2014 gubernatorial race

The polls indicate a close 2014 Illinois gubernatorial race between Republican candidate Bruce Rauner and current Democratic Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. The two candidates clash various political issues in their debates. The primary target demographic of many of the Rauner-Quinn debates has been middle class voters.

Below are two profiles: one of democratic Pat Quinn (left) and the other of Republican candidate Bruce Rauner (right).

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Photo courtesy of Twitter (left) and the Huffington Post (right).

Pat Quinn (Democrat)

·       Minimum wage should be more than $10/hour.

·       Graduated income tax plan raises taxes for the richest Illinois residents lowers taxes for middle class families.

·       Quinn attacks Rauner’s position in the “1%” as making him out of touch with the middle class.

·       “An economy must be an economy of inclusion not exclusion that means those who work and work hard 40 hours a week should not have to live in poverty,” Quinn said as quoted by ABC7 in Chicago.

 

Bruce Rauner (Republican)

·       Keep minimum wage the same with the possibility of raising it accompanied with business reform.

·       Let current income tax expire. Apply graduated income tax, which would raise tax rates for higher-income citizens, would ultimately economically hurt middle class family finances.

·       Rauner claims Quinn is corrupt and holds many similarities to former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

·       “He [Quinn] is the worst governor in America, he has failed the people of Illinois, we [Rauner’s campaign] are going to hit him hard,” said Rauner as quoted by ABC7 in Chicago.

 

 

LFA History Teacher Opinions

 

“The candidates should be more focused on controlling the violence in Chicago. Chicago is the largest Illinois city, and the intercity problems should be discussed on the state level,” said History Teacher Suzy Vaughn.

 

“The candidate who can most successfully address economic issues should be supported. Illinois’ major issues right now all revolve around the economy,” said History Department Chair Christopher Dozois.