Mayors pin hopes on Quinn: Restore pride, govern openly

Hoffman Estates Mayor William McLeod has long been a fan of Patrick Quinn's. They became acquainted over the Citizens Utility Board, and McLeod later enlisted his help on a more private matter - asking Quinn, an attorney, to review his election filing papers to ensure he wouldn't be kicked off the ballot.

"And he didn't charge, what a guy," McLeod said.

As power solemnly changed hands in Springfield Thursday afternoon, suburban municipal leaders were imbuing Quinn with their hopes: Hope that he can restore pride and credibility in Illinois government, that he will govern openly and honestly - and attack the state's financial crisis as soon as possible.

"Pat Quinn is the right guy at the right time, in the sense that he is a man of the people and a principled guy," Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner said. Weisner likes that Quinn is active with environmental groups and river cleanups, things that have brought him to Aurora on occasion. "He's a pleasure to deal with."

McLeod lauded Quinn's integrity and commitment to transparent government. He hopes Quinn can quickly assemble his staff and attack the financial crisis, including developing a capital plan, something the state hasn't had in a decade.

"I've known and admired him for a long time and I know he'll make the state of Illinois proud," McLeod said.

South Elgin Village Administrator Larry Jones said the former lieutenant governor got involved several years ago when ComEd was planning to run power lines down Randall Road from South Elgin through St. Charles.

"I found him to be a very approachable, common-sensical man," Jones said. "He seemed to care a great deal about the way the project would affect the citizens ... I think he (will) approach governing the same way."

Many leaders said Quinn can't help but have better relations with municipalities than former Gov. Rod Blagojevich had.

Wauconda Mayor Salvatore J. Saccomanno said when Wauconda tried to build a water reclamation facility about three years ago, Blagojevich's office was not easy to work with.

"The money was appropriated in Springfield but we never saw a penny of it and from what I understand, the governor's office was hard to deal with," he said.

Mundelein Mayor Kenneth Kessler said it was an "uphill battle" for local governments to get business done on a consistent basis.

"Blagojevich has not been a friend to McHenry County or to any of the collar counties," added John Schmitt, Algonquin village president. "He stripped funding from the Illinois First program, from our highway projects, to fund Chicago projects. That hurt us quite a bit."

Carpentersville Village President Bill Sarto said he ran for state comptroller in 1990, the same year Quinn ran for state treasurer.

"He always tried to help us get funding but there were never any programs that fit our needs," Sarto recalled. "His Main Street program was for older communities that had established downtowns, which Carpentersville doesn't have, so that didn't fit us well."

As lieutenant governor, Quinn administered the Illinois Main Street program, one of the state's highest profile public-private partnerships for economic development and community renewal.

Carol Stream Village President Frank Saverino said Illinois urgently needs to get money from Washington into the hands of villages and towns.

"What I like about Pat Quinn ... is that he has no baggage," Saverino said. "I think he'll be more nonpartisan. (With) Blagojevich being in Chicago and a Democrat and us being in DuPage County and the big block of Republicans being in DuPage County, it's very rare for us to get what we want. We need to learn how to cross party lines."

"There is not a mayor in Illinois who is not hoping and praying that today's actions break that gridlock," added Weisner, of Aurora. "But relationships in Springfield get so complicated, I'd hate to predict how it will all shake out. Hopefully we get some cooperation and get a capital bill passed soon."

Schaumburg Mayor Al Larson summed up his expectations for now Gov. Quinn: "An honest man whose word means something, who'll do what he says he'll do. He's a true reformer and an environmentalist. I think the important thing is he gets along with people."

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=268164">Mayors pin hopes on Quinn: Restore pride, govern openly</a></li> <li><a href="/?id=268194">Quinn promises a new style of leadership </a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=268286">Blagojevich ouster ends low profile of no. 2 Quinn</a></li> <li><a href="/story/?id=268191"><B>Editorial:</B> Gov. Quinn's chance to make a mark</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>