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"Why this Democrat is voting for Rauner?" was the headline of my commentary that the Tribune publishedon March 19, 2014. Borrowing a quote from President John F. Kennedy that said "sometimes party loyalty asks too much," I explained that as a Democrat I supported Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner because Illinois was in grave financial peril and that we needed to change our financial direction.

After Rauner was elected, the Tribune published another piece I wrote where I urged Gov.-elect Rauner to fire his campaign staff, stop campaigning and start governing with advisers "who are problem solvers, who are not partisans, and who know how to compromise."

Sadly, our state's financial situation has continued to deteriorate. Problems have not been solved, bitter and excessive partisanship is accepted political strategy in Springfield, and "compromise" is a dirty word. I do not believe it's all Gov. Rauner's fault. It is the fault of both the Democratic and Republican parties. At least Democratic Senate President John Cullerton and Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno are trying to find compromise while House Speaker Michael Madigan insists it is his way or the highway. And while I continue to like and respect Gov. Rauner and his wife, Diana, I believe we need a change if we are to reach compromise and progress.

That is why I will enthusiastically vote for and support Chris Kennedy for governor of Illinois in 2018. As a friend of his mother and father for more than 60 years, I've known Chris since his birth. His dad, the late Robert Kennedy, and I were on the 1956 campaign staff of Illinois Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson when he ran for president. Because Bob Kennedy and I were about the same age, we were often roommates on campaign trips. And because we both had children of similar ages, we often talked about our families and our values. As the years passed, Chris grew up, married Sheila Berner, and moved to Chicago to manage the Merchandise Mart.

As I saw Chris and Sheila raise their children, participate actively in good causes in our community, and later create Top Box Foods to help poor families have affordable nutritious food, I urged him to follow Kennedy family traditions and run for political office. Chris declined, waiting for his children to grow up, but he did take on important public service. Taught by his parents that a person should measure worth by how he or she has served the community, Chris worked to build and strengthen organizations that provide legal services to the elderly and disabled, provide early education, inclusion, and enrichment programs to children with special needs and their families, and offer shelter to our homeless and food to our hungry.

From 2009 through 2014, when the University of Illinois needed an independent and committed leader with integrity, courage and vision to reform and navigate the university beyond a public admissions scandal, Chris Kennedy served as chairman of the University of Illinois board of trustees to take on the challenge. He did it with success and distinction, and earned the respect of Democrats and Republicans.

Now, Illinois needs a governor who will restore bipartisanship and Illinois leadership for our nation. Adlai E. Stevenson, a great governor, led Illinois to become one of the most admired states in our country. Illinois has great men and women, great businesses, great labor, great universities, great artistic and cultural institutions, and a great future. We can renew Stevenson's vision for Illinois: "Here on the prairies of Illinois and the Midwest, we can see a long way in all directions. Here there are no barriers, no defenses, to ideas and aspirations."

Chris Kennedy's campaign will offer new ideas and aspirations to restore Illinois to its glory days.

Newton N. Minow is a Chicago lawyer and senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.

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Why this Democrat is ditching Rauner - Chicago Tribune