* From WSIL TV…
As lawmakers throughout the state gather in Springfield for a special legislative session, a couple of our local representatives get ready to say goodbye.
Unseated in last week’s election, they’ve got just a few weeks left in office.
Democrats John Bradley and Gary Forby are two long time friends getting ready to head out from Springfield, after more than a decade of service. To Forby, his loss was a sign voters want change.
“It did surprise me a little bit you’re never ready for this. But people are ready for change you know. They wanted change. They were ready for change and that’s what the people got and I’m happy for the people,” Forby said.
When John Bradley leaves office this January, southern Illinois will lose its spot as head of the House Revenue and Finance Committee.
* The Illinois Republican Party posted the story to its Facebook page with this note…
Voters soundly rejected two top lieutenants of Mike Madigan in deep Southern Illinois this election. The other two Madigan minions from the area, State Rep. Brandon W. Phelps and State Representative Jerry Costello II, have another two years before they can be interviewed for a similar WSILTV story on their departure from Madigan’s legislature.
This ain’t ever gonna end.
- My New Handle - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:17 pm:
Even the winners are real losers.
- NobodysAccountable - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:17 pm:
Somebody inform them Forby is in the Senate.
- VanillaMan - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:19 pm:
Nor should it end.
These men have a chance to rebuild and reinvest their Southern Illinois constituencies so that the people in their districts know what they stand for and how they legislate for them.
Competition is good for all.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:23 pm:
Just because a voter thinks Madigan is to blame, does not necessarily mean that the same voter thinks Rauner is innocent.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:23 pm:
I still can’t believe that the HRO couldn’t find someone to run against Jerry Costello II. That district is a prime pick-up target on 2018.
- A regular guy for GOV2016 - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:25 pm:
How does the Rauner/Illinois GOP ever expect the Democrats to compromise when they come out with articles like that?
- Liberty - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:28 pm:
regular guy… the Rauner Party Of Illinois doesn’t want compromise.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:29 pm:
The writer/s of the classy piece should be honored in some way at his/her HS graduation ceremony.
- Motambe - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:29 pm:
Thank you IRP for that bit of post-election, in-your-face gloating. Another reason why I say I am a conservative, not a Republican, and keep my hand on my wallet when your people call.
- so... - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:30 pm:
==How does the Rauner/Illinois GOP ever expect the Democrats to compromise when they come out with articles like that?==
Maybe thinking they’ll compromise so they can avoid the fate of Forby and Bradley?
- Not Rich - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:31 pm:
yes folks..Rauner and his team are itching to prolong this fight as much as anyone else..
- Saluki - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:34 pm:
Team Sleep. The GOP had a candidate to run against Costello…his name is Paul Schimpf. However as I understand it, Schimpf was not satisfied with running for the house, because he didn’t want to take on an incumbent. Sharee Langenstien, (Schimpf’s primary opponent) could have ran for Senate, and Schimpf for House against Costello, but alas, that is not how it worked out…
- JB13 - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:35 pm:
If by “prolong this fight,” you mean, “not just give in to Madigan and/or AFSCME,” then, yeah, you’re right. Why should a political party be content to have only, finally, by the barest of margins, cut into a partisan supermajority (whether “functional” or not)?
- Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:40 pm:
Voters soundly rejected top Rauner lieutenant Comptroller Leslie Munger this election. Governor Rauner now only has two more years before he can be interviewed for a story on his departure from the executive branch.
See, anyone can do that.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:41 pm:
Yeah life will be so much better for taxpayers when Rauner Robots replace Madigan’s Minions. Sure.
- The_Equalizer - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:43 pm:
Stay classy, ILGOP.
- A guy - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:45 pm:
==Voters soundly rejected top Rauner lieutenant Comptroller Leslie Munger this election===
You might want to look at the numbers again.
- Porgy Tirebiter - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
Those who never made it to the end zone before don’t know how to act when they finally do it.
- illini - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
And the endless campaign continues for BVR.
Maybe he should try governing.
- Team Sleep - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
Guy - come on, man. Munger lost. The numbers weren’t as bad as Kirk’s but she still lost.
- anonymous - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:49 pm:
It’s sad that Gov. Rauner doesn’t realize that people wanted Trump change not Rauner change or the Illinois Democrat change. He probably does realize it but the spin is more important to him that the message the voters were sending.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:53 pm:
- A Guy -
One vote, thousands of votes.
Munger lost statewide.
To the Post,
This won’t end. Rauner is a sore winner.
Capitulation or destruction, and Illinois is at the mercy of all this.
There’s a reason why I don’t Follow the words found on any social media when rhetoric like this occurs. I won’t Accept drivel when trying to govern is compromised by such unhelpful rhetoric.
- yo - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 2:57 pm:
The voters sent two messages. Where the voters could show their disapproval of MJM in the House they did it (not all places, but still had gains). Where voters could show disapproval of Rauner at state level, they did it. (Comptroller)
- Old Timer Dem - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:00 pm:
The Democrats losing seats south of I-80 is not just a rebuff of Madigan, it is rebuff of the Democratic Party in general. White americans all over the country voted for Trump largely because of the perception that the Democrats cater too much to the minorities. It is a white backlash against the Democratic Party in general.
- Big Muddy - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
“Paging Senator Manar…paging Senator Manar!”
- Jimmy Baseball - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:01 pm:
I look forward to the upcoming spin from the state GOP when there hasn’t been a road project in Southern Illinois for 10 years and SIU-C is merged with SIU-E.
- Thoughts Matter - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:02 pm:
ILGOP- your moderate voters are sick of the partisan rudeness. You couldn’t just say Thank You for your service? Why don’t you find some common ground please?
- Thoughts Matter - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
Old timer - this white American AARP Republican didn’t vote for Trump, nor Bill Brady nor Tim Butler. Your prejudice is loud and clear.
- Nick Name - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:16 pm:
And they wonder why Madigan blows off meetings. Sheesh.
- Old Shepherd - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:22 pm:
I know it happens all the time in politics and government, but replacing two legislators with a combined 29 years of seniority and in the majority party with two freshmen in the minority party is incredibly short-sighted.
- Cubs in '16 - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:28 pm:
Very classy statement from Sen. Forby. IRP… not so much.
- GA Watcher - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:30 pm:
Perhaps we should all read this: Matthew 5:1-12.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:38 pm:
After the concealed carry bill passed both houses in 2013, I saw a picture in one of the local papers with Forby and Phelps smiling broadly and backslapping each other over their great “victory.” Forby sponsored Phelps bill in the senate.
The only people who benefited from Phelps horrible carry bill were the police unions, and since it passed the NRA and Phelps have only made it worse. Maybe southern IL voters figured out that Forby, Phelps, and the NRA are their worst enemies. One good old boy gone, one more (Phelps) left to go.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:55 pm:
With the nation deeply divided, Rauner emphasized that there must be unity for progress.
“I think we need to come together as Illinoisans and as Americans,” he said. “Whether Democrat or Republican or independent, it doesn’t matter. What we (need to) do is to care about each other. We need to have our society be inclusive and tolerant and welcoming to diversity. We need equal opportunity for everyone, including the disadvantaged and minorities.”
http://westcentralreporter.com/stories/511046462-gov-rauner-eager-to-get-back-into-budget-talks
Wonder what Facebook and Google are going to do with stories like this now?
- facts are stubborn things - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:57 pm:
Rauner may overplay his hand. You would think the house flipped to Republican control. Steady everyone and don’t read too much into this. Two years is a long time.
- Flyer - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:57 pm:
Rauner doesn’t realize he lost a supporter on some issues.
- Keyser Soze - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
It doesn’t surprise that two Democrats were unseated in Southern Illinois. The region has been slowly drifting into the GOP camp for years.
- A guy - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 4:02 pm:
TS, and Willy…
I’m not in denial that Leslie lost. Steep slope fellas. I’m actually surprised she did as well as she did. Both sides put a lot of stock in this one.
I just think “soundly defeated” overshoots the runway more than a little.
I’ve committed not to be overconfident about Election Day. In my area we had a lot to cheer about and a little heartbreak. I think gobsmacking about the two southern Dems is poor form here. I do. I’d prefer they just shut up and do it in two years. Restraint is more strength than bravado. I kind of even admire Forby’s quote here. People changed and he….couldn’t. That should send a message to precisely who I think he meant it for.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 4:07 pm:
- A Guy -
220,000 votes.
I thought Munger would win, but 220,000 votes… That’s not a squeaker.
- A guy - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 4:22 pm:
We agree Willy..not a squeaker. But c’mon man, “soundly defeated?”
I think we agree that this particular race showed some party vulnerability given what happened a little further north on the ballot.
In 2 years we have a crack at this one again. Ms. Mendoza needs to have a couple of decent years.
- Anonymous - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 4:26 pm:
Bye bye Brandon Phelps and Jerry Costello . . . soon, but not soon enough. Always focusing on politics rather than the law and their constituents.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 18, 16 @ 4:29 pm:
- A Guy -
Soundly. Nearly a quarter million people?
Soundly.
In two years, Rauner will have a slate. Does he slate Leslie Munger in a rematch?