Former Sangamon County judge Stuart Shiffman has joined the more than 175 people who have applied to be the next Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.
Shiffman, who turned 62 last week, is a Springfield resident and was for 23 years an associate circuit judge. He currently serves as a criminal attorney with the Office of State Appellate Defender and also teaches.
In a telephone interview Saturday, Shiffman said he applied to be Gov. Pat Quinn’s running mate because “I believe truly in citizen democracy that everybody needs to participate.”
“The biggest issue facing Illinois is whether or not we’re going to have serious people making serious efforts to solve some of our problems, or whether we’re going to do the same things we’ve been doing for the last 10 on 12 years, passing the buck from one legislative session to the next legislative session,” he said.
“Do I have a simple solution? No, nobody has a simple solution.”
According to the form he submitted to the Democratic Party of Illinois’ Web site, www.ildems.com, Shiffman said he’s a Democrat “because I have always believed the party stood for those in our society who are less fortunate and need the assistance of government.”
As for strengths he would bring to the ticket, Shiffman, exhibiting a sense of humor, wrote: “I am very Lincolnesque. Like Abe I was not born in Springfield. Like Abe I am not very good looking. Unlike Abe, I am not tall.”
As of late last week, two other Springfield-area residents had
also applied to be Quinn’s running mate.
Daniel Hoffman Sr., 70, of Springfield said in his online application that he is a Native American who used to work for the Sangamon County sheriff. And Shannon Kelly, 38, of Williamsville is a correctional officer at Logan Correctional Center.
Also Saturday, The Associated Press reported that the daughter of late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon has submitted her application.
Sheila Simon is a former member of the Carbondale City Council and a member of Quinn’s government reform commission.
She calls her chances of being named the nominee “a long shot” but says she’s committed to helping the Democrats secure a victory this fall.
The Democratic Party began accepting applications last week from people who want to replace primary winner Scott Lee Cohen on the ballot. Cohen left the race soon after winning a spot on the ballot. His exit gave members of the state central committee a unique opportunity to pick a candidate.
Party officials say no timeline has been set to pick a candidate.
Read the original article from The State Journal-Register.