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. -- This is the CPS Science Teacher List. To unsubscribe, send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For more information: <http://home.sprintmail.com/~mikelach/subscribe.html>. To search the archives: <http://www.mail-archive.com/science%40lists.csi.cps.k12.il.us/>