Pat Quinn
Pat Quinn has served the people of Illinois – both as an active citizen and as a public official – for more than a quarter century. Since 1975, he has organized grassroots petition drives that have garnered more than 4 million signatures for consumer protection, tax reform, and giving citizens a stronger voice in government. He was elected Lt. Governor of Illinois in November 2002.
As Lt. Governor, Pat Quinn serves as a consumer and taxpayer advocate. In addition, his office administers several programs that foster a cleaner environment and support economic development in historic business districts and rural communities across the state.
Lt. Governor Quinn has several defined duties, including serving as chairman of the Illinois River Coordinating Council, Illinois Delegation to the Great Lakes Commission, Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, Illinois Main Street Advisory Council, Illinois Green Government Coordinating Council and the Broadband Deployment Council.
In 2003, Quinn spearheaded the successful citizen movement to establish the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund which lends a helping to the families of citizen soldiers called to active duty. Quinn also maintains www.OperationHomeFront.org, one of the country’s most informative websites on supporting our troops
Quinn served as Illinois State Treasurer from 1991 until 1995. His Linked Deposit Program helped more than 25,000 Illinois families and businesses get $2 billion in loans from banks for affordable housing, small business expansion and agriculture.
Quinn won passage of the state Whistleblower Law which empowers taxpayers to file lawsuits to root out fraud and waste, and the Inspector Misconduct Act which prohibits shakedowns by state employees of the regulated businesses they inspect.
A longtime consumer advocate, Quinn spearheaded the 1983 drive to create the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), a statewide membership organization that has supported safe, reliable and affordable utility service.
Quinn also led the largest petition drive in state history in 1976 which stopped a century-old practice of allowing Illinois legislators to collect their entire salary on their first day in office. In 1980, he organized the Cutback Amendment to reduce the size of the Illinois General Assembly – the first and only constitutional amendment ever adopted by citizen initiative.
Born in 1948, Quinn graduated from Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Northwestern University School of Law. He was elected Commissioner of Cook County Board of Tax Appeals in 1982, served as Chicago Revenue Director, and was a member of his local school council. He is the author of How to Appeal Your Property Taxes…Without a Lawyer.
Lt. Governor Quinn is the father of two sons and maintains residences in Chicago and Springfield.