There’s some tension growing as Illinois Democratic officials prepare to pick a new candidate for lieutenant governor.

Quinn insists the search for a new lieutenant governor nominee should not be limited to the candidates who ran for the job in the primary. And he’s staked a claim in the selection process.

QUINN: As the nominee of the Democratic Party, I should have a strong voice in who my running mate is, and I’m sure that’ll happen.

TURNER: Well, I’m not certain where the governor’s coming from. He sounds a little confused on a number of issues.

State Representative Art Turner got the second most votes in the primary, behind Scott Lee Cohen, who dropped out. Turner says he thinks the governor’s heart is in the right place, but notes that the nominee will be voted in by members of the Democratic state central committee, not Quinn.

TURNER: You know, I respect his opinion, but I think that voice is up to the 38 people, and they’re the ones that should make this decision.

The party chairman - House Speaker Mike Madigan - has said he’s including Quinn and Senate President John Cullerton in the selection of a nominee, even though they are not members of the state central committee.