By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – “When I grow up, I want to be lieutenant governor,” said probably no child ever. But the person who will take that post in January says it’s an important one.

Among Illinois’ lieutenant governors, one quit the job out of boredom. And the state went two years with no lieutenant governor the last time the Number Two became Number One.

Still, State Rep Juliana Stratton (D-Chicago) says there’s work to be done.

“We talked about a new office of criminal justice reform and economic opportunity, which I will be tasked with leading,” Stratton said. “That’s work I have been doing throughout my career. Too many people have been caught up in the criminal justice system because of a lack of economic opportunity. We see it important to bring those issues together.”

Typical duties have been chairing such things as Main Street Illinois and the Rural Affairs Task Force, though outgoing Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti was involved in exploring government consolidation.

In all the talk of transition to a Pritzker administration, there is still unfinished business. Stratton maintains campaign workers claiming discrimination in a lawsuit are incorrect.

“I’ve said before that JB and I stand by our campaign, that we’ve had 45 percent of our entire campaign staff comprised of people of color,” Stratton told reporters at the Capitol during the first week of veto session. “It was a very diverse and inclusive staff, with over 50 percent of our senior team African-American. These individuals (suing) have chosen to pursue this path, and we will take that course of fighting it in court.”

Stratton, Pritzker, and the other statewide winners are sworn in Jan. 14.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]