* Does Pat Quinn want Tammy Duckworth as his running mate? Sneed says so…
Sneed hears former Illinois state veterans chief Tammy Duckworth is Gov. Quinn’s personal pick as lieutenant governor nominee — replacing the scandal-ridden Scott Lee Cohen.
• The upshot: Although Duckworth is at the top of Quinn’s original wish list, he will defer to the choice of the Dem State Central Committee led by state party chief Mike Madigan.
• The backshot: Duckworth, who is now assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, was at the top of Quinn’s list during the infancy of his election campaign, said a top Quinn source. “Veterans groups are already petitioning Gov. Quinn for her to fill the role,” the source added. […]
• The militaryshot: “The governor has an incredibly high regard for Duckworth, a bona fide war hero,” the source said. “Gov. Quinn is dedicated to the American soldier — and the office of lieutenant governor is transformable into taking on that task during this time of war.”
From the Tribune…
But sources said Quinn has discussed with top Democrats the possibility of selecting Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran who lost a 2006 run for Congress in the western suburbs before becoming an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Duckworth could not be reached for comment.
* As long as the governor stays mum, it’s pretty much a free-for-all out there…
Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, noted prior to a Monday meeting of Senate Democrats in Springfield that “half the people here want to be lieutenant governor.”
Some of the also-rans are lobbying hard. Rep. Art Turner, who finished second, worked reporters yesterday…
“Who better than a guy, me, who has worked with all the current leaders?” said Turner, a legislator for nearly 30 years.
Others are thinking a Downstater might be best…
Some suburban committeemen contacted Monday said they would consider appointing a downstate candidate to run with Quinn. Every candidate at the top of the Democratic ticket is from Chicago and Quinn didn’t do well downstate in his close primary against Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes.
“We have a ticket packed with Chicago people,” noted Dan Pierce, a former Highland Park mayor and 10th District committeeman.
And…
U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello of Belleville, a member of the committee that will pick Cohen’s replacement, said through his spokesman that the candidate should come from outside the Chicago area.
And Rep. Mike Boland is hoping to seize on that geography issue…
State Rep. Mike Boland, D-East Moline, also wants consideration, saying he won more downstate counties last week than everyone but Cohen.
He notes that with state Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington and businessman Jason Plummer of Edwardsville, the potential GOP ticket has two downstate candidates.
“We’re loaded up with Chicago people,” Boland said of Democrats’ statewide nominees. “We need a little balance there.”
I believe that there’s almost no chance Boland will ever get the nod. Besides the fact that he finished fourth in the LG race, the issue of him giving a legislative scholarship to the daughter of his largest campaign contributor will dog him to death.
More Downstate…
State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, said he heard that his name has come up as a potential contender. He said he’s not necessarily pursuing the spot, but that he’d seriously consider it if Quinn and party leaders asked him.
Raja Krishnamoorthi was busily floating his name yesterday…
Former Peorian and comptroller candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi wants to be considered for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor and says he can bring the votes to help clinch victory. […]
Krishnamoorthi said the pairing with Democratic gubernatorial nominee Pat Quinn would make sense because he could help Quinn grab more votes, a key concern for Democrats who don’t want to lose the state’s top elected post to a Republican in November.
* Quinn’s personal choice, if he announces it, will probably weigh the most, however…
“Pat Quinn has to feel comfortable with whoever the state central committee picks,” said Steve Powell, an 8th District committeeman and UFCW union leader. “This is a process that will unfold in a public way, and I think there are a lot of potential candidates out there.”
And…
“The person who first and foremost should have input is the governor himself,” Hoffman said. “The governor should be comfortable with the choice. The final decision should be the competency of the person to hold the office.”
* Sen. Rickey Hendon gets the final word…
“The party does not have to choose one of the five of us who ran,” Hendon says. “They could pick someone outside of the five of us left standing. And I just caution the party to take their time and get it right. We get this one wrong, and we’re done.”
* Related…
* Sullivan, Koehler say no contact about lieutenant governor nomination
* Who Will Replace Scott Lee Cohen?: Gov. Pat Quinn, though, was deeply touched, as so many were, by the obvious pain of 11-year old Jacob Cohen, who sobbed as his father announced he would quit. “I don’t think there’s any more poignant moment, when a young boy is next to his dad who’s making a very hard decision,” Quinn said. “I was certainly touched by that. I think everybody in Illinois knows that was a heartfelt decision by Scott Lee Cohen.”
* Illinois Democrats Look to Fill Sudden Ticket Gap
* Picking Cohen’s replacement: Turner, after all, got only 22 percent of the vote. Had Cohen fallen ill and had to withdraw next September, no one would think Turner would have any automatic claim on the spot. The party would merely choose whomever it deemed suitable, and that’s what it should do now.
* Boland says he should fill Cohen’s ballot slot for Democrats
* Dropping out was the right move for Cohen
* Who Does Quinn Want as His Running Mate?
* Cohen election exposes total system failure
* Cohen controversy renews debate over value of the job
* Cohen fiasco highlights issues with office
* Our Opinion: Have open process to fill out Dem ballot
* Cohen denies deal was made for resignation
* Quinn says no payback for pawnbroker out $2 million for lieutenant governor
* Police called to Cohen party: When Cohen aides “saw I was calling police, they asked me, ‘Please don’t do that. It’s going to cause negative press,’” said Cecili Tomlin, a Cook County medical examiner’s autopsy technician who was at the party with a friend… Tomlin said Monday she’s aggravated not only because the coat remains missing but because she felt hotel staff and Cohen workers weren’t taking her seriously. She also was perturbed by an offer from Cohen’s brother, Randy, to sell her a mink coat from a Cohen-owned pawn shop.