Someone just asked Quinn if he would model himself after another Illinois Governor and I thought to myself, "say Altgeld." He said John Altgeld.
Altgeld is most famous in history for pardoning the Haymarket anarchists. He was a daring and forward thinking progressive reformer. Perhaps too much so because he failed to win re-election and invited national controversy. He's an interesting guy to read up on.
There's an Altgeld castle-style building at four public universities in Illinois due in part to his commitment to promoting education.
Quinn's answer is unsurprising. It calls back to a time when Illinois was at the center of the populist-progressive movement. With Obama in the White House, Dick Durbin the second ranking Senate leader, and a new Governor, it looks like we are again.