Quinn says he's prepared for top post, if necessary
A lot of people became a lot more interested in Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn Tuesday.
The self-styled reformer and advocate for the common man would become the acting governor should Gov. Rod Blagojevich step down or be removed from office. Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on federal corruption and conspiracy charges.
Quinn called for the governor to "step aside" - at least temporarily - and said if the job came his way, he would be ready.
"Any time you run for lieutenant governor in any state, you have to prepare for that," he said during a news conference downtown. "I think I'm well prepared."
Quinn, 59, has served as lieutenant governor since 2002, when he was elected as part of a ticket with Blagojevich. He was state treasurer from 1991 to 1995, and he ran unsuccessfully for Illinois secretary of state and the U.S. Senate before winning the lieutenant governor's post. Quinn, an attorney, lives in Chicago.
The lieutenant governor is perhaps best known for his populist causes. In the 1980s, he led efforts to reduce the size of the General Assembly and create the Citizens Utility Board. More recently, he led the movement to create the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, which offers assistance to the families of soldiers called to active duty.
Though Quinn's political fortunes have been tied to Blagojevich, the two men are not close. Quinn said that he last spoke to the governor in the summer of 2007. After being re-elected lieutenant governor in 2006, Quinn steadfastly defended Blagojevich, even though a federal corruption investigation was under way.
On Tuesday, Quinn was one of the people calling for Blagojevich to resign, or at least to temporarily step aside.
"The governor knows what he needs to do," he said.
Quinn added that Blagojevich should not be allowed to appoint President-elect Barack Obama's replacement in the U.S. Senate. If Blagojevich doesn't step down, the General Assembly should pass a law that suspends the governor's power to make that appointment, Quinn said.
Quinn said he would accept responsibility for making that appointment, if necessary. State lawmakers, however, indicated on Tuesday that they'd call for a special legislative session to create a special election for the seat.
The vacant senate seat lies at the center of one of the allegations against Blagojevich. Authorities say the governor essentially tried to auction the seat off for a federal appointment, cash or a lucrative job for him or his wife. Authorities also charge Blagojevich with strong-arming contractors and pressuring the Chicago Tribune to fire the writers of editorials critical of him.
Blagojevich didn't specifically comment on the charges Tuesday, but he has denied wrongdoing in the past.
Quinn, while stressing that people are innocent until proven guilty, called the charges "embarrassing and shameful."
"The people of Illinois deserve better," he said.
•Staff writer Robert McCoppin contributed to this report.