Pat Barcas/staff photographer
Joe McKeown said Gov. Pat Quinn is cleaning up Illinois’ pension mess he inherited. McKeown was one of several union members phone banking for the governor at Aurora’s PDC 30.
By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Thursday March 13, 2014
Email Pat Barcas at pat@foxvalleylabornews.com
AURORA — If Democrats vote, they win, plain and simple. That’s the message this election year and that’s the message that’s driving volunteers to man the phone banks at Painters District Council 30, where more than 3,000 phone calls have been made in favor of Gov. Pat Quinn.
Quinn will most likely challenge Republican Bruce Rauner in the November election. Rauner is ahead in the early polls versus other challengers, and has already sunk $6 million of his own money into his campaign.
Republicans have not held the gubernatorial seat since 2003, and unions are trying to make sure that Illinois doesn’t get the next Scott Walker as a governor who would take away collective bargaining.
Quinn’s challenges include a high unemployment rate and the pension crisis in Illinois, but phone bank volunteers say Quinn was handed the crisis and is dealing with it.
“I contacted someone from the teachers union, and they were very much a ‘no’ because of the pension issues,” said Patrick Keane, who volunteered to call March 11.
The volunteers call a targeted list of people Quinn’s campaign selected, a mix of Democrats and Republicans, union and non-union. Keane said the responses have been good.
“There are people calling here, these aren’t robo-calls. People like that, they want to have a conversation, and there aren’t a lot of hangups. Quinn wants to have conversations with people, that’s what he’s about,” said Keane.
“I always respect when there are political calls and it’s a live person on the other end. You don’t pay voters that respect, why have the conversation?” he explained.
Quinn’s strengths are the Illinois Jobs Now! Capital Program, providing more than 400,000 jobs, which have upgraded roads, schools and bridges, as well as the Hiring Veterans Tax Credits, passing campaign contribution limits, consumer protection measures, and education reforms.
“Quinn inherited the pension mess, and he’s cleaning it up,” said Joe McKeown, who called voters March 11. “We’ve had a really good response rate, but we can’t be complacent,” he added.
The phone bank will be operated again before the primary elections from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 13, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday March 15 at PDC 30, 1905 Sequoia Dr., Aurora.