Quinn for Illinois

For Immediate Release

For more information, please contact
Elizabeth Austin, 708-912-2247

November 20, 2009

Illinois Latino Leaders Endorse Governor Quinn

CHICAGO – A large group of Latino state legislators, aldermen, committeemen and county commissioners Friday announced their endorsement of Governor Pat Quinn, citing his lifelong commitment to job creation, education, and honest government.

“Pat Quinn is not a one-issue candidate, and this is not a one-issue government,” State Rep. Susana Mendoza (D-Chicago) said during a morning news conference at Lazo’s Restaurant in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. “This is someone who will say to Hispanic voters in Illinois, `I’m on your side.’ He represents true heart for the people. That’s what inspires me to want to work with him, for him, as a candidate for Governor.”

Chicago Ald. Manuel Flores added: “It is critical that we elect someone like Pat Quinn, someone who has a track record of fighting for those who have been voiceless in our communities. With Pat Quinn, we have an opportunity for restoring some of that lost trust and faith in our government.”

State Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) talked about her experience working for Quinn in the Office of the Lt. Governor. “I can tell you firsthand: This man is a hard-working man, a man with integrity and dignity, who cares for people,” she said.

“He wants to take care of our kids, he wants to take care of our schools,” said Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Joseph Berrios. “When you look at the record, at what’s going on today, you will see that Pat Quinn has stepped forward on behalf of the Hispanic community, and the Hispanic community will respond.”

“He puts other people’s interests before his,” said Cook County Commissioner Edwin Reyes.  “He is dedicated to being governor full-time, 24 hours a day.”

In accepting the long list of Latino endorsements, Governor Quinn talked about his Jobs and Growth for Illinois economic plan, and his commitment to strengthening the state’s economy by investing in education and job creation.

“It is important to understand that we are one state, one team,” Governor Quinn said. “We need to make sure we have jobs.  We need to build better roads, fix up our bridges and make them safe. We have to build and repair our schools. We need to make sure that everybody’s in and nobody’s out.”



The list of Latino elected leaders who announced their endorsement of Governor Quinn Friday  includes:

State Sen. Antonio Munoz (D-Chicago);
State Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago);
State Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago);
State Rep. Maria "Toni" Berrios (D-Chicago);
State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora);
State Rep. Lisa Hernandez;
State Rep. Susana Mendoza;
State Rep. Cynthia Soto (D-Chicago);
Cook County Commissioner Edwin Reyes;
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Joe Berrios;
Chicago Ald. George Cardenas;
Chicago Ald. Rey Colon;
Chicago Ald. Manuel Flores;
Chicago Ald. Ariel Reboyras;
Chicago Ald. Daniel Solis;
Chicago Ald. Ray Suarez;
Chicago Ald. Ricardo Munoz;
Aurora Ald. Juany Garza;
Waukegan Ald. Rafael Rivera

Last week, U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez held a news conference to announce his formal endorsement of Governor Quinn. In his endorsement, he said: “Pat Quinn is a champion for consumers, for senior citizens, for veterans, for Latinos and for all of the people of our state. Governor Quinn understands that every day in Illinois, families are sitting at their kitchen tables making tough decisions about how to make ends meet. Pat Quinn is the person I want in the Governor’s office helping those families.”


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