* Since Gov. Rauner has involved himself so intricately with this pick, Rep. Harris was likely doomed anyway. Too much of a free thinker…
One of the candidates to replace departing state Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine says he’s dropping out of the running.
Republican state Rep. David Harris of Arlington Heights told the Daily Herald Tuesday he plans to withdraw his name from contention and continue serving as a member of the Illinois House.
Harris, who was elected in 2010 and previously served in the state legislature in the 1980s and ’90s, said his decision was influenced by the seniority, committee assignments and good relationships with colleagues he has in the House.
The announcement comes several days after Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and a number of his allies held interviews for the six candidates interested in the job. Harris has at times criticized Rauner’s continued push for pro-business changes in state laws and operations without a full state budget in place.
*** UPDATE 1 *** From Rep. Harris…
State Representative David Harris (R-Arlington Heights) today announced that he was informing the Republican Township Committeemen from the townships in his area that he wants to be removed from consideration for possible appointment to the District 27 State Senate seat when the seat is vacant.
The local Republican Committeemen in the 27th District area vote on a weighted basis for the individual they want to appoint as a replacement. The incumbent State Senator, Matt Murphy, has announced that he intends to resign effective September 15th. The Committeemen would vote on a replacement after the office becomes vacant.
“I have thought long and hard about the possibility of seeking the Senate appointment,” said Harris, “and after much reflection I have decided that I want to continue to serve my constituents in the House of Representatives. Serving in the Senate would be an honor, but serving in the House is a great honor, as well.”
Harris added “I have excellent committee assignments in the House; I have positive relationships built up over the years with my House colleagues; and I have seniority in the House that I would lose in the Senate. All of these factors work to the benefit of the people of my House district, and they enable me to provide effective service to my constituents. I do not want to lose all those positive factors by moving to the Senate.”
There are several quality candidates that the Republican Committeemen are considering right now, and it is expected that a vote on the appointment could come very soon after the incumbent’s resignation takes effect.
*** UPDATE 2 *** From what I’m told, Rooney is pretty much a sure thing (nothing is ever 100 percent in this biz). More for subscribers tomorrow…
Republican state Rep. David Harris of Arlington Heights first told the Daily Herald he planned to withdraw his name. Less than three hours later, state Rep. Tom Morrison of Palatine followed suit. […]
Morrison threw his support behind Rolling Meadows Mayor Tom Rooney, who could emerge as the consensus candidate among a group of suburban Republican committeemen who don’t always get along.
- Not It - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 2:58 pm:
I find it odd that people are so upset that the leader of the Republican Party is so keen on appointments and candidate recruiting. The leader of the Democratic Party sure is.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
I bet somebody a quarter that the appointee will be a fresh faced twenty something.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:00 pm:
Rep. Harris,
You did yourself a favor.
Honest.
OW
To the Post,
The one way Rauner has consolidated power in his political venture is either to get some to compromise their principles, or get them to compromise their beliefs…
… If a GOP GA members does that, they stay and are rewarded.
Others? Offered jobs to move out of the GA and be replaced by 20-somethings, or the compromised, both grateful to be “involved” and seem “important”.
Look no further than Rauner’s first choice…
Ole Slip and Sue.
Compromised. Grateful for a job, unwilling to make waves, and still, sadly, under the illusion she is someone qualified and important to Rauner.
So, Rep. Harris, your honest, free-thinking, Republican leanings are not the “Slip and Sue” model of a choice… “Qualified”… as deemed by Mr. Tillman or Bruce Rauner.
Bruce “didn’t hire you”, Rep. Harris. Breathe easy.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
David, free-thinking is not permitted in today’s GOP.
Thanks for bucking the man a couple of times.
- Deft Wing - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
Too bad. His so-called “independence” would have been even less effective in the Senate.
- Earnest - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:11 pm:
>I find it odd that people are so upset that the leader of the Republican Party is so keen on appointments and candidate recruiting. The leader of the Democratic Party sure is.
I don’t think people do mind, and in fact expect it. What they mind is him lying about getting involved.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:11 pm:
big loss. he is smart and decent.
- No Longer A Lurker - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:12 pm:
@ Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 2:59 pm:
I’ll take you up on your bet. My thinking is Tom Morrison, his positions are pretty much in line with Bruce. I doubt very much the people that Murphy represents would settle for some fresh faced twenty something. I believe Harris is out only because Bruce wanted him out.
- Last Bull Moose - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:14 pm:
Building a set of Rauner loyalists is a smart move by the Governor. t makes revolt more difficult.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:15 pm:
I was looking forward to the McCann-Harris caucus in the Senate.
- A guy - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:18 pm:
Waking up from a nap. This not “news” is a good way to ease in. Kinda weird he even floated himself here.
- Facts aren't fun - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:20 pm:
David Harris: the only IL republican who can’t be bought. Just demonstrates that he’s the rational and principled adult in the room. Maybe we will see a bipartisan approach to end the gridlock.
- jade me not - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:21 pm:
Rep Harris is a class act by all accounts. He’s taken the time to build relationships (versus scorched earth politics), and commands respect on both sides of the aisle. It’s interesting that he cites “seniority” as a positive factor that influenced his decision, particularly in the context of the “term limit” fervor that leaders and the Governor are pushing. Seniority (i.e. experience) is a virtue.
- Consideration - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
“…and I have seniority in the House that I would lose in the Senate…”
Those pesky unions and their seniority rules. We should get rid of all that cronyism. /s
- Precinct Captain - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
==- Not It - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 2:58 pm:==
Rauner, not us, said he wasn’t going to be involved. It’s the lying and hypocrisy that gets people worked up. I’d tell you to try to keep up, but I’m not sure Raunerbots are capable of doing such.
- kitty - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 3:37 pm:
Not surprised at this development. Mr. Harris has always impressed me as a true statesman in the mold of Everett Dirksen, always willing to listen and consider different points of view. Mr. Harris was respected as the Adjutant General of the IL Army National Guard for his competence and calm demeanor. He would be a far more effective governor for IL than Mr. Rauner has been.
- Indochine - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 4:13 pm:
Such a good guy. I feared the “free thinking” would be his undoing for this effort.
- Juvenal - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 4:17 pm:
“Lobbyists should pick their legislators, not the other way around.”
- Howard Tillman
/snark
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 4:28 pm:
===Kinda weird he (Rep. Harris) even floated himself here.===
Because Rep. Harris is a free thinker?
Because Rauner was going to have the only and final say?
Don’t answer, please. I like that you left it open-ended as to why Rauner would reject him.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 4:36 pm:
David Harris is quickly becoming the Farmer Ted of the House Republicans. I can see why he wouldn’t want to give that up.
- Big Muddy - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 5:00 pm:
The cynic in me is wondering why the Governor wouldn’t WANT Harris over in the Senate? In the House, if nothing changes, his one vote could make all the difference. In the Senate his vote would mean absolutely nothing.
- Springfield - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 5:48 pm:
Meet…Senator Tom Rooney
- walker - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 5:54 pm:
Update2: Rep Morrison also out.
- DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 7:08 pm:
Ain’t democracy a great thing? One man, 20,000,000 votes.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 7:45 pm:
@Fake BVR-I didn’t get “involved” Morrison and Harris got “dis-involved”.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Sep 13, 16 @ 9:04 pm:
Well I got the fresh faced part right.
- siriusly - Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 10:41 am:
Does Ken Dunkin live near there?
- Knowing the political mind - Wednesday, Sep 14, 16 @ 12:34 pm:
Rauner doesn’t like Harris or Morrison for that matter. But he isn’t a fan of Del Mar either. Rooney, a teacher because we need another one of those in the legislature, is the unknown except I was told he never liked Rauner but was quiet enough about it not to get out to Rauners boys.
It is rumored that the committeemen are still not liking the governor telling them what to do with their area. They may all buck the system, except of course Ruth O’Connell, who will do what the gov says even though she was a supported of Dillard.
That’s all for now!