Role of the Lieutenant Governor

The Lieutenant Governor serves as Chairman of the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council, Chairman of Rural Bond Bank of Illinois, and head of the Illinois Main Street Program. However, the recent invasion of the Asian Carp into the Illinois waterways has made the responsibilities as Chairman of the Illinois River Coordinating Council the most important and difficult.

Waterways

With growing fears that voracious Asian Carp will invade the Great Lakes system, the next Lt. Governor will need to navigate many serious and difficult interests. There are calls to permanently close the waterway connecting the lakes to the Mississippi River to prevent the collapse of the $7 billion-a-year Great Lakes sport and commercial fishing industry. Such a move would disrupt shipments of millions of tons of iron ore, coal, grain and other goods. Six miles of the river have already been poisoned to allow federal authorities time to repair the electric barrier. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and five environmental groups threatened to sue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to force it to shut three shipping locks near Chicago.

The carp were imported by Southern fish farms but escaped into the Mississippi in large numbers during flooding in the 1990s and have been making their way northward ever since. They can grow to 4 feet long and 100 pounds, and leap out of the water when boats are near.

Additional information is available at these links:

Tourism

The Lieutenant Governor oversees one of Illinois major tourism programs, Main Street Illinois, and has responsibility to coordinate and grow this vital sector.

Tourism in Illinois contributes over $28 billion to our local and state economy, and accounts for over 300,000 jobs. 1500 jobs were added in 2007 alone. In 2007 Illinois welcomed 1.1 million international tourists and 91 million domestic tourists.

Illinois tourism accounts for more than $2 billion in local and state tax revenue, including more than $200 million in tax revenue from hotel taxes. Twenty counties in Illinois report $100 million or more in tourism related spending.

Advocacy

Perhaps the most well-known aspect of the Lieutenant Governor’s position is the historic role as advocate and ombudsman to the executive branch. Governor Pat Quinn was a tireless advocate for veterans. Neil Hartigan was a champion for senior citizens, and Corrine Woods for rural housing and other issues affecting rural communities.

The late Senator Paul Simon was most effective in this role, and as Lieutenant Governor was a tireless advocate for good government and effective policy. Art Turner will continue in his tradition, to serve as a strong advocate for disenfranchised citizens. Turner is particularly concerned with youth across the state and providing opportunities for the younger generation to be engaged in the growth and future of Illinois’ rural communities and cities.

Turner will be a true ombudsman and bring forward any difficult important topic regardless of popularity or appetite of the mainstream.