| FIRST REPORTED 3:00pm 10/12/09 A local Congressman says he doesn't normally make a habit of endorsing candidates for any office, but says one candidate for Governor has done, in his words, a "tremendous job" turning the state from a "laughingstock" to respectable again. 17th District Democrat Phil Hare toured parts of his district today with Governor Pat Quinn, and stopped Monday morning at the Galesburg Labor Temple to make his push for Quinn. Hare says people may not believe it, but Quinn has turned the state around since he took office in January. "When (Quinn) took over, he was handed nothing short of a mess as we all know -- ethics scandals, a huge budget deficit, political infighting, and a capital construction bill that had been stalled for literally years," Hare said. Quinn says if elected he wants to continue to help Galesburg turn its economic fortunes around. "I believe in Galesburg," Quinn said. "I believe in railroads. We've put a lot of money into our Capital Bill that I signed into law. It's going to provide for...dealing with these three overpasses in town here, to make it possible hopefully for Burlington Northern to come and really expand." Quinn is the second candidate for Governor to campaign in Galesburg. His stop Monday was populated with well-known local democrat party names from through Knox and Henry Counties. Knox College President Roger Taylor was among those also there.  (Rep. Phil Hare, left, speaks at the Galesburg Labor Temple Monday as Governor Pat Quinn and Galesburg Mayor Sal Garza listen.)  (Rep. Phil Hare and Gov. Pat Quinn meet with voters Monday at the Galesburg Labor Temple.)  (Gov. Pat Quinn speaks with Knox County Board Chair Greg Bacon Monday at the Galesburg Labor Temple. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.) |