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Covering Chicago's nine political influencers
Welcome to Pat Quinn's Unemployment Service
Alexi Giannoulias is Gov. Pat Quinn's choice for Illinois Community College Board chairman.
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All across Illinois this morning, defeated Democratic congressmen are phoning the governor’s office in Springfield, demanding “Where’s my job?”
That’s their reaction to the news that Gov. Pat Quinn appointed failed U.S. Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias as chairman of the Illinois Community College Board. The chairmanship doesn’t pay anything, but it will allow the 35-year-old Giannoulias to keep himself in the public eye until he decides to run for another office.
When you’re a Democratic politician in Illinois, it’s hard to fail, because Quinn is right there to catch you. Here are some other electoral retreads who’ve been rescued by the governor:
- Dan Seals, who lost three straight congressional elections in the 10th District, was hired as assistant director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, at a salary of $121,029.
- Former state Rep. Julie Hamos, who lost last year’s 10th District Democratic primary to Seals, is director of the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, earning $142,000 a year.
- Losing mayoral candidate Gery Chico was named chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education, an unpaid but high-profile position.
Governor, Phil Hare, Debbie Halvorson and David Miller are all holding for you.
