{"id":292665,"date":"2010-02-08T10:51:28","date_gmt":"2010-02-08T15:51:28","guid":{"rendered":"tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d8341c60fd53ef01287777b813970c"},"modified":"2010-02-09T13:39:08","modified_gmt":"2010-02-09T18:39:08","slug":"quinn-says-no-payback-for-pawnbroker-out-2-million-for-lieutenant-governor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/292665","title":{"rendered":"Quinn says no payback for pawnbroker out $2 million for lieutenant governor"},"content":{"rendered":"

UPDATE AT 3:35 p.m. – Madigan spokesman says no fundraising discussion with Cohen<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gov. Pat Quinn and fellow Demcratic leaders began the delicate dance of picking a new running mate for Quinn today, while emphasizing there was no horse-trading involved in a scandal-ridden Chicago pawnbroker\u2019s decision to abandon his primary nomination for lieutenant governor.<\/p>\n

Quinn said Cohen should not be reimbursed for the roughly $2 million in personal funds he poured into his campaign, and a spokesman for Democratic Party chairman and House Speaker Michael Madigan agreed, saying the topic never surfaced in Madigan\u2019s two conversations with Cohen leading up to his teary-eyed withdrawal Sunday night.<\/p>\n

Already at least two of the five rivals who Cohen bested in last Tuesday\u2019s primary have said they want to be considered for his replacement \u2013 state Rep.\u00a0Art Turner of Chicago\u00a0and state Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan. But other names are also being thrown around as the Democratic Party considers how to balance a ticket that is heavily weighted with Chicago candidates.<\/p>\n

Quinn said Cohen did the right thing by quitting less than a week after his surprise win.\n<\/p>\n

The governor said he never met or reached out to his presumptive running mate, and that he only found out about Cohen’s decision to drop out by watching television coverage of the announcement, which Cohen made during half-time of the Super Bowl. <\/p>\n

But Cohen cited advice from Madigan, who met privately with him Friday, as helping him make his decision.<\/p>\n

During an interview this morning on WLS-AM (890), Cohen said Madigan never offered to help raise money to repay the former candidate for the funds he put into the campaign.<\/p>\n

Asked by show co-host Don Wade if Cohen was out the more than $2 million in personal funds he contributed to his own campaign, Cohen said, \u201cI\u2019m out right now.\u201d <\/p>\n

Asked if he was promised any help with his business, Cohen responded: \u201cNo. No. You know, I hope that there\u2019ll come a time that I try to fundraise to get some of the money back. But there were no promises. (Madigan) never said that he was going to fundraise for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Madigan spokesman confirmed that fundraising never came up in the conversations with Cohen.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t discussed and no way would he (Madigan) be involved in fundraising for Mr. Cohen or direct others to do so,\u201d Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said. Madigan had a face-to-face meeting with Cohen on Friday in Madigan\u2019s law office and a telephone conversation later Sunday.<\/p>\n

UPDATE 1:18 p.m. from Rick Pearson and Monique Garcia<\/em> — Quinn and Cohen say no offer made to reimburse him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gov. Pat Quinn today said he doesn’t think Scott Lee Cohen should be reimbursed\u00a0for the roughly $2 million in personal funds he poured into his campaign for lieutenant governor now that he is dropping his Democratic nomination.<\/p>\n

Quinn said the Chicago pawnbroker with the controversial past did the right thing by quitting less than a week after his surprise win in the Feb. 2 primary. <\/p>\n

The governor said he never met or reached out to his presumptive running mate, and that he only found out about Cohen’s decision to drop out by watching television coverage of the announcement, which Cohen made during half-time of the Super Bowl. <\/p>\n

But Cohen cited advice from Democratic Party chairman and House Speaker Michael Madigan, who met privately with him Friday, as helping him make his decision.<\/p>\n

During an interview this morning on WLS-AM (890), Cohen said Madigan never offered to help raise money to repay the former candidate for the funds he put into the campaign.<\/p>\n

Asked by show co-host Don Wade if Cohen was out the more than $2 million in personal funds he contributed to his own campaign, Cohen said, \u201cI\u2019m out right now.\u201d <\/p>\n

Asked if he was promised any help with his business, Cohen responded: \u201cNo. No. You know, I hope that there\u2019ll come a time that I try to fundraise to get some of the money back. But there were no promises. (Madigan) never said that he was going to fundraise for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quinn said he was unaware of any efforts to help Cohen get his $2 million back for dropping out. <\/p>\n

\u201cNot from me, and not from I think anyone else," Quinn said. "I don\u2019t believe that would be the way to go. Offerings. The answer is no.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Quinn did offer some sympathy for Cohen after watching the tearful news conference the candidate had with his family surrounding him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think anyone who\u2019s human would be sympathetic to a man who spoke from his heart,\u201d Quinn said. \u201cI met him on the campaign trail and I always found him to be a person who had a real heart for the working people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cohen used his money for a blitz of broadcast campaign ads touting his job fairs, which helped him overcome a crowded field that included veteran state lawmakers. It was only after his nomination win that details of domestic abuse allegations, his relationship with a prostitute and his troubled financial history\u00a0were uncovered by the media, creating\u00a0a potential disaster for Democrats.<\/p>\n

Cohen has argued the allegations were overblown and that he was transparent about his career and the 2005 domestic violence case that was dismissed.<\/p>\n

The governor said he does not blame Madigan or other Democratic leaders for the Cohen situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings happen,\u201d Quinn said. \u201cThe Democratic Party is alive and well and very strong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quinn said he will push lawmakers this session to change the way lieutenant governors are elected, so instead of being elected separately the governor and lieutenant governor would run as a team in the primary election. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think given the history of this, it\u2019s probably the best way to go,\u201d Quinn said. \u201cGiven the words of the constitution that the lieutenant governor is given assignments by the governor\u2026 I think given all that, it\u2019s, I think a better way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quinn refused to say who might be on his short-list of potential running mates, saying he\u2019s \u201copen minded to a number of folks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI would encourage anyone who\u2019s interested to let us know,\u201d Quinn said. <\/p>\n

Asked what qualifications he is looking for, Quinn said \u201cI want to run with somebody who\u2019s qualified to be governor, who has a record of public service, someone who is able to speak to ordinary, every day people in plain language about the importance of the economy and stands up for the progressive values of the Democratic Party.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said he would like a decision on a running mate \u201csooner rather than later,\u201d though he would not set a deadline. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s important to have this collaboration, to have this discussion among Democrats, to make sure everyone has their voice heard," Quinn said.<\/p>\n

He refused to say if he\u2019s reached out to anyone yet, saying people have called him. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis process is just begun,\u201d Quinn said. <\/p>\n

In the WLS-AM interview, Cohen called the uproar after his nomination last Tuesday "a crucifixion.\u201d<\/p>\n

To his supporters, Cohen said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry that–how do I put it into words–you put your trust in me and I don\u2019t want you to think for one second that I abandoned you or that I had let you down. <\/p>\n

"I mean, I did let you down because I resigned, but the pressure was just so great on my family, from the media and there was a possibility that the party thought I would bring down the ticket and that would have hurt the vote for me even more,\u201d Cohen said in the WLS-AM interview.<\/p>\n

Cohen’s official\u00a0withdrawal may have to wait for the results of Tuesday’s election to be certified by the state on March 5. <\/p>\n

In the meantime, the scramble for a replacement is underway and will ultimately be made by the ruling Democratic State Central Committee. <\/p>\n

Republicans see\u00a0advantage in the Democratic fiasco, but they still have their\u00a0own unrest in the governor’s race.\u00a0State Sen. Bill Brady of Bloomington\u00a0is nursing a slim lead over state Sen. Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, but neither man is\u00a0declaring a winner\u00a0while they wait for final absentee and provisional ballots to be counted. After that, a recount could further delay clarity for the GOP.<\/p>\n

UPDATE AT 11:20 a.m.\u00a0 by Monique Garcia and David Heinzmann — Hynes not interested in being Quinn’s running mate<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gov. Pat Quinn said today that his Democratic rival, Dan Hynes, does not want to be his running mate to replace the controversial Chicago pawnbroker who announced he would walk away from the party’s nomination for lieutenant governor.<\/p>\n

Quinn told reporters this morning that he spoke with Hynes today on another topic but the issue of Scott Lee Cohen’s withdrawal came up. Hynes said he was not interested in the opening, the governor said.<\/p>\n

Cohen dropped out of the race Sunday night, citing a lack of support from Democratic officials and concerns that controversies over his background could hurt the ticket. His decision came after a private meeting Friday with Democratic Party chairman and House Speaker Michael Madigan.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Quinn said this morning that he felt "sympathetic" for Cohen when he watched his tearful announcement Sunday. But Quinn said Cohen made the best decision for the people of Illinois and for the Democratic ticket. <\/p>\n

"It’s never easy making those decisions, and I commend him for doing that, for making a decision that puts our state and our party and our country ahead of personal interests," Quinn said. <\/p>\n

A spokesman for Cohen said today the conversation with Madigan was in the form of "valued advice from a political veteran.<\/p>\n

"Scott really values his advice," said Cohen spokesman Baxter Swilley.<\/p>\n

There were no ultimatums or incentives, but Madigan explained to Cohen "the trajectory of how the race would go" if he remained in, and that if he got out now he may be able to salvage a future in politics, Swilley said.<\/p>\n

Swilley said the conversation left open the idea that if Cohen helped the party control the damage, he could begin to rebuild his name and move on, perhaps running for public office down the road. <\/p>\n

Cohen asked Madigan for help recouping the millions he spent on his campaign. Madigan made no such offer, Swilley said, but Cohen views the matter as an "open discussion."<\/p>\n

"We are certainly going to ask for help," he said. "We’re going to ask them to help us with some fundraisers."<\/p>\n

Swilley said Cohen wants to continue holding job fairs, like the ones he publicized in his expensive campaign ad blitz.<\/p>\n

Posted by Rick Pearson<\/em> at 9:50 a.m.<\/p>\n

State Rep. Art Turner, who finished second to departing Democratic lieutenant governor nominee Scott Lee Cohen, says today\u00a0he\u2019s a candidate to fill the vacancy to become Gov. Pat Quinn\u2019s fall running mate.<\/p>\n

In a statement, Turner commended the embattled Cohen for stepping down after damaging disclosures involving Cohen\u2019s ex-wife and ex-girlfriend. Turner finished about 20,000 votes behind Cohen in the Tuesday primary featuring six candidates for the nomination.<\/p>\n

The vacancy will be decided by members of the Democratic State Central Committee.<\/p>\n

Turner is a Chicago legislator for nearly 30 years and a member of the leadership team under Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is also chairman of the state Democratic Party.<\/p>\n

\u201cGov. Pat Quinn heads an outstanding slate of accomplished legislators on the Democratic ticket that far surpass the Republican candidates in every important regard,\u201d Turner said in a statement. \u201cIt continues to be my desire to join this exceptional group of individuals as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, and to bring my 30 years of experience to the executive branch as we solve the difficult economic and social challenges that face this great state."<\/p>\n

But some state central committee members have said privately that they should look beyond the field of contenders who ran for the lieutenant governor nomination, noting the statewide ticket lacks a contender from outside Chicago.<\/p>\n

Other candidates for lieutenant governor on the Democratic ticket were state Rep. Mike Boland of East Moline and state Sens. Terry Link of Waukegan and Rickey Hendon of Chicago. Thomas Castillo of Elmhurst also was a candidate.<\/p>\n

In a private\u00a0 meeting with Cohen Friday, Madigan urged Cohen to drop his nomination, according to a spokesman for Madigan.<\/p>\n

Cohen thanked Madigan during an emotional news conference at a Far North Side bar Sunday night at half time of the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UPDATE AT 3:35 p.m. – Madigan spokesman says no fundraising discussion with Cohen Gov. Pat Quinn and fellow Demcratic leaders began the delicate dance of picking a new running mate for Quinn today, while emphasizing there was no horse-trading involved in a scandal-ridden Chicago pawnbroker\u2019s decision to abandon his primary nomination for lieutenant governor. Quinn […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3992,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-292665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292665","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3992"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=292665"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/292665\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=292665"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=292665"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=292665"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}