Story posted Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Endorse Dan Hynes
Journal Endorsement | Saying that Illinois voters had had enough is a monumental understatement. With one former governor behind bars and another one under indictment, to state that something different and inspiring----heck, something ethical and legal---is needed is laughable. The tragedy is that it's also true.
The names of two Democrats, Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes, along with seven Republicans, Kirk Dillard, Bill Brady, Adam Andrzejewski, Bob Schillerstrom, Dan Proft, Jim Ryan and Andy McKenna, will appear on the Tuesday, Feb. 2 party ballot. The two party victors will move on to face each other in the November general election.
On the Democratic side, we believe Dan Hynes deserves the support of party faithful. As state comptroller for the last 11 years, he has done a very good job keeping an eye on state finances in a relatively low-profile position. Still, Hynes hasn't been afraid to speak up when he saw trouble. When former Gov. Blagojevich was telling everybody that state finances were fine, Hynes knew better and told anyone who would listen calling the governor's assertions nothing but gimmickry.
With Dan Hynes, we believe, Illinois voters will get in a governor a solid, smart, courageous strong-willing individual who has grown to the point where he can lead the state out of a terrible $12 billion mess.
Gov. Quinn, we believe, is a good man who for decades hasn't been afraid to go toe-to-toe with the fat-cats of Illinois by questioning their behavior. However, we believe that since taking over for Blagojevich following the latter's impeachment, Quinn's record of success and accomplishment has been unimpressive.
Among Republicans it appears that McKenna, Dillard and Ryan are leading the pack. The Journal & Topics is not endorsing in this contest.
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