 Gov. Pat Quinn and state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, were on
opposite ends of the opening parade that served as a prologue to the
Illinois State Fair.They will be on the same Nov. 2 ballot when
voters choose their next governor in the state's general election,
four years after Blagojevich handily beat GOP candidate Judy Baar
Topinka to remain as governor.
Federal authorities arrested Blagojevich in December 2008 on
numerous corruption charges, including trying to sell the U.S.
Senate seat of Barack Obama. Lawmakers booted Blagojevich out of
office shortly thereafter.
Brady was one of the lawmakers who voted for Blagojevich's
removal. The Bloomington Republican said he did not think much of
the federal trial.
"Frankly, we look at (the trial) as a distraction," Brady said in
reference to himself and his opponent Quinn. "We want to focus on
the real issues about this campaign."
Quinn served twice as Blagojevich's running mate, in the 2006 and
2010 elections. As lieutenant governor, Quinn was sworn in almost
immediately after the Illinois Senate unanimously voted to oust
Blagojevich.
Quinn has often tried to distance himself from his former running
mate, and he would not speculate when asked if he thought
Blagojevich was guilty.
"I don't believe it's the right thing to do. I think the people
who heard the evidence, heard the arguments -- that's the 12 men and
women on the jury -- they should be the ones who make the decision,
not me," he said.
Jurors serving in the Blagojevich corruption trial indicated to a
federal judge on Thursday that they were deadlocked on many of the
24 counts federal prosecutors brought against Blagojevich.
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Brady also avoided presuming the guilt or innocence of the former
governor.
"I think we're all anxious to turn a page and close a chapter in
this part of Illinois' history. I certainly respect the jury for
trying to do the right thing and doing it the right way. I'm sure
they're as anxious as we are," he said.
Quinn and Brady are expected to make other appearances at the
Illinois State Fair, a late-summer event that is seen as an
opportunity for candidates to forward their campaigns heading into
fall elections.
Quinn will help to officially open the fair on Friday morning and
will host previous governors during Governor's Day on Wednesday.
Brady will canvass with other statewide GOP leaders during
Republican Day on Thursday.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By KEVIN LEE]
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