Former Illinois Treasurer Pat Quinn officially announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor Sunday, putting to rest widespread speculation that he would enter the already-crowded gubernatorial race.

Though the four announced Democratic gubernatorial candidates may be breathing a sigh of relief, publicly they do not seem to be fazed by the announcement.

Quinn had been teasing the field for weeks, showing up to Democratic gubernatorial functions and speaking as if he were a bona-fide candidate.

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But Quinn, citing family considerations as the primary reason for his passing up a run for governor, is intent on securing the nomination for the state’s second post.

I’m the only candidate with kids in grammar school, Quinn said, justifying his decision to bypass a gubernatorial campaign. There are certain things in life you only do once, and Id like to spend more time with my family.

Quinn’s family did not deter him from mounting a statewide campaign, however. He now positions himself to run against Mary Lou Kearns, Kane County coroner, in the March primary if he can collect the 5,000 signatures by Monday to get on the ballot.

Quinn is no stranger to statewide races, as he secured the treasurer’s position in 1990 and won the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State in 1994. Before he was treasurer, Quinn was elected to the Commission of the Cook County Board on Property Taxes. He also ran an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate in 1996, when he was defeated in the primary by now-senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill.

Quinn, a self-described populist, said his campaign primarily will focus on state insurance rates, campaign-finance reform, health care and ethics reform. Quinn admits he will not be running with a fully stocked war chest, but he is confident that his tough stances on campaign finance will offset a shortage of funds and translate into votes.

We’re pretty frugal always have been, Quinn said. We want this campaign to be used as a model on how to run a campaign without spending an arm and a leg.

Populism means standing up for citizens who don’t have lobbyists working for them.

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Quinn entering the lieutenant governor’s race did not seem to faze the John Schmidt camp, as Schmidt’s press secretary, Becky Carroll, downplayed the announcement.

We’re not focusing on anybody else, she said. But, it reflects the fact that John Schmidt has run a strong, solid campaign so far.

Carroll said Quinn’s decision most likely had been affected by Schmidt’s recent surge in momentum. In a recent internal poll of the Illinois Democratic Central Committee, Schmidt took first with 40 percent of the vote, followed by U.S. Rep. Glenn Poshard, D-Ill., with 34 percent. Former Attorney General Roland Burris placed third with 15 percent, and the rest were undecided. Retired U.S. Attorney Jim Burns, the remaining Democratic candidate, did not garner any votes.

If Pat Quinn felt that he was a strong showing, he would have chosen to get in the race, Carroll said. It demonstrates that the field is thinning and that John (Schmidt) has been building a solid base of support and raising money.

None of the Democratic hopefuls have endorsed a candidate for lieutenant governor. Dave Stricklin, Poshard’s press secretary, said his candidate is concentrating solely on the governor’s race, but is impressed with both Kearns and Quinn. Stricklin seemed to express indifference with Quinn’s decision, but said that a case could be made for a Quinn-for-governor candidacy benefiting Poshard.

Everybody ought to look at the lay of the land, Stricklin said. It’s America. It’s the Democratic Party. And, people ought to run for the office that best suits their talents and abilities if they have something to contribute.

You could probably make a case that if there was an additional Chicago candidate in the race, it would have benefited us, but we’re really not looking at it like that.

Stricklin also downplayed the results of the recent Central Committee poll, saying that Poshard is continuing to build support and further his message.

We’re very satisfied with our support in the Central Committee, he said. We’re not worried.

Quinn is not worried about his election chances, either. He says his name recognition and past experience will aid him in securing the nomination. Quinn also said his strategy consists of establishing a strong southern base, where populism rather than elitism is favored.

I’m convinced that for us to win the state of Illinois, we must build from the south north, he said. I’m skeptical of big government, big bureaucracy and big corporations, and I think the people are, too.

Organizing citizens is important. And, I think people know who I am and what I stand for.