So long, farewell
Monday, Nov 14, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Legislative retirements are piling up…
Historically, big turnover in the House and Senate happens once a decade with the redrawing of legislative boundaries, a process that often puts incumbents in the minority party in a landscape with which they are not familiar or that may be unfriendly politically.
But this go-around, there is a sizable contingent of Democrats, who were in charge of the mapmaking, who have decided to call it quits. Some are seeking higher political office or lucrative job offers. Others have family commitments or simply have grown weary of the stress of an enduring state budget crisis that shows no signs of relenting.
The list compiled by the Sun-Times…
Sen. James Meeks (D)
Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D)
Sen. Edward Maloney (D)
Sen. Susan Garrett (D)
Sen. David Koehler (D)
Sen. Larry Bomke (R)
Sen. John Millner (R)
Sen. Suzi Schmidt (R)
Rep. Joe Lyons (D)
Rep. Connie Howard (D)
Democratic Reps. Karen May and Lisa Dugan and Republican Reps. Jerry Mitchell, Dave Winters and Franco Coladipietro were not listed by the paper, but they’re also retiring.
Democratic Rep. Karen Yarbrough and Republican Sen. Chris Lauzen are running for county office.
Appointed Democratic Reps. Kimberly du Buclet and Dena Carli aren’t running, and neither is appointed Republican Sen. Tom Johnson. Reps. Ron Stephens, Tom Holbrook, Will Burns, Harry Osterman, Susana Mendoza and Dan Reitz have already resigned. Sens. Rickey Hendon, Brad Burzynski, Lou Viverito and Dale Risinger have resigned as well.
There are also some House members running for the Senate, so they’ll be giving up their seats, and GOP Sen. Ron Sandack is running for the House. Also, four GOP Senators have been paired off into districts by the new map, so two of them will be leaving.
* From Greg Hinz…
In a body whose members too often are inclined to keep their heads down and take orders, all three had clear, decisive agendas for change and didn’t mind breaking some china in the process.
Mr. Schoenberg, for instance, pushed stem cell research and specialized in financial matters as co-chairman of the Legislature’s fiscal unit.
Ms. Garrett drove the folks at Metra crazy with her constant gripes about how that agency operates. Time has proven her complaints to be pretty well-founded.
Mr. Meeks’ issue was education finance reform, and he was a real terror, challenging former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, busing loads of inner-city school kids up to the North Shore and the like.
Discuss.
- Sap - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 4:55 am:
Karen May and Lisa Dugan could go on that list.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 4:57 am:
You read my mind. I was just about to go back and add those two names (and others) when your comment popped up. Thanks.
- PublicServant - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 7:14 am:
Probably booking to lock in their pensions.
- Downstate - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 7:32 am:
The John O. Jones vs. Kyle McCarter primary match-up is interesting to watch. McCarter is working it very hard. I’ve seen little or nothing regarding Jones’ efforts.
- Not in the know - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 7:36 am:
PublicServant….I think you’re on to something, or at least they are leaving to avoid addressing that massive 300 pound donkey in the middle of the chamber for many years. Now it’s being addressed and up for a vote…I feel many more will jump ship.
- A Man - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 8:17 am:
“Mr. Schoenberg, for instance, pushed stem cell research…”
How did that ever turn out? I remember Springfield was throwing millions of dollars at this back in the day when money was free ‘n easy and it was used by politicians to make sweeping political statements.
We ever get any breakthroughs? Any private money flow into Illinois spurred by this spending? Any accountability whatsoever?
Just curious…
- muon - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 8:22 am:
Sen. Suzi Schmidt should be on the list as well.
- Todd - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 8:27 am:
the perfect arguement against term limits.
I would suggest we take a look atthe attendance roll call on the first day of the 2006 session, and then look at it in 2013. I’ll bet 50% change in membership.
- Curious 2 - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 8:32 am:
Rich, can you address the pension amounts of those retiring?
- Borealis - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 8:41 am:
I think pension entitlements were not a huge factor in the number retirements announced recently. Running for office is a grind especially for House members. Serving as an elected public official is more of a headache than a calling.
Most if not all of these folks want out in order to get their lives back. I will especially miss Garrett, who did things right most of the time, and put the needs of the people of her district and the State first in her policy making.
- Cincinnatus - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 8:52 am:
John Millner will be sorely missed…
- JustaJoe - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 9:07 am:
In addition to other factors noted, they may be getting ahead of voter “kick the bums out” sentiment.
- wordslinger - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 9:12 am:
–Schoenberg, a senator since 2003 and a six-term House member prior to that, announced his political retirement unexpectedly last Tuesday, saying he would focus full-time on a job helping manage the philanthropic endeavors of billionaires J.B. and M.K. Pritzker.–
Good work if you can get it.
Senator, if you need any help managing or directing that Pritzker money, I’m available 24/7 with many, many ideas on how to do both.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 9:15 am:
Jeff Schoenberg was something of a disappointment. Coming from Evanston, which had a history of independent state legislators like Harold Katz, Woods Bowman, and (briefly) the late Judge James Moran, he quickly made his peace with Speaker Madigan. Even after moving on to the Senate, he never stuck his neck out too far.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 9:16 am:
It’s time to open the windows and let some fresh air
in.Plus they can all get their hefty pensions.
- mokenavince - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 9:19 am:
Somehow I logged in as Anonymous 9:16
- Shore - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 9:37 am:
Garret’s ability to win that district defines why Illinois politics has been democrat dominated. I disagree with the love for these people. They might be nice hardworking individuals who had an issue or two, but is the state better off today than it was 10 years ago? No.
I’m not a subscriber to cap fax, so I apologize if I missed this but democrats have all these suburban legislators retiring and none of them want a free shot at a gerrymandered district?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 9:39 am:
The Blago years are finally catching up with us, as is the rancid politics of Springfield.
There’s not much reason for a bipartisan problem solver to remain in Springfield.
May, Garrett and Schoenberg were champions of government transparency and spending reforms.
Millner and Howard co-sponsored bipartisan legislation to put ex-offenders back to work.
Bomke was a Republican champion for public employees.
- Carl Nyberg - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 9:46 am:
When I did a Google News search on “Connie Howard” I found little info about her retirement, just the article linked.
How’s democracy work if the media isn’t covering what the government is doing?
- Don't Worry, Be Happy - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 9:55 am:
I think it’s worth including all of the folks who left in the past cycle. My sense is that it’s part of the same trend and they just jumped early.
I’m surely forgetting some, but the following come to mind:
Hamos, Coulson, Fritchey, Miller, Black, Brosnahan, Hannig, Graham, Joyce, Scully, Ryg, Cronin, Hultgren, DeLeo, Dahl, Rutherford.
Add the two cycles together, and I have to wonder if this is unprecedented turnover.
- shore - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:10 am:
“champions of government transparency and spending reform” in a decade where 650,000 jobs left the state and the governor they said was going to clean up the state went to jail.
They were pawns for the chicago kings and got lucky they were in office in the gop’s worst decade in Illinois in a long time.
- anon - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:23 am:
I’m with Cinncinnatus…Milner will be a huge loss. What a great guy and a great legislator. I hope that his family is well and i hope that we see him in Springfield again soon.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:32 am:
A fair number of these retiring legislators voted for the income tax increase and will probably soon be asked to vote on pension reform. Those two votes have been delayed for years, and those are the kind of votes that send legislators into retirement one way or another. My guess is we’ll see these names on the prevailing side when and if a vote on pension reform comes up in the near future.
I want to offer my thanks to all of these legislators for serving. It is often a thankless job and most of the people on this list worked hard and tried to do things the right way. I wish them well in the future.
- Borealis - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:35 am:
C’mon Shore, get off it already…Garrett and Schoenberg were fighting uphill battles within their own party sometimes..get real or get lost..
- Esquire - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:37 am:
It is not a happy time to be a legislator in Springfield. Some of the incumbents have displeased constituents and would be facing difficult races. Others have been redistricted. I think that quite a few simply decided to get out while the getting is good.
- Conservative Veteran - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:43 am:
Today, I read that State Rep. Daniel Biss (Democrat from the 17th Dist.) is running for the State Senate, in the 9th Dist., to try to replace Sen. Schoenberg. Who is the Republican, in that race? Who is running, to replace Biss?
- Ding Ding Ding - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:01 am:
Cultra is also likely on his way out, considering the organization Barickman is putting together in the 53rd.
- bdogg - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:10 am:
I bet half of them will end up lobbying..
- Shore - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:20 am:
conservative veteran-Bill Cadigan who lost for the 10th district last year would be good for either of those 2 jobs. as a trevian he’s got no shot at moving up unless he moves to take on comrade jan so this is it. He’s got the experience of a run in him, and while it didn’t go as well, he’s been around a lot longer than biss and is much more moderate and charismatic than biss is.
- WizzardOfOzzie - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:39 am:
It’s very simple why so many people are leaving. The nature of the job has changed.
Instead of giving things away, legislators are now being asked to take things away. One is a lot more fun than the other.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:44 am:
It should be noted the passing of Mark Beaubien. He too will not be replaced, and by noting Beaubien, with this turnover, the glaring missing piece of Beaubien will be felt even more with this new map and new makeup of the General Assembly.
- Phil - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:57 am:
@ Conservative Veteran
Jeff Smith, who’d previously run an unsuccesful challenge against Robyn Gabel (she stepped into Julie Hamos’ old seat), is running to take Biss’s seat. Biss’s district has apparently been redrawn and will now run from west of Green Bay Road in NW Evanston out to I-294. Smith was out trying to get signatures on his nominating petitions this morning and that’s what he told me.
- 60611 - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 12:28 pm:
In the 26th (downtown lakefront and south to the Skyway), why is Du Buclet leaving so suddenly? I’ve heard of 3 candidates to replace her (Kenny Johnson, Ranoule Tatum, Christian Mitchell) — are there any others out there? Thanks.
- Kilroy - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 12:32 pm:
With so many talent legislators, one wonders how Illinois got into the mess it is in.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 12:49 pm:
===Add the two cycles together, and I have to wonder if this is unprecedented turnover. ===
Yes, it is.
===are there any others out there?===
Subscribe.
- Louis Howe - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 12:52 pm:
Sen. Schoenberg’s fiscal insights, common sense, and good humor are a rare mix in Springfield. His presence will be missed. I’ve known him for over twenty years and can say I’ve never met a legislator with more integrity. All the best Jeff.
- Say WHAT? - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 12:54 pm:
@ Don’t Worry,
Scully didn’t jump ship. He accepted an appointment as a judge. When I met him years ago he told me one of his goals was to be a judge. It was never a secret. No doubt, the timing couldn’t have been better.
- railrat - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 2:02 pm:
Springfields gain, Lauzen retiring is Kane Counties lose !!!
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 5:03 pm:
=== “champions of government transparency and spending reform” in a decade where 650,000 jobs left the state ===
@shore -
I’m not sure what decade you were living in or where…but there were 4.866 million private sector jobs in Illinois when Rod Blagojevich took office in January, 2003 and the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 4.860 million private sector jobs as of September, 2011.
For a net loss of 6,000 private sector jobs over nearly nine years.
For a little contrast, from January, 2000 to January, 2003, when Republicans controlled the Governor’s Office and the Illinois Senate, Illinois lost 192,000 private sector jobs in just three years.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Pat Collins - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 5:33 pm:
So, YD, you are saying that nine years of D rule places our jobs about where they were at the end of a year after the 911 shock?
And remember, GR governed as a liberal, so its not a lot of difference…..
- One to the Dome - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 5:40 pm:
Rich: add Turner Sr, Boland, Both Meyer and Washington passed away,
- One to the Dome - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 5:43 pm:
Also Jerry Mitchell if he was not listed already
- Graqteful - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 6:07 pm:
Sure is Strange
Now “Defeated Loser” Jay Hoffman
is begging for Honorable Deserving
and a True Public Servant Tom Holbrook’s Seat
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 7:14 pm:
Off topic, but looks like Catholic Charities dropped its foster care suit.
- steve schnorf - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 7:27 pm:
mainly good, some won’t be missed
- VanillaMan - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:02 pm:
Thanking these people for the work they did is like thanking Typhoid Mary for handing out boxes of Kleenex.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Nov 15, 11 @ 7:56 am:
–And remember, GR governed as a liberal, so its not a lot of difference…..–
Because liberals are bad, right? Just making sure who were hating on today.
–Thanking these people for the work they did is like thanking Typhoid Mary for handing out boxes of Kleenex. –
As always, a classy and erudite comment. Poor fella, suffering here every day working in the coal mines of 2011 Illinois. Seize the day, dude, and resolve to take your talents elsewhere.
- Bronx Bombers - Tuesday, Nov 15, 11 @ 11:44 am:
What is Rep. Kevin Mccarthy’s status? Is there a safe district for him?
- 4daRecord - Tuesday, Nov 15, 11 @ 2:42 pm:
@Phil - Jeff Smith didn’t run an unsuccessful challenge against Gabel, she ran a successful race against him
Hamos’s seat was open, Smith declared early, Gabel late after several other males were also in.