Vallas running for governor
<http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/vallas12.html>


July 12, 2001

BY LYNN SWEET AND FRAN SPIELMAN STAFF REPORTERS



WASHINGTON--Former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas Wednesday made the
rounds of the Democrats in the Illinois congressional delegation telling
them he was going to run for governor. He told the members he will announce
a steering committee on Monday and make his bid official in about two weeks.
He left the impression with the members that he will stay in the race no
matter what and his main issue will be education.

"Paul's running, no question about it," said Rep. William O. Lipinski
(D-Ill.) after meeting with Vallas. Calls to four other Illinois members of
Congress echoed the same message.

"He is interested in it," said Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.).

Vallas made the courtesy calls even though some, like Lipinski, are already
backing Rep. Rod Blagojevich (D-Ill.), who has built a $3 million war chest
for the governor's race.

Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) is waiting to see if former Attorney General
Roland Burris actually gets in the race. Durbin said he would not be making
any endorsement for governor.

The Vallas pitch to the delegation suggested other issues that could form
the core of his campaign: public safety, family, health care and economic
development.

Vallas refused to comment on his political future when contacted in
Washington Wednesday, where he was making the rounds with his successor,
Arne Duncan. Had Mayor Daley not chosen Duncan to succeed Vallas, the
36-year-old former Vallas deputy was reportedly prepared to manage the
Vallas campaign.

"I'm not gonna say anything until I make a decision," Vallas said. "When I
have something to say, I'll say it."

Former Illinois Senate President and State Democratic Chairman Philip J.
Rock (D-Chicago) and 1994 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dawn Clark
Netsch, Vallas' former boss and mentor, are among the political heavyweights
who have agreed to serve on the exploratory committee.

Sara Pang, Mayor Daley's newly departed deputy chief of staff, and Doug
Whitley, former president of Ameritech, also have agreed to join what
promises to be a "very diverse" Vallas political team, sources said.

Daley has vowed to remain neutral in the Democratic primary. Earlier this
week, he all but endorsed Republican incumbent Gov. George Ryan.

While known in Chicago as the man who helped turn around the schools under
Daley, Vallas also served as Daley's budget director.

However, Vallas has Downstate connections that could help in a race expected
to include former Rep. Glenn Poshard (D-Ill.), the 1998 Democratic nominee
who lost to Ryan. But Poshard is popular in southern and central Illinois
and has an enormous advantage in a Democratic contest where most of the
eight possible contenders are from the Chicago area and only a plurality is
needed to win.

While the director of the Illinois Economic and Fiscal Commission and policy
chief for former Senate President Philip J. Rock (D-Oak Park), Vallas lived
in Springfield for more than a decade.

Vallas, 48, grew up in Roseland and graduated from Carl Sandburg High School
in Orland Park. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in history and
political science from Western Illinois University, and he served in the
Army National Guard.

Others exploring a run are John Schmidt, the Chicago lawyer and former Daley
adviser who was No. 3 at the Justice Department during the Clinton
administration; Rep. Louis I. Lang (D-Skokie); former Illinois Comptroller
Michael Bakalis; and Cook County State's Attorney Richard Devine.

Vallas, who got his start as an aide to the Netsch-chaired Senate Revenue
Committee, has had his eye on the governor's office for years. In February,
he appeared to rule out a 2002 race.

"There is going to be no change--absolutely, unequivocally. I'm not
going--period. Under no circumstances. None at all. I'm here [at the Chicago
Public Schools] to stay," Vallas said..

Last month, circumstances changed. Vallas was forced out as schools CEO,
ending a remarkable six-year run that soured at the end over Mayor Daley's
impatience with student reading.

Spielman reported from Chicago with Steve Neal contributing.




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