Before taking Rod Blagojevich’s place as governor in January, 2009, Pat Quinn had been Lieutenant Governor of Illinois since 2002.
A Georgetown alum and Northwestern University School of Law graduate, the 60-year-old Quinn started his political career as a commissioner for Cook County’s Board of Tax Appeals in 1982. Although the governor’s approval ratings were high (61 percent) when he first stepped into his Springfield office, the ratings have been plummeting ever since.
A Rasmussen poll at the end of October showed Quinn’s approval ratings at 43 percent. Still, Quinn can count on strong backing from unions such as the Chicago Teachers Union (which contributed $16,000 to his 2008 campaign) and the Illinois Auto Workers ($7,500 contributed in 2008).
His major opponent in the Democratic primary will be current State Comptroller Dan Hynes.
Campaign Site: QuinnForIllinois.com
Top 2009 stories:
Secret Policy Change Sets Prison Inmates Free
Quinn Decides to Replace University of Illinois Board of Trustees
Politics
Quinn Signs Texting-While-Driving Ban
