City Room™ - Politics - No Major Parties Needed: Illinois Gov Candidates Debate

11:00am		WireTap

12:00pm		Worldview

		View Schedule

There are many ways to support public radio.

Submit

Events

9.2.2010	Chicago Public Media's Board of Directors Meeting
9.2.2010	Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Live
View full calendar

Most Popular

Submit

City RoomTM Public Affairs coverage from our award-winning staff

No Major Parties Needed: Illinois Gov Candidates Debate
Produced by Sam Hudzik on Thursday, July 08, 2010

Left to right: Rich Whitney, Lex Green, Michael White, Bill "Dock" Walls and Scott Lee Cohen. (WBEZ/Sam Hudzik)

Third party and independent candidates for Illinois governor took part in the first debate of the general election. Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican State Seb. Bill Brady opted not to attend.

WATCH: At the website of debate sponsor "Free & Equal."

The Green Party's nominee for governor, Rich Whitney, called the missing Quinn and Brady...

WHITNEY: The elephants in the...not in the room, I guess you might say.

About 50 spectators showed up at Chicago State University to see the five-candidate debate. Whitney is the only one with a secure spot on the ballot.

Budget issues dominated, with Whitney calling for tax increases, and eventually free college tuition, while the Libertarian Party's Lex Green said state residents should instead rely more on their communities and private charities.

GREEN: Because, as we see already, the state can't do it.

Independent Bill "Dock" Walls said Illinois should sell naming rights for highways and state buildings.

WALLS: I'd love to see the Microsoft Thompson Center.

Also at the debate: independent candidate Scott Lee Cohen and the Constitution Party's Michael White.

Local News

George Ryan's Lawyers: No Bribe, No Crime

CPS Builds New High School, Private Company Manages the Rest

Quinn Thinks Ryan Should Stay in Prison

Meteorite That Lit Up Midwestern Sky Gets a New Home

State Questions Value of 'Clean Coal'

Urban League Finds Jackson's Replacement

Up Close and Personal with a Penguin