Because… Madigan!
Monday, Aug 22, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The dude is getting it from all sides these days…
Three candidates for mayor of Aurora have criticized a fund-raising dinner for one of their fellow candidates, state Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora), Friday night by Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D-Chicago).
Aldermen Richard Irvin, at large, and Michael Saville, 6th Ward, and Rick Guzman, Aurora assistant chief of staff, issued a joint statement calling the dinner a “blatant attempt by Speaker Madigan to buy control of the next Aurora mayor …”
“We have no doubt that the politicians in Springfield and its special interest groups will pour money into any candidate they believe can do their bidding – as State Rep. Chapa LaVia has done for Madigan for the past 14 years,” the statement said. […]
Steve Brown, a spokesman for Madigan’s office, called the statement “a disgraceful cheap shot” by the three candidates, and said Chapa LaVia has served with distinction in the Illinois House of Representatives.
“I think the speaker thinks she has done a great job in the Legislature, and I think the speaker thinks she would do a great job as the mayor of Aurora,” Brown said. “She has a great resume. It’d probably be news if he did nothing.”
A change.org petition called “Keep Speaker Madigan Out of Local Elections!” has attracted just 281 supporters so far.
- Huh? - Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:20 am:
How about a petition to keep 1.4% out of local elections?
- illini75 - Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:24 am:
I suspect this is a case of sour grapes by the three other candidates. The Speaker isn’t exactly high profile in his appearances so getting him to host a dinner is quite an endorsement.
- Big Muddy - Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:29 am:
Madigan sticks up for Mautino and now Chapa La Via. Not sure the Speaker is helping his team here by his actions. He polls worse than Trump in most areas, and that is saying something.
- Langhorne - Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:34 am:
What petty nonsense. Madigan rewards loyalty. His imprimatur will shake loose a bunch of $500 checks, from outside the district, to give chapa la via a boost.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:37 am:
I’m sure Chapa La Via would’ve like only “half” of what she’s getting now in publicity.
I’m also sure Aurora would be interested to find out Chapa La Via’s views about all types of people.
I could be “half” wrong, but Chapa La Via may see people differently then others living in Aurora.
Hmm.
- Norseman - Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:40 am:
It’s a contrived point by underdog candidates.
- Algonquin Train - Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:50 am:
Good one, Oswego Willy! I had forgotten about her “half” comment.
Hopefully the Aurora voters reject her.
- A guy - Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 10:53 am:
I believe the term is “halfie”
- frustrated GOP - Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 12:22 pm:
it’s not like Tom Cross, Denny Hastert and the Kendall County GOP didn’t spend a lot of money in the Aurora mayor’s race in years past to make sure Dallas ended up with a few legal contracts.(Fox Metro) So GOP money is Ok, but Democratic money is bad? Sound like some people are worried.
- G'Kar - Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 12:38 pm:
Our Internet is down on campus today. Darn that Madigan and the LAN’s he controls! /s
- DuPage Bard - Monday, Aug 22, 16 @ 12:43 pm:
The 3 of them go after her together it doesn’t really help any of them individually.
A net impact may be some lost votes for Chapa but who gets those votes?
Plus, hate to bring up the card, a 4 way race with one female in it doesn’t bode well for the other candidates either.