It's going to be a close election for governor in Illinois. The Republicans have the best chance they have had in a while to make some gains statewide. Quinn, the unexpected, became governor after Blagojevich was impeached by a Democratic legislative branch. As I've already written, there was a bunch of the pot calling the kettle black in that episode. But between that and the horrible management of state finances by the Democrats in the last several years, it's enough to make even the bluest of people hold their nose. And while Illinois has become solidly blue, the democrat's hold on the governorship has been tenuous at best. And, with the right appearing to be more fired up at the moment, and knowing that close elections are not that uncommon, and a few hundred votes can mean the difference in a silly system that gives full power to anyone who gets 50% + 1 (and in some cases, you don't even need that much!) votes, a few hundred votes could be very important.

Now we get to the New York Times editorial page yesterday, Sat., March 27. The column I refer to is regular editorial page columnist Gail Collins' opinion entitled "Nothing is Easy in Illinois." Collins writes, "On Saturday, the State Central Committee will make the final choice. (for Lt. Gov., in which they actually did choose Simon) Gov. Pat Quinn, who will be on top of the ticket, wants Sheila Simon, a downstate law professor. She is the daughter of Paul Simon, the late, revered U.S. Senator - a very big plus in a state with a crying shortage of revered politicians. On the other hand, her biggest previous foray into politics was losing a race for mayor of Carbondale to the guy (Rep. Brad Cole) who came in fourth place in the race for lt. gov...."

I'd like to take a few minutes to give my take on the Collins opinion. I have been thinking about this quite a bit since Quinn let leak that he wanted Simon as his running mate. I wondered why? First, I don't know Sheila Simon. I was acquainted with her father - who got mad at me when I wouldn't compromise on the Shawnee National Forest plan amendment, which his public policy institute got involved in. I hated that, cause I love Paul Simon and his political career is one of the best ever. I have been a fan of his since I was a youth reading his columns in the New Baden News, a Jenkins publication that supported Simon when he was state rep from Troy, not that far from New Baden, where I grew up. But I couldn't go along with his support of "multiple use" for our national forests. As I wrote him, that is an obsolete concept that does not respond to current issues regarding national forests. But this disageement doesn't erase the enormous respect that I have always had for Mr. Simon.

I saw Sheila play with her band Loose Gravel one time at one of Hugh and Judy Muldoon's famous St. Patrick's parties. They were a lot of fun. But I can't remember ever being actually introduced to her. Nevertheless, I have a lot of dear friends around the Carbondale area that do know her. It's a community. Really more like small town than city. There aren't a lot of secrets. But that doesn't mean I can't write my opinion, and under the circumstances, I think I'd be wrong not to give my opinion.

Collins goes on to write, "Her (Simon's) main opponent, State Representative Art Turner of Chicago, argues he should be the choice because he came in second..." in the Democratic primary. I have to say, that I can't argue with anything that Collins says. So, one might ask, why would Quinn throw his support behind Simon and threaten to further split the party?

In my opinion, it is an attempt to get votes from Rich Whitney, Carbondale attorney and Green Party candidate for governor, who last election got 12% of the vote, more than enough to swing a close election. Carbondale, being a major university town, has a built in progessive constituency. Whitney, being a graduate of the SIU law school, and a long time resident and local social justice advocate, has a lot of respect, not just in Carbondale, but throughout southern Illinois. And in southern Illinois, that means taking votes that otherwise would go to the Democrats. This typically would be the Democratic base in southern Illinois. But because of the hard work of the Green party in Illinois, and Whitney's community-based campaign, the Dems have lost a key constituency in Carbondale to the Greens.

On a statewide basis, this might not seem significant in a large population state like Illinois. And, considering that Quinn risks unmotivating African-American voters in Chicago by not choosing Art Turner, African-American State Senator who ran second in the primary for Lt. Gov, one can legitimately question Quinn's judgment. I guess when push comes to shove, Quinn feels the African-American community in Chicago and the rest of his state will stick with the Democrats no matter what. Maybe so, but the question is turnout percent. If Quinn gets a small turnout, he has a good chance to lose.

From a strictly merit system view of this, it's hard to justify the Simon nomination. The only thing she has going for her that qualifies her for this high level position any more than say, I'm qualified for it, is her name. But, I believe she could make a great Lt. Gov., and I don't want anyone to think I'm against her - I'm not. But from a strictly political analysis, I'm not sure this is going to win the election for Quinn. Quinn and the Democrats are too entrenched with the horrible state government that we have to have Simon's nomination peel away too many Green party votes. And for each percent of turnout that drops from the African-American community statewide, the likelihood of Quinn losing goes up exponentially.

From a strictly self-interest point of view, Quinn is too close to the big Green groups in Illinois, which are too close to the state agencies such as the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources. Agencies like the IDNR are way too secretive, dole out money to their buddies, and do a lot of environmentally awful things. And all this at a time when the state is going broke and talking about closing schools and parks.

Ahhhh...Illinois politics. And all this in the context of the recent New Yorker article about Mayor Daley II in Chicago. It gives Illinois a high profile. But this high profile doesn't necessary mean high accomplishments. Illinois is going broke, can't get it together on a budget, and still squanders billions annually with little accountability. I'm not sure Sheila Simon can fix Illinois and the broken Illinois Democrats - in fact, I'm pretty sure she can't. And while I hope she proves me wrong over time, right now, I would fill in the little circle on my ballot next to Rich Whitney.