Quinn Taps Paul Vallas To Be Running Mate

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 8, 2013 6:05PM

In what to us is a head-scratching decision, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced former Chicago Public Schools Supt. Paul Vallas as his running mate in next year’s gubernatorial election.

Vallas and Gerry Chico were tapped by former Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1995 to run Chicago Public Schools after the mayor wrested control of the school district. During his six years at CPS Vallas billed himself as a reformer but was eventually replaced by Daley with Arne Duncan. Vallas unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2002 and has spent the past decade carpetbagging across the country. He ran the school districts in Philadelphia, New Orleans and most recently Bridgeport, Conn. where a lawsuit claimed he didn’t have the proper certification to run the school district.

All along, Vallas has maintained residency in Palos Heights where, according to voter records, he voted absentee in the 2010 Republican primary and drew a Democratic ballot last year; you can be certain Quinn was thorough in checking Vallas’ residency requirements before offering the Lieutenant Governor nod to him.

Quinn said in a statement:

"I've known Paul Vallas for 30 years and he's never been shy about fighting for education, reform and opportunities for working people. Paul is an independent problem-solver with a proven record of reform. He will be a strong lieutenant governor.”

Vallas said:

"I am honored to join forces with the strongest reform governor in the country. . . .Unlike his predecessors, Gov. Quinn tackled the hard issues and has made the right decisions to get Illinois back on track. Together we will fight every day for working families and deliver the reform and change that Illinois deserves."

Vallas flirted with running for Cook County Board President in 2010 before deciding against it. His reputation as a conservative fiscal manager will lend credibility to Quinn’s attempts to facilitate pension reform and erasing the state’s budget deficit. (Although, to be fair, that reputation has been tarnished since Vallas was forced to leave CPS.) Quinn's decision to add Vallas to his ticket will surely not sit well with the Chicago Teachers Union which continues to deal with the fallout of his policies during his time at CPS.