The Feb. 2 primary election included two Black candidates who both said they are still interested in the office and want to be picked to replace Scott Cohen.
Now that Scott Lee Cohen, the Democratic nominee for the state’s second highest executive office, has dropped out of the race, voters may get a second chance to elect its first Black lieutenant governor.
The Feb. 2 primary election included two Black candidates who both said they are still interested in the office and want to be picked to replace Cohen.
“I commend Scott Lee Cohen on making the difficult decision to resign his nomination for lieutenant governor,” said state Rep. Arthur Turner, D-9th Dist. “Governor Pat Quinn heads an outstanding slate of accomplished legislators on the Democratic ticket that far surpass the Republican candidates in every important regard. (And) it continues to be my desire to join this exceptional group of individuals as the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.”
State Sen. Rickey Hendon, D- 5th Dist., who also sought the Democratic nomination, is eager to start campaigning again.
“If I am selected by party leaders I would accept the challenge. I won nearly every Black ward in Chicago, so it’s nice to know I was the choice of the Black community,” he told the Defender.
Turner, who finished second and has the backing of House Speaker Michael Madigan, is not an automatic choice though.
“Most of the Democratic nominees are from Cook County and the committee may want to select a candidate from downstate to diversify the ticket,” Hendon explained.
Under Illinois law, Cohen’s replacement must be chosen by the 38-member Democratic State Central Committee, which is chaired by Madigan. The committee is scheduled to meet March 17 to pick a replacement.
Cohen, a millionaire entrepreneur, said he met with Madigan Friday at Madigan’s downtown law firm where the House Speaker urged Cohen to step aside, which he did Sunday. Unlike the other three lieutenant governor candidates Cohen spent $2 million of his own money to finance his campaign despite allegations that he owes $54,000 in back child support.
Democratic leaders including Quinn urged Cohen to drop out after revelations surfaced shortly after the primary that Cohen had once been charged with domestic battery against his ex-wife and been involved in a domestic violence case with an ex-girlfriend who previously pled guilty to prostitution.
Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
About Post Author
