It's been nearly nine months since former Gov. Pat Quinn disappeared from the news cycle.
This week, though, he's edged back into the headlines -- twice.
Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed's Wednesday column bore the headline "Quinn's next move," and reported that Quinn was planning to revive his consumer advocacy roots for his next career move.
Sneed hears former Gov. Pat Quinn, who has been on the road visiting family and friends since he lost his gubernatorial mantle, is gearing up for a new public role.
Sneed is told Quinn, who was one of the founders of the storied Citizens Utility Board, is on tap for a consumer advocacy comeback.
"He is concerned nobody is looking out for the little guy," said a top Quinn source.
Sneed reported that Quinn remains active in honoring Illinois veterans and their families, a cause he adopted during his years as lieutenant governor from 2003-2009.
Sneed is told Quinn, a major Cubs and White Sox fan, called up head Cardinals honchos and arranged a special event at the ballpark for the families of children killed while serving in the military in honor of Gold Star Mother's Day, which he's celebrated every year since 2003, when he was lieutenant governor.
Quinn, who stood out in a sea of Cardinals red wearing Cubbie blue, drove to St. Louis in his Ford Fusion to meet and greet seven gold star families before the game in front of the Stan "The Man" Musial statue.
Then on Thursday, Quinn assessed the current state of state government to The News-Gazette of Champaign-Urbana, where the former governor attended a luncheon to mark the opening of the Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education at the University of Illinois.
You can see what else Quinn had to say at Reboot Illinois
