SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Pat Quinn's decision to keep Pontiac Correctional Center open continues his trend of reversing the controversial initiatives of his disgraced predecessor. | VIDEO: Pontiac prison history | PONTIAC: 'It's a big relief' for workers | THOMSON: In limbo yet again

The Chicago Democrat announced Thursday that the 137-year-old prison would not close as had been ordered last year by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The decision, cheered by local lawmakers, Livingston County residents and union workers, comes just weeks after Quinn also overrode Blagojevich's earlier plans to close state parks.

"Keeping Pontiac Correctional Center open will ensure nearly 600 people in the region keep their jobs, prevent hundreds of families from being uprooted, and allow Pontiac to maintain one of its largest sources of revenue," Quinn said in a prepared statement.

Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy was gleeful.

"Excuse me while I do my happy dance," McCoy said.

Blagojevich, who was removed from office in January amidst accusations of corruption, announced last May he wanted to close the maximum-security facility and move the inmates to a newer, mostly unused prison in Thomson, located north of the Quad Cities.

The fate of Thomson remained unclear Thursday. The prison houses about 130 minimum-security inmates, who were supposed to be preparing the remainder of the prison for prisoners from Pontiac.

Blagojevich's plan had caused a firestorm of outrage in Pontiac. Local leaders said the closure would devastate the local economy. A legislative panel tried to block the move, but Blagojevich ignored their recommendation.

A series of inmate transfers to other facilities was underway late last year before it was blocked by a lawsuit filed by the state's largest employee union.

State Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, credited Quinn for listening to local officials who were opposed to the closure.

"It is refreshing to have a governor who will work with the legislators and do what is best for our great state," Rutherford said.

State Rep. Keith Sommer, R-Mackinaw, said the decision reflects a desire by Quinn to move the state forward after the debacle of Blagojevich's December arrest and impeachment trial.

"They are trying to distance themselves from the previous administration," Sommer said.

Henry Bayer, executive director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, praised the decision.

"Governor Quinn is doing the right thing by keeping Pontiac open. The state prison system is dangerously overcrowded, and closing any prison would make a bad situation much worse," Bayer said.

Quinn's move comes less than a week before he unveils his proposed spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The proposal could contain a blueprint for the future of Thomson.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, threatened to withhold support for Quinn's budget if the governor isn't willing to close "ancient" prisons such as Pontiac in order to open Thomson.

"I'm going to be really hard pressed to tell my people they should help bail out Governor Quinn's folly," Jacobs said.

AFSCME hopes the governor fully opens Thomson.

"The last administration grossly mismanaged the Department of Corrections, leaving behind a system with 45,000 inmates jammed into prisons built for just 34,000," Bayer said.

Along with reversing course on the prison and the state parks, Quinn is expected to break ranks with Blagojevich on the issue of a tax increase.

While Blagojevich had opposed raising taxes, Quinn and legislative leaders are considering hiking the income tax this spring to help dig the state out of a massive budget hole.

Quinn also has said he is reviewing whether to reopen historic sites that were closed by Blagojevich and says he is looking into whether to halt a planned move of state transportation workers from Springfield to Harrisburg.