CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS ENDORSES DURBIN AND BLAGOJEVICH

Chicago - Signaling the Democratic ticket's strength headed into the final weeks of the 2002 campaign, Crain's Chicago Business announced Friday its endorsement of U.S. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) for U.S. Senate and Rod Blagojevich (D) for Governor.

Durbin's Crain's endorsement comes on the heels of Thursday's endorsement by the Illinois Chamber of Commerce - the organization's first endorsement ever of a Democrat.

"The endorsement by Crain's Chicago Business the day after our historical endorsement by the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce demonstrates that my work to promote jobs and businesses in our state has not gone unnoticed," Durbin said. "I hope to return to Washington to continue to represent businesses both large and small."

In endorsing Durbin, Crain's wrote that it is vital during these "tense and arduous times" to have an "experienced and effective leader" in the U.S. Senate.

"Illinois needs a senator who will tend to the state's parochial needs and who also has the intellectual capacity and experience to soberly address the life-and-death issues that increasingly dominate the national and international agendas," Crain's editors wrote. "Of the two major-party hopefuls, the one who will best fill the difficult, dual roles of champion and statesman is incumbent Sen. Richard Durbin, Crain's choice to represent Illinois in the U.S. Senate."

Durbin's office door has always been open to Illinois businesses. He has been a leading advocate for United Airlines in securing the federal loan guarantee it needs to survive, and Durbin has worked throughout his 20 years in Congress to support Amtrak and ensure its long-term operations. United employs 16,000 people and Amtrak employs 2,500 people in Illinois alone, and Amtrak spends $74 million annually on Illinois goods and services.
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Durbin has stepped in to save jobs when it Illinois businesses were on the brink of closure. In 2001, Freeman United Mine in Macoupin County lost a contract with a large utility company - a loss that would have led to the mine shutting down. Durbin met with the utility company and Freeman United, spurring negotiations which resulted in a new contract. The mine stayed open, saving hundreds of coal mining jobs.

In its endorsement of Blagojevich, Crain's writes: "Democrat Rod Blagojevich offers the greatest appetite for change and the political will that's essential to produce this crucial transformation. For those important reasons, Mr. Blagojevich is Crain's choice for Illinois governor."

Blagojevich said that he was gratified by the endorsement, especially since the publication cites some of his top priorities, including the state's economic and fiscal needs and the need to aggressively reform state government.

"I am pleased that they have put their trust in me due to my commitment to bring much-needed reform to state government," he said "I am also gratified that Crain's points out that this is a moment when Illinois needs a leader who understands that we must promote the interests of the state's business community while addressing Illinois' severe budget problems."

"If elected governor, I plan to partner with the state's business community to create economic expansion, develop new jobs and new revenues, and give enhanced opportunities to entrepreneurs, employers and Illinois' workforce," he added.

Blagojevich has outlined a range of proposals during the campaign aimed at fostering a positive business climate. They include his strong commitment to expanding O'Hare airport to add an additional $18-$20 billion into the state's economy; his opposition to new taxes; his innovative venture capital program to increase investment in worthwhile entrepreneurial projects; and dramatic reforms of the state's budgeting process to control state spending.

Date: October 18, 2002
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