CHICAGO - January 5, 2009. At the Chicago City Club Luncheon, Lt. Governor Quinn announced the formation of the Illinois Reform Commission, headed by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Collins.
"The people of Illinois demand clean government and the highest ethical conduct from public servants, especially their leaders, and they are going to get it," said Quinn.
The reform effort will be conducted under the auspices of the Lt. Governor's office. Other commission members will be named in the near future.
The initiative will investigate areas where reform is most needed. The Reform Commission will seek to work with victims of corruption and with experts from business, law enforcement, government, education, the military and not-for-profit community groups.
In addition, the Reform Commission will invite everyday citizens to suggest what changes are needed to clean up state government. Citizens can share their views by going to ReformIllinoisNow.org and posting comments.
"I am honored that Patrick Collins has agreed to head this important initiative. He is a strong voice for fairness and accountability in government. He will stand up for the people of Illinois," said Quinn.
As a 12-year assistant U.S. Attorney, Mr. Collins spearheaded corruption investigations at the city, county, state and federal levels. Most notably, Mr. Collins was the lead prosecutor in the eight-year Operation Safe Road investigation into corruption at the Secretary of State's office which culminated in the trial and conviction of former governor George Ryan.
Since April 2007, Collins has been a partner at the law firm Perkins Coie LLP. Mr. Collins received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, in economics from the University of Notre Dame, where he was also Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School.
For more information, please visit ReformIllinoisNow.org.
STATEMENT OF PATRICK M. COLLINS
I was honored to receive a call last week from Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn who asked me if I would be willing to serve as the chairman of the Illinois Reform Commission at this important time in our state's history.
With a great sense of humility and purpose, I have accepted Lt. Gov. Quinn's invitation. One of the primary reasons I agreed to accept the invitation was that Lt. Gov. Quinn's request was direct, straightforward and without preconditions: Would I be willing to help assemble people of accomplishment and good faith who love Illinois to propose comprehensive ethical reforms for our government in an expeditious manner?
After 12 years as a federal prosecutor working public corruption cases, I saw first-hand how a culture of corruption has seeped into our governmental institutions and compromised the essence of our democracy.
Today, I will begin asking a number of individuals from across Illinois from a variety of walks of life to join the Commission and help it achieve its mission. In the upcoming weeks, the Commission will seek the advice and counsel of experts in the field, and importantly, will actively seek the input of the public through a variety of means. I have little doubt that if we can actively engage the public in this endeavor and obtain their collective input and support, we will be successful.
While there are no quick fixes to the multi-faceted ethical problems we face and no shortage of justifiable cynicism to surmount, I firmly believe this Commission can help bring about some meaningful, tangible improvements to the nagging culture of corruption that infects our governmental institutions.
In accepting this volunteer position, I pledge that the Commission's work will be independent, apolitical and premised upon an important investigative principle I learned during my years as a federal prosecutor: aggressively gather the facts and then let the chips fall where they may.
There will be more to say shortly when the Commission is fully formed, but for now, let me close by again expressing gratitude for this unique opportunity to help make a contribution on this important issue.
Thank you. |