But state Democratic officials jump-started that career Saturday, ratifying Gov. Pat Quinn's request to make the daughter of the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon Quinn's running mate for the Nov. 2 general election. Cole, meanwhile, lost his bid for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor in last month's primary.
The vote of the Democratic State Central Committee selecting Simon over veteran state Rep. Art Turner of Chicago reflected the belief that she would bring a pedigree of ethics reform — as well as some geographic balance — to the Chicago-centric fall ticket. After the vote, Quinn hugged Simon, 49, a university law school professor and former Carbondale City Council member.
"I think anyone who's encountered any of the Simons knows that that's a family that does believe in the ethics of service, of public service, integrity (and) friendliness," Quinn said. "It's an honor to be on the same ticket with Sheila Simon."
But Simon quickly sought to downplay the idea that Democrats — fearing voter backlash from the Rod Blagojevich scandals that put Quinn in the governor's chair — were trying to trade on the reputation her late father established.
"A famous name is not enough. Voters shouldn't stop there," Simon said after the vote. "I hope to meet with people across the state of Illinois and give them the opportunity to get to know me on my own ground — to know me as a lawyer, as a former prosecutor, as a teacher, a wife and a mother. The famous name gets my foot in the door, and that's only the start. It shouldn't be the end."
Simon was selected to fill the vacancy created when the surprise Feb. 2 primary winner, Scott Lee Cohen, gave up the nomination amid controversial revelations about his personal life. The vote culminated an unusual online application process in which more than 250 people sought the job. The field was whittled down to about a dozen finalists, including Turner, an African-American who finished second to Cohen, and had support from several prominent black Democrats.
Simon won on the first ballot, receiving the support of central committee members representing 57 percent of all the votes cast in the state's 19 congressional districts in the primary, while Turner got 30 percent. Two other finalists got a total of 4 percent while House Speaker Michael Madigan, the state Democratic chairman, did not cast his 8 percent share of the vote from his Chicago Southwest Side and suburban district.
Madigan backed Turner in the primary but did not express a choice to fill the vacancy and would not say how he would have voted. But his chief of staff quickly passed out green-and-white "Sheila Simon 2010" signs for supporters to hold up as a backdrop for her as TV cameras rolled.
The Simon name is held in high regard. When President Barack Obama embarked on his 2004 U.S. Senate bid in Illinois, Paul Simon was to vouch for the candidate by recording a campaign ad. But the former senator died before the commercial could be produced, and Sheila Simon was tapped as a replacement.
When Blagojevich kicked off his 2006 re-election campaign in southern Illinois, he had Sheila Simon introduce him. Blagojevich earlier tried to put her on a newly reconstituted state gambling board, but the law prevented her from serving while a member of the Carbondale City Council.
After Blagojevich's arrest on corruption charges, she was named by Quinn to his Illinois Reform Commission, charged with recommending ethics reforms in the wake of the scandal. Though Quinn did not push for all of the group's recommendations, Simon appeared for his signing of a controversial bill aimed at limiting campaign donations.
Her father was a state lawmaker when she was born in 1961, and her mother, Jeanne, gave up her Wilmette-based legislative seat to raise a family. The young Sheila Simon was a mainstay on the campaign trail, passing out pamphlets and making the occasional stage appearance.
Even her 1987 marriage to Perry Knop had political overtones. Though they both attended Southern Illinois University, where she now teaches at the law school, the couple met at a political picnic for governor candidate Adlai Stevenson. For their honeymoon, the couple went to Des Moines, where her father was seeking support in the Iowa presidential caucuses.
By 2003, she had won a seat on the Carbondale City Council, but her 2007 loss to Cole by about 500 votes in a high-profile mayoral race at home had raised questions among some Democrats about her statewide viability.
Simon is comfortable in her southern Illinois roots and steeped in the causes of the liberal college town where she lives. She plays banjo, bassoon and sings as a member of Loose Gravel, an all-female band whose blues-and-boogie style mixes folk, rock, country and funk.
She is known for her casual dress, even sporting Hawaiian shirts during her mayoral campaign. In interviews, she'll occasionally underscore her comments with a quick declaration: "That's the straight-up truth." On Saturday, prior to the vote, she said the excitement she felt was "like I drank five Mountain Dews."
Quinn had encouraged state Sen. Susan Garrett of Lake Forest to apply for the nomination, but she dropped out after declining to fully embrace his call for an income-tax increase. Quinn and Simon then got a chance to test their comfort level as they met at the Executive Mansion on Wednesday for an hourlong chat that Simon called a "good, honest session for him to get to know me better."
Quinn then met with downstate Democratic lawmakers over pizza and beer at a restaurant Wednesday night, chewing over the ups and downs of the potential running mates, the need to attract support from women and geographic balance for a statewide ticket. The Republican ballot features two Downstate contenders for governor and lieutenant governor: state Sen. Bill Brady, of Bloomington, and Jason Plummer, of Edwardsville.
Prior to the vote, Quinn said he believed Simon gave Democrats a strong advantage over Plummer, a former Madison County GOP chairman and the son of a wealthy developer and businessman who is making his first bid for public office.
"I think Sheila Simon has more experience in her little finger than the other candidate from the other side," the governor said.
Plummer issued a statement saying he looked forward to a "thoughtful campaign" with Simon that would include her support for Quinn's plans to raise the income tax. He contrasted his primary victory with Quinn's personal selection of Simon, calling it "a perfect example of the arrogance of our current leadership."
But Turner, who is in his third decade as a state lawmaker, said he told Quinn he was committed to a Democratic victory in November and downplayed comments from some colleagues that his rejection would be seen negatively by African-American voters.
"I want to encourage people to still keep in mind the Democratic Party and what it stands for," Turner said. "And so, what happens today should not discourage people from voting, from participating in the process."
Turner acknowledged he felt "a little bit" hurt by the outcome but said he was glad his campaign was finally over.
"The committee made their selection," he said, "and I will go forward."
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