be naming schools after him… But he started believing his own publicity and thinking he’d earned a mandate. Plus, he inherited a bunch of terrible Blago people that weren’t purged. Made it hard to get stuff done. Add the hostility to labor, and you get the fizzled term he had.

Comment by Give Us Barabbas Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 1:05 pm
- he was accidentally seated in the big chair due to Blago’s fall -

He won in 2010.

- Lacking ideas that matter and the ability to implement anything -

Oh please, Quinn accomplished several big ticket items in his tenure. I’m sure you’re part of the same crowd that worshipped Madigan and Rahm at the time. How’d those two work out?

Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 1:11 pm
Spring comes and Pat Quinn’s yard grows all by itself.

Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 1:31 pm
-I’m sure you’re part of the same crowd that worshipped Madigan and Rahm at the time. How’d those two work out?-

Anyone who actually knows me would find that statement laughable.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 1:37 pm
Looks like Rich will have to cover Sunday press conferences again

Comment by NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 2:30 pm
I checked an it turns out that Lar “America First” Daly is unavailable at this time…

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 2:42 pm
I’d vote for PQ way the race is set out now. Lori is incompetent, Buckner thinking he knows how to run a city after being a state rep. Pure ambition.

Comment by Almost the Weekend Tuesday, May 24, 22 @ 7:38 pm
Frankly I don’t know why anyone would want that job.

Comment by Da big bad wolf Wednesday, May 25, 22 @ 10:03 am

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