CHICAGO (WBBM) — The Illinois Democratic Party’s online casting call for potential running mates for Gov. Pat Quinn is drawing a lot of potential candidates. CLICK HERE AND APPLY
The party posted 46 applications on its Web site Tuesday, an eclectic group that ranges from a junior college student to two Argonne National Laboratory scientists; from substitute teachers to a retired Loyola University law professor; and from a high-visibility Democratic fundraiser to several people who have run as Republicans for public office.
A handful are unemployed and several more underemployed. Others include a police officer, a prison guard and a deputy sheriff; a book editor, a marketing executive, a printing technician, a personal banker, several small business owners, the CEO of a renewable energy firm, a Jane Addams/Hull House Foundation literacy aide and a stress management teacher.
One said he refuses to vote in primaries and cannot even be sure he is a Democrat and another said the fact that he is not a Democrat would be an asset to the ticket.
Several names are well-known in the Chicago area. They include former Chicago Board of Trade chairman Patrick Arbor, who has been a major Democratic fundraiser; former CLTV reporter-turned- Blagojevich senior adviser Bob Arya, and former Palos Heights Mayor Dean Koldenhoven.
None of the 46 include candidates who lost to Scott Lee Cohen in the Feb. 2 primary. Cohen resigned from the ticket under pressure once accusations of domestic violence in his past, and a checkered series of financial dealings, became public. Cohen denied the accusations.
Arbor lists a varied background that also includes a stint as mayor of Harwood Heights and notes that he is an “aficionado of Italian culture.”
Arya says in his resume that he is “intrepid, intelligent, hard-working, respected and reliable” and has both “a strong journalism background and outstanding communications skills.” While he lists himself as an advisor to the governor on fiscal and legislative matters, he does not list that it was ousted Gov. Rod Blegojevich under whom he served.
Koldenhoven, a brick salesman by trade, said he is a Democrat because he believes the party “adheres to what I believe is the good of the people.”
It is unclear whether the party’s 38 central committeemen will choose to slate anyone to run with Quinn. Party Chairman and Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has said publicly that he would like to see the lieutenant governor’s office abolished. Madigan said the applications will make the decision at a meeting, expected later this month.
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