Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn endorsed Democratic candidate Bob Brown for 70th District State Representative in a speech Thursday on campus.

“I think he has the independence,” Quinn said. He described Brown as a man who would not bend to the influence of lobbyists in Springfield.

Quinn also stressed the importance of voting in this election.

“I’m definitely here today to encourage everyone on the campus, in the county and in the state, to turn out and vote,” Quinn said. “I hope the voters of the district see the opportunity to elect a fresh face.”

Both Brown and Quinn talked about the importance of K-12 and higher education. They also talked about the importance of NIU.

“The future is very bright for Northern,” Quinn said. “And we’ve got to have legislators who are concerned about higher education and education in general. That’s what Bob Brown believes in: a strong educational system.”

NIU and the University of Illinois rank in the top two Illinois public universities, Brown said. Brown spoke recently with NIU President John Peters and examined the growing enrollment as well as the poor ranking NIU receives in capital development.

“Northern is at the bottom of that list; that’s a sin,” Brown said.

Quinn also said he filed a petition with the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to establish a toll-payers’ bill of rights that would guarantee not to raise tolls for passenger cars. He also said trucks on the highway may need to pay more for the use of the tollways.

“Those that do the most damage to the roads should pay the most,” Quinn said.

In addition to endorsing Brown, Quinn spoke about Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Barack Obama and his importance as an up-and-coming leader for the ticket.

“I know Barack Obama is going to win in a landslide,” Quinn said.