Quinn for Illinois

 “Conflict of Interest” Highlights Brady’s Multiple Votes to Benefit His Businesses

The Quinn/Simon campaign has released an advertisement highlighting State Senator Bill Brady’s record of using his vote in the Legislature to enrich himself. The ad – entitled “Conflict of Interest” – brings attention to Brady’s repeated votes on bills that directly benefited his business and presented a clear conflict of interest.

A May 22, 2010 story in the Chicago Tribune exposed Senator Brady’s multiple votes for bills that directly impacted projects of his homebuilding business. Brady voted three times for bills allowing the state to seize private land for projects (sewers and a road interchange project) that had a direct impact on the value of Brady’s land and his developments.

Despite the clear conflict of interest, Brady insisted during a debate at Elmhurst College that he never ‘knowingly’ voted on bills from which he personally stood to benefit.

 “As Governor Quinn pointed out at last night’s debate, ‘knowingly’ is a word you use when you’re defending yourself in a criminal trial,” said Ben Nuckels, Campaign Manager. “Brady is trying to use lawyers’ tricks to hide his ethics problems. That’s the last thing Illinois wants or needs.”

Brady has campaigned on his business acumen, but ethics concerns continue to surface in Brady’s business dealings. Another Tribune story on October 14, 2010 reported that Brady received a loan for his business from a campaign contributor.

“Brady has proved that his priority is lining his own pockets. Instead of promising a ‘Clean Break,’ Bill Brady needs to ‘Come Clean’ with voters,” said Mr. Nuckels. “Governor Quinn is bringing businesses back to Illinois, after the last two governors used the office to enrich themselves and compound the state’s fiscal problems. Another ethically challenged governor is not what the state needs at this critical point in our recovery.”

The Quinn/Simon ad will run in media markets across the state.