On Saturday, Teamsters and the SEIU Illinois Council (which sponsors this website) held a get-out-the-vote rally at a downtown Chicago Hotel for two of their endorsed candidates: Gov. Pat Quinn and Democratic Cook County board president Toni Preckwinkle.

Following a week in which he unveiled a variety of state-sponsored public works projects, Quinn emphasized his record on job creation.  "It took ten years to get a job recovery bill passed in Springfield," he said.  "And it only happened because I got sworn into office."  He added: "The fella I'm running against, he's been comptroller for 12 years.  He hasn't created one job in 12 years.  Last Tuesday, we were down at Ford and, in one day, we created 1,200 jobs. ... It's important to have a heart as a governor.  You can't just be a bean-counter." 

Watch a video produced for SEIU featuring footage from the event:

During her earlier remarks, Rep. Jan Schakowsky lambasted challenger Dan Hynes' recent attacks on Quinn and urged the audience to set the record straight about the governor.  "We need to be the messengers now," she said. "We're going to be the ones knocking on doors and talking to people."

Schakowsky also expressed excitement about the the frontrunner for Cook County board president. "Toni Preckwinkle has soared ahead on merit," she said.  "Isn't that a beautiful thing?"  Watch a video produced for SEIU featuring Preckwinkle:

"Democracy is the best and most fragile form of government on earth," Preckwinkle told the crowd. "And the reason is simple: It depends on an active, involved citizenry. ... We all believe in the importance of organizing.  And we know that if we're not organized, if we don't work together, we're not going to accomplish anything."

SEIU Illinois had announced their endorsement of Preckwinkle a little over a week earlier and she expressed her gratitude.  "I am proud and pleased that you have chosen to support my campaign" Preckwinkle said. "I look forward to working with you. I believe in the labor movement.  And I hope that you will work as hard over the next several days as you've been working, so that we celebrate in this same hotel on Tuesday night."