Gov. Pat Quinn saw one problem vanish Thursday when his opponent in the Democratic primary formally conceded but faced a new predicament with the revelation that his voter-selected running mate was once arrested for domestic battery.
Gov. Pat Quinn saw one problem vanish Thursday when his opponent in the Democratic primary formally conceded but faced a new predicament with the revelation that his voter-selected running mate was once arrested for domestic battery. Quinn said he knew nothing about the allegations against Scott Lee Cohen until after Tuesday’s election when they both won spots on the Democratic ticket. While calling on Cohen to fully answer all questions about the charges, Quinn predicted Cohen ultimately would have to drop out of the race. "If there are matters that are raised about your conduct that disqualify you from running in a proper way for an election in the fall, then the only appropriate thing is to step aside and I think that’s what we’re looking at here," said a weary-looking Quinn. Cohen, however, said Thursday he will not step aside and had never hidden his arrest from voters. "When the facts come to light, after my ex-wife and ex-girlfriend speak, the people of Illinois can decide, and I will listen to them directly," Cohen said in a statement. It is a problem Quinn doesn’t need after narrowly beating Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes in the Democratic primary for governor and facing a major Republican challenge in the fall. Cohen was arrested in 2005 over allegations that he held a knife to his girlfriend’s throat and pushed her head against a wall. The police report noted abrasions on her neck and hand. The charges were dropped after the woman failed to show up for a court date. Cohen, a pawnbroker and owner of a cleaning-supply business, denies harming his ex-girlfriend. He also denied knowing that she had been arrested for prostitution. He told WTTW-TV’s "Chicago Tonight" program Thursday that he met the woman at a "massage therapy place" and believed she was a masseuse. His ex-wife, Debbie Cohen York, also had accused Cohen of violent behavior and sought an order of protection against him in 2005 as she filed for divorce. She said the violence was fueled by his abuse of anabolic steroids, according to court documents. Cohen acknowledged Thursday evening that he used steroids, but denied abusing his former wife. "I never touched her," he told WLS-TV. York stood by her allegations but said Cohen is a changed man. Earlier Thursday, Hynes conceded and urged his backers to vote for Quinn. "I’m supporting him because I believe that our shared values and his basic decency is what Illinois needs, especially compared to what’s being suggested or offered by the Republican Party at this time," Hynes said. He dismissed the strife of the primary campaign as "a spirited discussion about our future." But Hynes launched attacks during the campaign that Republicans are likely to seize upon in the general election. Hynes trailed Quinn by a few thousand votes Tuesday night and initially refused to bow out. As more ballots were counted, Quinn’s lead grew. Republicans are still waiting to learn who won their nomination for governor. State Sen. Bill Brady led by just a few hundred votes over Sen. Kirk Dillard, and the race could wind up going to a recount. Republicans hope to capture the governor’s office, as well as President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat, by exploiting Democratic turmoil. Illinois faces the largest budget deficit in its history, and Quinn became governor only because his predecessor, Rod Blagojevich, was impeached after being arrested on federal corruption charges, including the allegation that he tried to sell an appointment to Obama’s seat. The allegations against Cohen could prove to be another obstacle for Quinn. Quinn, who said he hadn’t spoken to Cohen as of Thursday morning, went out of his way to avoid saying Cohen’s name, using phrases like "the man who won the primary for lieutenant governor." Quinn said he was confident the matter would be resolved and that voters would have Democrats with "excellent character" to support in November. If Cohen were to step aside, Democratic party leaders would pick a ballot replacement. But they have little leverage over Cohen, who has never run for office before or played a role in Democratic politics. He spent nearly $2 million of his own money to win the nomination with ads boasting that he sponsored job fairs to help out-of-work Illinois residents. Candidates for the nominations for governor and lieutenant governor run separately in the primary. Voters decide who wins, and the duo then have to run together in the general election. Quinn did not endorse Cohen in the primary or campaign with him. Cohen’s arrest had been reported by local media before the election, but he was considered such a longshot that few political insiders paid attention. Hynes didn’t offer Quinn advice about what to do about Cohen, but said he wasn’t interested in the state’s No. 2 job. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
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