Rent-to-own News - RTO ally Danny Davis rallies for Obama seat

Illinois Rep. Danny Davis announced today he wants consideration as President-Elect Barack Obama's successor in the Senate.

Rent-to-own bill co-sponsor Rep. Danny Davis [IL-7] today formally announced his interest in filling President-Elect Barack Obama's unfinished Senate term after Obama officially vacated the position Sunday.

Over 100 people rallied to hear Davis' announcement, which was made this afternoon from his district office in Chicago at a special called conference. The conference featured a host of prominent Chicago leaders who voiced support for Davis as Obama's successor.

"Yes, I am interested," Davis recently told Pioneer Press. "Yes, there are people who have suggested to me that they would be supportive and that they are supportive of an effort to convince the governor to appoint me to fill that vacancy."

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich can appoint any Illinoisan who is 30 years old to replace the state's exiting senator. Blagojevich's pick will serve the remainder of Obama's term -- a little over two years -- but must face the voters of Illinois in 2010 if he or she wants a full six-year term.

Davis became an official co-sponsor of H.R. 1767 -- the Consumer Rental Purchase Agreement Act -- in May of this year and has worked closely with the Illinois Rental Dealers Association to provide computers for an innovative ex-offender training program that bears Davis' name.

Unlike Senate vacancies, should Davis be selected to fill Obama's term, a special election would be required to fill the six-term congressman's seat in the House, Davis told reporters at the press conference.

Casey Pristou with Rep. Danny Davis at the congressman's press conference Sunday in Chicago.

So far the unofficial list of possible Obama replacements includes Tammy Duckworh, a disabled Iraq war veteran and currently the Illinois veteran affairs director, U.S. Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr., of Chicago and Jan Schakowsky, of Evanston, Ill., Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, according to press reports.

Davis first made known his interest in the position two days after his re-election to the U.S. House, an overwhelming victory that garnered him widespread support over Republican challenger Steve Miller.

In an earlier response to media inquiries regarding his interest in the Senate gig, Davis stated, "My congressional record speaks for itself and my ability to build coalitions locally, nationally and across the aisles in Congress is transparent." In the same release the congressman also noted his potential Senate promotion had received the support of the Westside Elected Officials

Blagojevich said he will name Obama's replacement by year's end.

Davis, who represents Chicago's west side, is serving his sixth term in the House. He is an influential member of the Congressional Black Caucus and serves on the Education and Labor and Oversight and Government Reform committees.

The selection of Davis would move one of Rent-to-Own's key allies from the House to the Senate providing further opportunities for the industry to build on community outreach initiatives in the Chicago area.

This August the Illinois Rental Purchase Dealers Association donated over 60 used computers to the Danny K. Davis Job Training Program -- a unique "hands on" computer repair curriculum that is opening the  doors to gainful employment for "ex-offenders" in the Chicago area.
 
Of the 114 graduates of the now two-year old training program, 59 are working today, according to Lowry Taylor, the program's creator and executive director.

Casey Pristou, an Aaron's franchisee with five stores, who helped coordinate the computer donation effort and attended Davis' conference Sunday, said the congressman's steady hand of experience would serve Illinois well in the Senate.

"I've had the privilege to get to know Congressman Davis over the last several years through the legislative conference and computer program," Pristou said. "Being a long-time Illinois resident I can think of no other established politician that is better suited to replace President-Elect Obama, "He's got the seasoning. I can't think of anyone who's better equipped."

Vice President-elect Joe Biden also is expected to resign his seat representing Delaware at some point between now and the Jan. 20 inauguration. Democratic Gov. Ruth Ann Minner presumably would pick the successor.

mevans@rtohq.org