Quinn promises a new style of leadership
Gov. Pat Quinn took the oath of office in the state House Thursday and quickly declared he would "bring the will of the people to the law of the land."
The one-time gadfly knows he will likely be held to a high standard in delivering that promise.
Yet Quinn, 60, also spent his first hours as governor trying to show he will work with lawmakers as the state faces a massive budget shortfall and a citizenry disgusted by two previous state executives who made similar promises only to go down in corruption scandals.
"This is probably the most trying, difficult time in the history of our state," Quinn said in asking for the prayers of residents during a follow-up news conference.
Quinn met with some of the state's other constitutional officers Thursday, ones he may face in a re-election bid come next year. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan was at the state Capitol and Quinn was scheduled to meet with Senate President John Cullerton.
"We have severe problems and we are going to work together," Cullerton said.
Quinn pledged to meet with the state's other constitutional officers to wade through the fiscal mess on a regular basis.
But details about his plans as governor were sparse as he took over the state Thursday.
He is already moving to push off his budget address a month to March 18, and Quinn said Rod Blagojevich was no help in trying to manage a transition.
It was clear Thursday lawmakers where happy to have been rid of Blagojevich, who during his six years in office often demonized the legislature before TV cameras.
And it seemed they were initially hopeful about Quinn, who has also made a career out of taking shots at politicians.
Lawmakers twice interrupted Quinn with applause during his brief remarks after his swearing-in ceremony, officiated by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke.
In a wide-ranging news conference, Quinn refused to get into details about his plans for office or how he will deal with the state's budget, estimated now to have a shortfall of about $4 billion or more.
Thursday night, while chaotic, seemed to be dedicated by Quinn as a day to take it all in and rhetorically reassure residents that better days are ahead.
Quinn, a Hinsdale native, said he will live in the governor's mansion, a departure from Rod Blagojevich, who lived in Chicago to the chagrin of downstate residents. He also pledged not to put his name on state signs, a common practice by politicians that he considers vain. And Quinn said he was not extending state-funded security to Blagojevich.
Quinn told reporters it was a "surprise" to find himself now running the state. He spent decades pushing constitutional amendments that riled lawmakers under his self-formed group, the Coalition for Political Honesty.
When he entered the state Capitol's news conference room, Quinn even laughed about the packed room and noted it was far different from his sparsely attended events during his previous 30 years in the public eye.
Quickly after Blagojevich's ouster, Quinn's picture had been put in his place at the entrance to the state Capitol and his image appeared on the state's main Web site.
• Daily Herald staff writer Dan Carden contributed to this report.
<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>