Sep 6, 2006 7:06 pm US/Central
Hometown Residents Sympathetic To Former Governor
Kankakee Residents Acknowledge Wrongdoing, Sympathize With Ryan Family
by Derrick Blakley
KANKAKEE, Ill. (CBS) ―
The sentencing of former
Gov. George Ryan was watched closely in Ryan's hometown of
Kankakee, Ill.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakely reports there is a great deal of sympathy for the former governor there.
Many in Kankakee still view Ryan as the hometown pharmacist who rose all the way to the governor's office while always taking care of the local roads and bridges, the community college, and the people back home.
"He's touched everyone in this town in one way or another," said Kankakee resident Eileen Wright.
Around Kankakee, it's tough to find someone who doesn't know George Ryan. At Bill's drive-in, waiter Terry Emme used to hang out at Ryan's house while his aunt babysat Ryan's children.
"For the county, it's especially hard because he's done so much for us," Emme said.
Waiter Chaynette Wright went to school with Ryan's daughters.
"I voted for the guy," she said. "I understand everyone should be punished, but they should go lenient on him."
Peter Pagast lived just three doors down from Ryan's home.
"It is tragic, I would say, that he has to serve six and a half years," he said.
For decades, Ryan represented Kankakee on the county board and in the state legislature before rising to secretary of state and finally governor.
"I'm very sorry and saddened," Kankakee resident Ce Ci Erickson said. "I just want to offer prayers to his family."
Even though the court said the tragic deaths of the six Willis children should not factor in his sentence, even in Ryan's hometown, some don't see it that way.
"Lives have been lost because of this," said resident Sharon Carter. "Look at the life sentence the parents got. So why shouldn't he serve his time?"
Plenty of people in Kankakee acknowledge Ryan's wrongdoing, but say he did a lot of good, too. Mostly they feel sympathy for his family.
It was clear to everyone here that for George Ryan, the politician who never lost an election, the winning streak ended Wednesday.
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