Meet Blago's Unlikely Replacement

Crusader Quinn promises to 'fumigate' state government

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 30, 2009 11:37 AM CST

(Newser) – Rod Blagojevich never wanted Patrick Quinn as his running mate. Few Democrats would. Quinn is a notorious gadfly, who’s spent 40 years ruffling feathers with his populist crusades and citizens’ initiatives, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. He’s not planning on calming down as governor, either. “We can do great things in the next 700 days,” he said. “I plan to fumigate the state government.”

Quinn’s crusades have, among other things, ended the practice of paying legislators their full year’s salary on day one, cut the legislature's size, and set up a watchdog agency for state utilities. Many annoyed Democrats quietly helped his Republican opponent beat him in his secretary of state run in 1994. He later won consecutive lieutenant governor primaries, but his shotgun marriage with Blagojevich wasn’t a happy one; 4 months ago, he protested a Blagojevich speech.

[Images (4)]

[Videos (1)]

Illinois Lt. Gov. Patrick Quinn, right, is sworn in as governor by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke, left, as Quinn's son looks on. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn talks during a luncheon while announcing former assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Collins will head the Illinois Reform Commission in Chicago, Monday, Jan. 05, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

An image from video an ad Illinois Republicans are running pressuring Democrats to approve a special election to fill the vacant Senate seat of Barack Obama. (AP Photo/Illinois Republican Party)

Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn speaks at the first meeting of the Illinois Reform Commission Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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Lt. Governor Pat Quinn testifies at the first public hearing of the Illinois Reform Commission. (YouTube)

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Meet Blago's Unlikely Replacement