Pat Quinn (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pat Quinn
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Quinn in 2010
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| 41st Governor of Illinois | |
| In office January 29, 2009 – January 12, 2015 |
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| Lieutenant | Vacant (2009–2011) Sheila Simon (2011–2015) |
| Preceded by | Rod Blagojevich |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Rauner |
| 45th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois | |
| In office January 13, 2003 – January 29, 2009 |
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| Governor | Rod Blagojevich |
| Preceded by | Corinne Wood |
| Succeeded by | Sheila Simon |
| 70th Treasurer of Illinois | |
| In office January 14, 1991 – January 9, 1995 |
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| Governor | Jim Edgar |
| Preceded by | Jerome Cosentino |
| Succeeded by | Judy Baar Topinka |
| Commissioner of the Cook County Board of Appeals | |
| In office 1982–1986 |
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| Succeeded by | Wilson Frost |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Patrick Joseph Quinn Jr.
December 16, 1948 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Julie Hancock
(m. 1982; div. 1986) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Georgetown University (BS) Northwestern University (JD) |
| Signature |  |
Patrick Joseph Quinn Jr. (born December 16, 1948) is an American politician. He served as the 41st governor of Illinois from 2009 to 2015. Quinn is a member of the Democratic Party. He started his career as an activist, creating the Coalition for Political Honesty. This group used citizen votes to push for political changes.
Before becoming governor, Quinn held several important roles. He was a commissioner on the Cook County Board of Tax Appeals from 1982 to 1986. He also served as Illinois State Treasurer from 1991 to 1995. Later, he was Lieutenant Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009.
Quinn was born in Chicago, Illinois. He went to Georgetown University and Northwestern University School of Law. He began his political work helping Illinois Governor Dan Walker. Quinn then led citizen efforts, like the 1980 Cutback Amendment. This change reduced the size of the Illinois House of Representatives. It was the first time Illinois voters used a direct vote to change the state's constitution.
In 2002, Quinn became the Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. He ran with Rod Blagojevich and they won. Quinn became lieutenant governor in 2003. He was reelected in 2006. On January 29, 2009, Quinn became governor. This happened after Governor Blagojevich was removed from office.
Quinn won a full term as governor in 2010. He won by a very small margin. During his time as governor, he worked on many important issues. He helped voters gain the power to remove a sitting governor. He also passed a large construction plan. Quinn supported legalizing same-sex marriage in Illinois. He also expanded access to healthcare and ended the death penalty in the state. In 2014, Quinn lost his re-election bid to Bruce Rauner.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Quinn was born in Chicago in 1948. His family later moved to Hinsdale, Illinois. His mother was a school secretary, and his father worked in public relations. Quinn grew up Catholic and went to Catholic schools. He graduated from Fenwick High School in 1967. There, he was the cross-country team captain.
He then attended Georgetown University, graduating in 1971. After a few years, he earned a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law in 1980.
Early Political Work
Before holding public office, Quinn was active in politics. From 1973 to 1975, he worked for Governor Dan Walker. Quinn first gained attention in the late 1970s. He led a petition to change the Illinois Constitution. This change aimed to give citizens more power to vote on laws. The state's highest court later ruled against this specific change.
Quinn became known as a reformer in Illinois politics. In 1980, he led a campaign for the Cutback Amendment. This amendment successfully reduced the number of members in the Illinois House of Representatives. It went from 177 to 118 members.
Early Political Career
Serving on the Cook County Board of Appeals (1982–1986)
In 1982, Quinn was elected as a commissioner for the Cook County Board of Appeals. This board handles property tax issues. Quinn was seen as a positive force for change on the board. He worked to prevent unfair tax breaks for powerful people. This helped increase the county's tax money. During his time, he also helped create the "Citizens Utility Board." This group works to protect consumers from high utility costs.
Illinois Treasurer (1991–1995)
Quinn won the election for Illinois Treasurer in 1990. He promised to be a "consumer advocate" in this role. He also pledged to modernize the office. He served as Treasurer from 1991 to 1995. During this time, he often spoke out against Illinois Secretary of State George Ryan. Quinn ran against Ryan for Secretary of State in 1994 but lost.
Lieutenant Governor (2003–2009)
In 2002, Quinn won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. He then won the general election with Rod Blagojevich as the gubernatorial candidate. In Illinois, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor ran separately in the primary. But they ran together as a team in the general election. This team was re-elected in 2006.
As Lieutenant Governor, Quinn focused on several areas. These included helping consumers, protecting the environment, and improving healthcare. He also worked on expanding internet access and supporting veterans.
Governor of Illinois (2009–2015)
Becoming Governor
On January 29, 2009, Rod Blagojevich was removed from office. The Illinois State Senate voted unanimously to remove him. Quinn then became the Governor of Illinois.
2010 Governor Election
In the 2010 Democratic primary for governor, Quinn won by a small margin. He then faced Republican candidate Bill Brady in the general election. Quinn won this election very closely, by less than 1% of the votes. This victory was considered a big upset.
2014 Governor Election
Quinn ran for re-election in 2014. He won the Democratic primary easily. In the general election, he faced Republican businessman Bruce Rauner. Most major Illinois newspapers supported Rauner. Quinn was defeated by Rauner, and his term as governor ended on January 12, 2015.
Key Actions as Governor
As governor, Quinn faced challenges, including financial issues for the state. He often spoke to the public and met with state leaders. This was different from how the previous governor had acted.
Budget and Taxes
Quinn introduced programs to help reduce the state's debt. In 2009, he signed a $29 billion plan. This plan provided money for roads, public transportation, and schools. He also pushed for an increase in the state's income tax. This was to help balance the state budget. In 2011, the personal income tax rate was raised from 3% to 5%. This was meant to help pay off the state's unpaid bills.
In 2012, Quinn warned that Illinois's financial system was in danger. He said that pension costs were too high. He proposed cuts to healthcare programs. Rating agencies lowered Illinois's credit rating. This showed the state's financial difficulties.
Quinn also signed a law in 2009 that allowed video gambling machines in Illinois. He said this was needed to bring in more money for the state.
Ethics and Government Reform
Quinn worked to improve ethics in Illinois government. In 2009, he created the Illinois Reform Commission. This group was tasked with suggesting ways to make the government more ethical.
He also launched a panel to investigate unfair practices at the University of Illinois. This was due to concerns about corruption in admissions. The panel found evidence of favoritism. This led to many university trustees resigning.
Environment and Energy
Quinn received praise for his work on environmental issues. As lieutenant governor, he helped create conferences on green building. He also promoted water conservation. As governor, he supported solar and wind energy projects. He also helped get funding for high-speed rail in the Midwest. Quinn was known as "The Green Governor" by a large environmental group.
Social Issues
On March 9, 2011, Quinn signed a bill that ended the death penalty in Illinois. He stated that it was impossible to have a perfect system without mistakes. He believed it was the right thing to do. Illinois still does not have the death penalty.
Quinn also supported stricter gun control laws. He wanted bans on certain weapons and universal background checks. However, the Illinois General Assembly passed a law allowing concealed carry of handguns. This happened despite Quinn's opposition.
In 2013, Quinn announced his support for legalizing same-sex marriage. After a long effort, he signed the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act into law. This made Illinois the 16th state to legalize same-sex marriage. He had previously signed a bill legalizing civil unions in 2011.
After Being Governor
After leaving office, Quinn has mostly kept a quiet profile. He has volunteered for causes like veterans' affairs and consumer protection. He has also been critical of his successor, Bruce Rauner.
In 2016, Quinn started a new petition drive called "Take Charge Chicago." This effort aimed to limit the Chicago Mayor to two terms. It also sought to create a new elected position called the Consumer Advocate.
In 2017, Quinn announced he would run for Illinois Attorney General in 2018. He was a well-known candidate but narrowly lost the Democratic nomination.
Images for kids
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Pat Quinn's signature
See also
In Spanish: Pat Quinn para niños
