The “other” Mike Madigan considers Senate bid
Wednesday, Jun 17, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I’ve known Mike Madigan (no, not the Speaker, the other one) since his days on GOP staff. After a stint with George Ryan, Mike decided he wanted to get into the private sector. He opened a franchised restaurant in Springfield, Hickory River, and has since prospered, opening several more in central Illinois.
The district he’s eyeing won’t be an easy race, to say the least, but he’s a good guy and I wish him nothing but the best…
Wouldn’t this be fun? A Republican named Mike Madigan running for the state Senate?
It could happen.
Madigan, an Urbana City Council member who grew up in Champaign County and owns a chain of four barbecue restaurants, said he’s considering running for the 52nd Senate District seat held by Democrat Scott Bennett of Champaign. Bennett, a former Champaign County assistant state’s attorney, was appointed to the seat earlier this year after Mike Frerichs’ election as state treasurer. […]
Madigan, 52, who owns Hickory River Smokehouse restaurants in Urbana, Decatur, Springfield and Peoria, said Illinois needs change, but he isn’t parroting Rauner’s “turnaround agenda.”
“We need change but I’m not saying that I’m going to throw down and be all-in on all of those positions,” he said. “I think you have to look at the district as well and be representative of the district. I don’t consider myself a hard-core idealogue. I think you need to consider the district and what it’s comprised of. We have a world-class university here and on some of these issues you have to take a harder look and not be terribly ideological.
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:05 pm:
Poor House Mailman….
- Elo Kiddies - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:06 pm:
Michael P. Madigan, right?
- Norseman - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:14 pm:
It would be a hoot if he won. The Senators would also get spoiled. Barbecue sandwiches from Mike and ice cream from Obie.
- john a logan - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:14 pm:
The guys making sense
- mcb - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:14 pm:
not to nitpick, but the restaurants started in Urbana, used to be called Longhorn Smokehouse, but had to change because of the other Longhorn.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:16 pm:
If Madigan won, I’d open an alteration shop for suits, dresses, etc.
Yep, ice cream and BBQ, the work would be non-stop.
- slow down - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:21 pm:
It’s telling that an undeclared candidates is already running away from Rauner’s “turnaround” agenda.
- Been There - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:22 pm:
Hickory River is one of my eat on the way out of town stops. Also when they have it at the House/Senate softball games. Now I have a taste for some brisket.
- anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:28 pm:
Mike’s a good guy and would be a strong candidate. But I’ve been impressed with Bennett, he seems smart and reasonable.
- Anonin' - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:30 pm:
Thought TeamBunlge already paid a million to some other Magoo. Mike Madigan could win going away just handin’ out sample barbecue stuff.
Toobad Zell and TeamBungle poisoned his chances by MF Mike Madigan with those genius TV ads
- Steve - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:32 pm:
I know Mike Madigan… this guy is no real Mike Madigan. What’s next? Is he going to adopt a girl name Lisa? Or write letters for judicial nominations to appropriate people?? Maybe , this guy should get a framed picture of Richard J. Daley and hang on the wall beaming down at all visitors.
- scott aster - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:34 pm:
Hope he is as good as Sen Stan Weaver a true gentleman and great friend of U of I. The U of I needs a friend in the Dome.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:37 pm:
===but the restaurants started in Urbana===
Yeah, but his first place was in Springfield on the far east side.
- Not it - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:49 pm:
Between his name and being a George Ryan lieutenant I don’t see this going well for him, but he is a pretty decent guy and if he does it I would consider walking a weekend or two for him.
- 1776 - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:52 pm:
He bought into restaurants already owned and operated in Champaign and then expanded to Springfield. He was a pain in the ass in Ryan’s shop.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:52 pm:
The Senate Food Caucus would be:
Senator Harris (pizza)
Senator Madigan (BBQ)
Senator Oberweis (ice cream)
Senator Koehler (”natural” milk)
- Tourés Latte - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:57 pm:
Best beef brisket.
- Qui Tam - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 12:59 pm:
“We need change but I’m not saying that I’m going to throw down and be all-in on all of those positions,”
Didn’t Rauner say something like this too when he was running?
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 1:06 pm:
Not It -
At what point does the “sting” of being associated at all with George Ryan wear off? He has been out of office for almost 13 years and his scandals occurred nearly two decades ago.
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 1:07 pm:
Hickory River is no Black Dog
- Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 1:09 pm:
==- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 1:06 pm:==
According to the Rauner playbook, not for at least 40 to 45 years since Rauner was bringing up things from early 1970s on PQ.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 1:14 pm:
PC - but that was the candidate himself. Not saying that employment directly under George Ryan shouldn’t be a resume pock mark - at least if you were involved in some shenanigans - but such a sweeping generalization on ALL staff is a bit much. Steve Schnorf is well-respected and he worked for Mr. Ryan. I wouldn’t call Mr. Schnorf toxic by any stretch. George Ryan had a HUGE hand in ILGOP politics for over two decades, and a lot of competent staff/insiders worked for him.
- Just Me - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 1:33 pm:
Team Sleep: it will wear off when voters forget who George Ryan was.
- AmericanPie - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 1:43 pm:
Does anyone think there may be a competitive GOP primary for the nomination? Looks like a couple people are considering a run for this State Senate seat.
- Fan - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 1:49 pm:
This Mike Madigan is a great guy. The other one is obviously very sharp too. Mike would be a natural and a terrific Senator!
- The Colossus of Roads - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 1:55 pm:
He needs a cool nickname. How about Speaker?
- Filmmaker Professor - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 1:58 pm:
Scott Bennett has impressed me more than any politician I’ve ever seen in the Champaign-Urbana area (Frerichs, his predecessor, is a do-nothing who only has eyes for the next, higher position he wants). I know I will be going all-in for Scott, regardless of his opponent.
p.s. I’ll take Hickory River over Black Dog any day.
- non sequitur - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 2:03 pm:
Hickory River just closed one of its two Springfield shops.
- Ugly Rumours - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 2:15 pm:
Hickory River is not even close to Clay’s Popeye’s Bar B Que!
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 2:23 pm:
Ugly - agreed, and Dr. BBQ’s food “truck” is pretty good, too.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 2:30 pm:
He is a great guy and would make a great State Senator and I am a Democrat!
- A guy - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 2:48 pm:
=== pain in the ass in Ryan’s shop.===
Could be true, I don’t know. But how’d it get through the filter? lol
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 2:53 pm:
===Could be true, I don’t know.===
If doing his job better than most is being a pain, well, yeah, it’s true.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 3:00 pm:
===He bought into restaurants already owned and operated in Champaign and then expanded to Springfield. ===
You say that as if it’s no big deal.
You must be a government employee.
lol
- Dozer - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 3:08 pm:
great guy….best of luck to him
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 3:26 pm:
I hope he’s not counting on the Tribune’s endorsement.
- enoughalready - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 3:30 pm:
As the lone voice of reason on the otherwise bats#@& crazy Urbana City Council, he would be missed. Great guy with a great attitude who would serve the citizens quite well.
- Statehouse Vet - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 3:47 pm:
Good for Mike. He’s always been at the top end of competence, and his experience in actually operating a successful business and creating jobs would seem to me to be a pretty darn good base to run on. And FYI, he was never even remotely brought into the Ryan mess. To the contrary, he was a star in a very good legislative shop. In any case, I wish him the best. One of the good guys.
- scott aster - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 4:00 pm:
Knowing Geroge Ryan doesn’t seem to hurt people like Judy and many others still around the joint.
- Joe Schmoe - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 4:49 pm:
If you don’t know Mike, then don’t say it.
That is all.
- St. Louis Bob - Wednesday, Jun 17, 15 @ 7:02 pm:
Good luck Mike. I think you would make a great Senator.