* This photo pretty much says it all…

The cutline, for those of you who don’t know who these folks are…

Michael Kasper, left, swears in Jaime Andrade as the new State Representative for the seat left vacant by Deb Mell.

“You’re in the Army now.”

Have fun with your captions.

* AP…

A onetime aide to former Chicago Alderman Dick Mell will replace his daughter in the Illinois Legislature.

Jaime Andrade Jr. will take the seat held by Deborah Mell. She left the Illinois House to replace her father on Chicago’s city council when he retired after nearly 40 years representing the ward on the northwest side.

Andrade was selected by ward committeemen to represent the 40th District. Dick Mell is still the powerful Democratic committeeman for his ward.

* Tribune…

The appointment of Jaime Andrade to the House seat vacated by Deb Mell completes a chain of succession the elder Mell first laid out shortly after announcing his plans to retire the seat he held for almost 40 years.

Andrade, 40, was Mell’s top aldermanic assistant for more than 15 years. He also works as assistant sergeant of arms for the City Council, earning more than $89,900 a year. Andrade said he will resign that post in order to fully focus on his new job. […]

Picking a Latino for the seat was viewed as an important decision for the district which, based on the 2010 federal census, is 49 percent Hispanic, 37 percent white, 9 percent Asian and 4 percent African-American.

Andrade said his heritage will help him connect with non-English-speaking members of the community but said voters in the district are highly informed and will support a candidate based on qualifications, not race.

So, the House loses an out gay legislator in Deb Mell, but it gains a Latino who favors gay marriage. Kasper’s involvement means the House is probably also gaining what will likely be a more, um, “regular” soldier than Ms. Mell was.

       

41 Comments - Stones - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 10:57 am: Is it just be or does Jaime Andrade look a little like Kent Dorfman from Animal House after he shot the horse in the Dean’s office? - Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:01 am: I swear I took a shower. - Norseman - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:02 am: Anyone in the room want to volunteer to be an unpaid legislator. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:02 am: Lets give Jaime a big hand. Looks like he needs one. - AFSCME Steward - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:02 am: Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth ? - AFSCME Steward - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:04 am: I Jaime Andrade solemnly swear to uphold the Constitution of the state of Illinois, so long as it is OK with Dick Mell. - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:06 am: “I solemnly swear, I will follow the ‘Madigan Rules’ the best of all the members of the Caucus, and will, to the best of my ability; preserve, protect, and defend, the Majority of Democratic Mushrooms, so help me, Mike Casper”. - Cassandra - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:07 am: Well, at least it looks like he has had some experience. He’s not a Mell relative. And he says he is resigning that other job (suggesting that maybe he doesn’t have to?). In the current landscape of Chicago politics, it could be worse. Eventually, he’ll have to run in a real election, of course. - Andy Raucci - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:11 am: Mike Kasper’s name is spelled with a K not C! - Downers Greg - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:12 am: “And be it further decreed that Illinois American Water is a helluva company and the fine people of Illinois would perish without the Port District…” - Andy Raucci - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:13 am: Mike Kasper tells a stunned Jaime Andrade that there currently is no pay for a State Representative and it is too late to get out! - Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:18 am: Mine was an “Auto-Correct” spelling error… Stupid phone… To the Caption, “I solemnly swear, I will not vote to Override ‘Glorious Leader Quinn’s Veto’, and I stand to defend the Co-Equal branches of government, and to never wear a purple tie, So help me, Mike Kasper…” - A guy... - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:20 am: Let’s get you sworn in as quickly as possible. I need a shave. - Anon - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:23 am: “…I pledge alliance, to the Speaker Mile Madigan….” - Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:23 am: Mike Kasper asks Diego Maradona to show him the famous “Hand of God.” - zatoichi - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:24 am: Hold still. That fly just landed on your collar. The instruction say ‘Chew gum’. Check. ‘Raise right hand’. Check. ‘Now rub belly and raise left leg….’ - OneMan - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:28 am: The Circle Of Life… - Dry Blanket - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:35 am: I am reading, and you are terrified. - Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:41 am: - Anonymous - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:02 am: for the win… - A guy... - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 11:44 am: We’ll get the formalities over with so you can get back to the ward office for your marching orders. - Darienite - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 12:00 pm: MK: “Repeat after me: ‘I (state your name)….’ ” JA: “I state your name….” - Empty Suit - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 12:11 pm: “Do you solemnly swear..” “MELL YES!” - Spliff - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 12:14 pm: So Kasper is now a judge? I thought a judge had to administer the oath? - train111 - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 12:17 pm: I Jaime Andrade do solemnly swear Mr Kasper, that I will be a good mushroom and in return Mr Madigan will direct you to use your legal expertise to keep any pesky competitiors off the ballot in the upcoming Democratic primary. (like most Chicago districts the general election for state rep is pretty pointless) - wordslinger - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 12:27 pm: “From now on, your Delta Tau Chi name is…… Flounder.” With an assist from Stones. - Keyser Soze - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 1:01 pm: Where are the doughnuts? - titan - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 1:28 pm: “And when the Speaker says “jump”, ho high will you jump?” To Spliff - there’s an Illinois Oaths and Affirmations Act that sets out who may adminster oaths in Illinois (including oaths of office). Lots of people can do it, including notaries and court reporters. One might reasonably guess that Mr. Kasper is a notary (as many lawyers are). - Fed up - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 2:02 pm: Does Mell also get to pick Andrade’s replacement as assistant Sgt at arms of the city council. I have to wonder how many asst sgt at arms jobs their are at 89k a piece and what kind of political connections each has. I wonder if budget cuts have affected them. The city has 1500 less police than a few years ago but I’m guessing we kept the very important assistant sgt of arms at full strength for those monthly city council meetings. - Commonsense in Illinois - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 2:03 pm: Okay, very good…and now how about a right turn? - Just Me - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 2:33 pm: “I do solemnly swear that I will support the Chicago Way, and the Leader of our Party Mike Madigan, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of mushroom to the best of my ability.” - enoughalready - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 2:37 pm: “And your Delta Taua Chi name is Bluto” - Senator Clay Davis - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 2:43 pm: Am I the only one that appreciates the disgusting irony of a top statehouse lobbyist administering the freakin oath of office to new legislators. I mean, our new legislators literally make a pledge TO lobbyists?!?! - Timmeh - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 2:49 pm: I don’t want the next person who takes this seat to be any way associated with Mell. Their first name better not be Mel either. - Original Rambler - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 3:02 pm: That will be up to the voters, not you. - unclesam - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 3:26 pm: (while going over House floor protocol)…Kasper: “The House is much more informal — you don’t have to raise your hand first to ask a question. You only have to hit the white button and wait for the chair to call your name.” - Oath - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 4:02 pm: Repeat after me. I, whatever your name is do solemnly swear or affirm that I will do what I am told, not ask questions and limit my bills to five per session and number them by priority. I will never speak first to God, I mean The Speaker unless he speaks to me first. When He enters a room I will rise and immediate leave unless asked to stay by Him. I swear to God, I mean The Speaker. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 4:46 pm: Hi, I’m Mike Kasper, Rush Chairman. Damn glad to meet you. - Just Me - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 5:06 pm: Senator Clay Davis — I’m sure having Kasper swear him in wasn’t a coincidence. That is purposeful. - fake county chairman - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 8:12 pm: If i asked you to do some thing illegal would you do it - Amalia - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 9:36 pm: remember, Flounder hears “you….up. you trusted us…..” Kasper is now known as Hoover. - Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Aug 13, 13 @ 10:10 pm: “You $@&#ed up, son. You trusted us.” Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.