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With all the jockeying going on to take out the governor recently, it should come as no surprise that Paul Vallas is floating his name as a possible candidate. The former Chicago schools chief, who lost to Blago in 2002 by just over 20,000 votes, signaled that might run again. "While some people have been dodging indictments, I’ve been running a school district," Vallas told the crowd at a City Club luncheon yesterday. "I feel frustrated and angered. And, look, I think I could have made a difference," he said. "Clearly, I could have gotten along with the legislature much better."
In spite of his remarks, however, Vallas claims he's not laying a foundation to run again in 2010. "I’d be open to running again, but right now I wouldn’t make a decision until after the first of the year," he told reporters after his speech. "I'm here to talk about education, not to launch a campaign for governor," said Vallas, who is working as superintendent of the Recovery District of New Orleans. His contract there is set to expire next year. Lt Governor Pat Quinn, who called on "members of the Illinois General Assembly... to engage in serious debate on the most important issues of our time," at a press conference yesterday, was reticent. "I wouldn't rule out anything," Quinn told CBS2. "But, I think that's really not really what people want right now. They don't want a lot of candidates runnin' for governor two or three years from now."
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I guess it depends on
A. his independent weath, or
B. his current salary from the City of New Orleans.
I voted for Vallas in the '02 primary and he won Chicago and Cook Co. as I recall. He lacked Blago's downstate organization and lost the primary there.
Vallas had his time. He could have made some noise in '06 if he were able to establish residency in time. As time passes his CPS accomplishments fade in voters' minds. Plus his work in Philly and New Orleans would give primary opponents an opening to question his dedication to Illinois.
In 2010 L. Madigan, Hynes, Giannoulias, and Quinn are all potential candidates and are fresh in the minds of Illinois voters. It's hard to see Vallas gaining traction against any of them.
Vallas was an epic failure as CPS president, failed again and got run out of Philly, now he's bringing his own brand of suck to the people in NOLA who need it least of anyone. Fuck that pointy-headed scrote, and the horse he carpetbags around on.
Illinois is finally ready for Paul Vallas to run and win as governor. Clearly we need major change and we can not obtain this with the current long standing corrupted IL political families that have traditionally run this state into corruption scandals and lack of accountability. We need true reform and we would be grateful to have Mr. Vallas' long needed leadership here.