The Illinois Senate concluded the impeachment trial of Governor Rod Blagojevich on Jan. 29, and by a unanimous vote of 59-0 removed him from office, effective immediately. The Senate also unanimously voted to disqualify Blagojevich from holding any future public office in the State of Illinois. After the Senate vote, Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke administered the oath of office to Patrick Quinn. Quinn assumes the governorship after serving as Lieutenant Governor since 2003.
As Lt. Governor, Quinn focused his efforts to help Illinoisans in the military and their families. He led the successful effort to enact the Illinois Military Family Relief Act, which provides financial assistance to families of Illinois National Guard members and Reservists called to active duty. He also spearheaded passage of the Let Them Rest in Peace Act, which has been a national model in protecting grieving families from disruptive protests at the funerals of servicemen and women. During Quinn's tenure, the Lieutenant Governor’s office provided a wide range of services to military families, troops and veterans, and maintains the website www.OperationHomefront.org, one of the country’s most informative websites for military men and women and their families.
Quinn served as Illinois State Treasurer from 1991 to 1995 and, as a private citizen, led a number of organized petition drives and initiatives for consumer protection laws, tax reform and citizen empowerment. In 1983, he spearheaded the drive to create the Citizens Utility Board.
Quinn, 60, is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law and also holds a degree in international economics from Georgetown University. He was elected Commissioner of the Cook County Board of (Property) Tax Appeals in 1982 and served as Revenue Director for the City of Chicago. The father of two sons, Quinn grew up in Hinsdale and now lives in Chicago.
IFT President Ed Geppert, Jr. has already met with Quinn to talk about the challenges facing the state and its citizens. In a statement released after Quinn’s swearing-in, President Geppert urged the new governor to forthrightly tackle the problems facing Illinois for the benefit of every citizen.
