Quinn concedes, endorses Kearns

Five weeks after the polls closed, former state Treasurer PatrickQuinn finally conceded the Democratic lieutenant governor's raceTuesday, declaring he could not afford the cost of a recount - andthe party could not afford the confusion.

"There is no question that the recount would take from three tofour months to resolve," Quinn said. "And I think it would be adistraction, and it would take attention away from the importantissues of the campaign."

Quinn's surprise decision is a boon to Democratic gubernatorialnominee Glenn Poshard and running mate Mary Lou Kearns, who had beenforced to watch Quinn's maneuverings play out like an unwelcomesideshow to the campaign.Kearns, who is Kane County coroner, won the party's nominationfor lieutenant governor March 17 by a mere 1,468 votes - the closeststatewide election in 46 years. Quinn endorsed her Tuesday."I'm very ecstatic and very grateful that Pat's not goingforward with any expensive legal proceedings and is not going topursue this anymore," Kearns said. "The important thing is weDemocrats are moving forward with the campaign and presenting aunified party."Quinn conceded two hours before his 4:30 p.m. deadline to filea petition for a recount with the state Supreme Court.Quinn insisted he had already uncovered enough votes to beatKearns.He said his scrutiny of selected precincts in Chicago, KaneCounty and three Downstate counties over the past week turned up2,308 votes that would go for him and another 2,430 absentee ballotsthat needed further investigation.But Quinn, 49, a Northwest Side lawyer, said he could not lineup contributors to help him defray the costs of the recount. Hewould have had to pay $50 for each precinct he wanted scrutinized, upto a maximum cost of $75,000, plus a $10,000 filing fee. Legal feeswould be extra."The amount of money for the recount - $85,000 to $100,000 -would have been more than we spent in the whole campaign," he said.Quinn's decision surprised some longtime supporters.Estelle Cukay, 80, a Berwyn retiree who has done volunteer workfor Quinn for 25 years, said, "I really thought he would challengeit. I'm disappointed. And surprised, because we worked so hard -and he worked so hard, and he is a good man."Quinn, who has lost three elections now in four years, left thedoor open to seek office again."I'm not signing my politicial epitaph here," Quinn said. "Aslong as Pat Quinn's around and the water flows and the grass grows,I'll be organizing for some kind of public interest cause."