By Illinois Public Radio
Springfield, Ill. – An African-American minister and state Senator says he's strongly mulling a bid for Illinois Governor as an independent.
The Reverend James Meeks, of Chicago, won his seat as an independent but usually sides with Democrats.
However, he says the Democratic Party and Governor Rod Blagojevich have not addressed the needs of poor people in his community. "If affulent, white and suburban is enough of the electorate to elect them, let's let them get to get elected by that electorate," Meeks says.
"But if it's not enough to elect them, then they can't have all their legislation crafted towards that constituency. It's unfair."
Meeks says education funding will be key to his campaign, and he'll decide after this month's primary whether to run.
The Blagojevich campaign says the governor hopes to remain allies with Meeks.