(CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Only 43 men have been governor of Illinois. And, with Sunday’s passing of Jim Edgar, only four are alive now. Two, including incumbent JB Pritzker, shared their thoughts Monday.
“Many, many times over the last seven years,” Pritzker said in Chicago, “I reached out to him for advice, to seek his observations, to get ideas from him. He was a Republican, but he understood that people in public service are trying to do what’s best for the state of Illinois.”
Earlier Monday, former Gov. Pat Quinn appeared on the WTAX Morning Newswatch. And, in true Pat Quinn fashion, he brought up property taxes.
“I remember he passed a law that he signed for property tax caps back in 1991,” said Quinn. “That was a big step forward. We still have to reform the property tax system, but at least that was a step in the right direction.”
A former Quinn staffer taught a graduate course at the University of Illinois Springfield.
“Jim and I several times taught that together,” said Quinn. “Two former governors got to talk to the class and have them ask questions. We had a very good relationship.
“To me, that’s Jim Edgar.”