Daley backs Turner for lieutenant governor - Mayor says Democratic primary’s second-place finisher should fill spot vacated by Cohen

Daley backs Turner for lieutenant governor - Mayor says Democratic primary’s second-place finisher should fill spot vacated by Cohen
By John Byrne
Copyright © 2010, Chicago Tribune
8:58 p.m. CST, March 10, 2010
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/elections/ct-met-daley-turner-lt-gov-0311-20100310,0,4994427.story


Mayor Richard Daley on Wednesday threw his support behind state Rep. Art Turner for the Democratic lieutenant governor nomination vacated by troubled Chicago pawnbroker Scott Lee Cohen.

The mayor said it makes sense to add the veteran West Side lawmaker as Gov. Pat Quinn's running mate because Turner came in second place in last month's Democratic primary election.

"Like anything else, there's only one winner for the lieutenant governor's position, and that's Turner, Art Turner, he won second," Daley told reporters after a City Council meeting. "If you run for public office and the person drops out before the election or even after the election, the person who was second moves automatically up. If you forfeit a game, you win the game."

Turner finished second to Cohen among six candidates on Feb. 2. Cohen subsequently withdrew under pressure from Democratic leaders amid revelations that he has been accused of abusive behavior, falling behind on child-support payments and having a relationship with a prostitute.

The 38-member Democratic State Central Committee gets to vote on Cohen's replacement. Some Democrats have discussed nominating a white candidate from downstate rather than Turner, who is African-American, in a bid to balance the statewide ticket.

But Daley said Turner should move up.

"(Turner) put his name, his career on the line for the public good," the mayor said. "Whether you voted for him or not, he came in second place."

The state Democratic Party also is taking online applications for the lieutenant governor spot. More than 220 people have submitted their names, including Sheila Simon, the daughter of late former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon.

jebyrne@tribune.com