Gov. Pat Quinn endorsed Sheila Simon for lieutenant governor Friday, risking a split with black Democratic leaders as he courts votes among women and downstate residents.
Gov. Pat Quinn endorsed Sheila Simon for lieutenant governor Friday, risking a split with black Democratic leaders as he courts votes among women and downstate residents. Despite Quinn’s recommendation, the ultimate decision about who gets the nomination rests with the Democratic State Central Committee. Several committee members and many black legislators say the job should go to Rep. Art Turner, the second-place finisher in the primary election. Turner’s supporters argue rejecting the veteran black lawmaker for someone who didn’t even run in the primary could alienate black voters. Quinn countered that voters of all races know he’s on their side. And he noted that Simon’s father, the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, was a strong civil rights advocate. Quinn said he chose Simon because she would be a strong advocate for working people and because he considers it important for an otherwise all-Chicago Democratic ticket to include someone from downstate. The central committee is scheduled to decide Saturday who will get the lieutenant governor nomination. The original nominee, Scott Lee Cohen, withdrew after revelations he had been accused of holding a knife to his girlfriend’s throat, abusing steroids and failing to pay child support. He has denied the allegations. Turner said he will continue fighting for the job. "The race is not over," Turner said Friday. "I bring the most experience. I’m the best-qualified candidate to bring us through in November. That’s a fact." Turner’s supporters said many Black voters will see Quinn’s choice as an affront and may be less likely to support Quinn in the fall. "I am very disappointed that he is saying, ‘Anybody but Art Turner.’ I’m hoping that he does not anger the African-American community to the extent that they will not be turned on by his candidacy," said Rep. Constance Howard of Chicago, a member of the Democratic State Central Committee. Simon teaches law at Southern Illinois University, served four years on the Carbondale City Council and lost a 2007 race for Carbondale mayor. Simon could help Quinn politically among women and downstate residents, two groups where there are signs he has weak support. As a member of the Illinois Reform Commission and daughter of a politician known for his honesty, she could reinforce Quinn’s image as a reformer. Rep. Karen Yarbrough, a member of the Democratic Central Committee, said she and other Black legislators had not heard from the governor, either to solicit their views or explain his thinking. "He’s entitled to do whatever he wants. He’s the governor. But he doesn’t have a vote. I do," Yarbrough said. "Maybe we’ll get together and maybe we won’t." If the central committee were to reject Quinn’s choice and pick someone else, it could be interpreted as a major failure of leadership by the governor. It might renew questions about whether he has the skills to accomplish his goals in Springfield. Associated Press Writer Christopher Wills contributed to this report from Springfield. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
About Post Author
