Candidate For Governor William Dock Walls Demands Governor Pat Quinn Fire Aide Holly Copeland For Pay-To-Play Fundraising
Monday, May 25, 2009 10:00 AM
State of Illinois Building, Plaza
100 W. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL
On Friday, Governor Pat Quinn acknowledged that his campaign aide made calls to Special interest groups and improperly offered “face time” with Quinn, directly in exchange for campaign donations.
Quinn aide Holly Copeland contacted Trade Associations that have funding requests or legislation pending in Springfield and informed them that she would arrange a meeting with the Governor if they would contribute $15,000 to the Governor’s political war chest. Obviously and clearly, the expectation is that if they pay that much for a meeting with the Governor, he will support their efforts, irrespective of the merits.
Although this political fundraising scheme is not illegal, it is immoral. This reprehensible activity has degraded Pat Quinn’s presumed moral authority and thereby jeopardized his ability to pass the proposed Illinois Reform Measures. Governor Quinn cannot lead with unclean hands.
According to Gubernatorial Candidate William Dock Walls, “This is a continuation of the blatant quid-pro-quo, pay-to-play, politics that led to the impeachment of disgraced former Governor Rod Blagojevich. This type of immoral activity not only poses a dangerous threat to our Reform efforts but also to our democracy. Therefore, Holly Copeland must resign or be fired.”
Moments after Federal Prosecutors charged Rod Blagojevich with wrongdoing, then Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn demanded he step down and relinquish the duties of his office. Quinn alleged he was only interested in Reform. Immediately after Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to the vacant U.S. Senate seat Quinn asked Burris to refuse that appointment. After Burris was seated Lt. Gov. Quinn called upon him to resign. To promote, Reform, Gov. Quinn must now request, receive and accept the resignation of his aide Holly Copeland.
In light of these shameful revelations, Walls asks, “Is Pat Quinn a true reformer or just another crooked politician awaiting opportunity to abuse the public’s trust?”
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