Rauner: Quinn pretending to be a ‘folksy, bumbling fool’

Coming off a weekend where he’s reportedly down in the polls, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner launched one of the harshest attacks yet against Gov. Pat Quinn, likening Quinn to a crafty political patronage boss who heads an “Outfit” that’s steeped in cronyism.

Rauner described himself as decidedly different: “I’m nobody that nobody sent,” he said.

Looking down at prepared remarks, Rauner read off a lengthy attack on Quinn and a patronage hiring scandal at the Illinois Department of Transportation, saying Quinn has failed to fire more than 60 percent of those who were deemed political hires at the agency.

“This scam, perpetrated by Pat Quinn has got to end,” Rauner said. “Pat Quinn is not the folksy, bumbling fool he’d like us to think he is. He knows what he’s doing. He knows what he’s done.”

Rauner said if elected, he would partner with Michael Shakman to work out a settlement that includes a federal hiring monitor. His remarks came after Quinn on Friday released the names of more than 100 clouted state transportation employees who were part of what the state’s top ethics watchdog dubbed an improper hiring scheme. Quinn also said he would keep the 103 IDOT employees on the payroll.

Among those who Quinn is allowing to stay includes the son of former IDOT administrator Carmen Iacullo, who once was dubbed the “kingmaker” within the agency and who had been involved in patronage hiring for Chicago’s municipal government before getting his state job in 2004. In mid-August, after the release of a stinging report by Executive Inspector General Ricardo Meza that called the hirings improper, Quinn’s administration announced plans to lay off 58 employees at the agency.

“Pat Quinn has been a loyal foot soldier for Patronage Inc. his entire career. And now, he’s running the Outfit,” Rauner said.

“The people of Illinois are drowning in Pat Quinn’s cesspool of corruption.”

Rauner was asked what he would do if elected governor and Republicans begin calling him asking him for jobs.

“The clear answer is: Say no,” Rauner said. ”You know what? I’m nobody that nobody sent. I’m independent. I don’t need to take money from any special interest groups. I’m runnin’ to turn this state around purely out of love to this state.”

Earlier on Monday, Quinn running mate Paul Vallas hit Rauner on a former company, APS Healthcare, Inc., which was accused of fraudulently billing the Georgia Medicaid program and fined $13 million.

Early & Often previously reported that in a federal lawsuit filed against Rauner’s GTCR, Rauner’s firm is accused of essentially selling a $222.3 million lemon after APS and GTCR executives engaged in a “deliberate campaign to conceal the truth.”

“Bruce Rauner has no credibility when it comes to addressing waste, fraud and abuse — in fact, he has profited from fraud and abuse at his company,” said Vallas.