Governor Pat Quinn has selected former Chicago schools CEO and 2002 gubernatorial candidate Paul Vallas as his running mate in 2014. Quinn announced Vallas as his pick in an email Friday.
Vallas is currently the Superintendent of Schools in Bridgeport, Connecticut where he is fighting to keep his job. The Connecticut Supreme court is expected to rule on whether or not Vallas is qualified to be a superintendent under Connecticut law. He remains on the job pending the appeal.
Quinn says he's known Vallas for 30 years and he's never been shy about fighting for education, reform and opportunities for working people. Vallas ran Chicago Public Schools from 1995 until 2001. He lost the Democratic nomination for governor in 2002 to Rod Blagojevich. Vallas is also a former superintendent of schools in Philadelphia and New Orleans.
Quinn's current lieutenant governor, Sheila Simon, is running for Comptroller.
