Oak Park attorney joins Democrat race for governor

An Oak Park trial lawyer says he will take on Gov. Pat Quinn and Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes in the Democratic primary for the state's top post.

Ed Scanlan, 59, announced his campaign for governor Thursday in Chicago, his first foray into politics.

Scanlan criticized his opponents' positions on taxes while saying he would eliminate all public employee pensions for new hires, replacing the retirement system with 401k plans.

"We are in a very, very grave financial crisis," Scanlan said. "I would only hope that the Democrats were a bit more proactive."

Scanlan said he doesn't plan to finance the race with his own money and is hoping to draw donors and wide support in the march to the February primary. Petitions to get on that ballot are due in Nov. 2.

Scanlan enters a race so far dominated by two longtime politicians.

Quinn, as a two-term lieutenant governor, took over as governor after Rod Blagojevich was impeached following his arrest on corruption charges. Hynes has served three terms as Illinois comptroller, in charge of writing checks for the state.

"I don't have an enormous war chest. I don't have a big organization," Scanlan said of his bid Thursday. "But I have been talking to a lot of people about the issues of the day. Everybody is sickened."