Voters can still have say in lt. gov. pick

Many of you have told us you feel disenfranchised by the whole Scott Lee Cohen episode.

Maybe the pawnbroker accused of domestic abuse and steroid use wasn't the best candidate, some have written in letters or told us in phone conversations. But Democratic voters picked him because they liked his message about jobs and being a political outsider. Forcing him out, only to leave the choice for his replacement in the hands of political insiders, has prompted many to question why they even bothered showing up at the polls on Feb. 2.

What many Democratic voters might not realize is that, lower down on the ticket, they also elected a group of key representatives that same day. The Democratic State Central Committee, made up of one man and one woman from each Congressional district, determines the party's overall direction and selects its chairman. This same group will pick the running mate for Gov. Patrick Quinn.

These are elected representatives in party matters. It's their job to listen to you.

Do you want the lieutenant governor to be someone who ran in the primary and secured a respectable number of votes, such as No. 2 finisher state Rep. Art Turner of Chicago?

Are you looking for a candidate who has distinguished himself or herself as a reformer, a political outsider, someone who will make the office an agency for accountability?

Is the role of this office one for an advocate for a key need such as attracting new businesses, improving education, being a watchdog for government waste?

You might have other ideas. Share them.

You can still find the questionnaires from the primary candidates at dailyherald.com. The resumes of dozens who applied are being posted at ildems.com.

The State Central Committee meets March 15 for an organizational meeting. Leaders still have not set a date to pick a candidate. We have no doubt party leadership will urge members of the committee to support a candidate who might be hand-picked by Quinn or Chairman Michael Madigan. But, ultimately, each of these men and women has been elected to represent the Democratic voters from their districts.

The only way they'll know what you want is if you reach out and let them know.

We are sharing their phone numbers or e-mail addresses, or both, today. We urge you to contact members from your district and tell them what you believe is best for the party and, more importantly, what's best for Illinois. Give them a name of the candidate you like. Give them characteristics you'd like to see in the party's candidate. Let them know you're watching. Let them know you expect them to represent the party's loyal voters, even if that means going against the direction delivered by party leaders.

There's still time for you to weigh in.