SPRINGFIELD , Illinois ( CNN ) -- It was n't long after the Illinois state Senate voted unanimously to remove Democratic Gov . Rod Blagojevich from office that Lt. Gov . Patrick Quinn put his hand on a Bible and took the oath of office to replace him . New Gov . Patrick Quinn says he hopes `` to restore the faith of the people of Illinois . '' Quinn , a 60-year-old tax attorney , has spent most of the last 27 years in public office . On Thursday , he took up his greatest challenge yet . `` In this moment our hearts are hurt , '' Quinn said after the swearing in . `` It is very important that all of us understand that we have a duty , a mission , to restore the faith of the people of Illinois in the integrity of our government and to make sure that all of our elected officials have the confidence of the voters . `` I think this is our highest calling , '' he said . `` I think that is what we have to do in the coming days . '' Blagojevich was arrested in December on federal corruption charges . Federal authorities allege , among other things , that he was trying to sell or trade the Senate seat that became vacant after Barack Obama was elected president . `` When I woke up on the morning of December 9 , it was quite a shock , I think for all of the people of Illinois , '' Quinn said , `` And I think it is something that you have to accustom yourself to . But I 'm an organizer . Early to bed , early to rise , organize , organize , organize and that 's what we 've got to do for Illinois for everyday people . '' Quinn , a Democrat , was elected to the office of lieutenant governor in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006 . `` His priorities include advocating for taxpayers and consumers , protecting the environment , promoting decent health care , and helping members of the armed services and their families , '' his official Web site said . He served a term as Illinois state treasurer from 1991 to 1995 , leaving office after an unsuccessful campaign for secretary of state in 1994 . Quinn waged another losing campaign in 1996 when Dick Durbin beat him in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat opened by the retirement of Sen. Paul Simon . Durbin went on to win the seat and is now Illinois ' senior senator . His political career began in Chicago in 1982 , when Quinn , then a practicing tax attorney , was elected Commissioner of the Cook County Board of ( Property ) Tax Appeals . He later served as Chicago 's revenue director . Quinn , who is divorced , has two sons . He grew up in Hinsdale , Illinois , but now lives in Chicago . Quinn called for Blagojevich to step down in the weeks after his arrest and supported the Illinois House of Representatives when it voted to impeach the embattled governor . On Thursday , he said the state 's elected representatives carried out their duties faithfully . `` I want to say to the people of Illinois , the ordeal is over , '' he said . `` The citizens of Illinois can be extremely proud of our elected representatives in the House of Representatives and in the Senate , the senators who today carried out their responsibilities with serious purpose and due process . `` I think the people of the land of Lincoln are very , very proud of our elected representatives , who reflected the will of the people . ''
Illinois Lt. Gov . Patrick Quinn , a Democrat , takes oath to become governor . Impeached Gov . Rod Blagojevich ousted by state Senate . Quinn , 60 , is a tax attorney who spent most of the last 27 years in public office .