* Press release…
State Rep. Michael McAuliffe (R-Chicago) today released the following statement announcing his retirement from the Illinois House of Representatives, effective today:
“I have had the honor of representing the families and businesses of the 20th District in the Illinois House of Representatives for 23 years. While I never set out to spend 13 terms in Springfield, I felt a higher calling for public service and responsibility to my community. I’ve worked extremely hard to represent my constituents and bring their minds and hearts with me on every 200-mile drive to Springfield, but I’ve decided it’s time to yield to an even higher calling, my family. While this decision did not come easy, I’ve offered my resignation as State Representative of the 20th District effective today.
My family has always been the most important thing in my life, which was instilled into me by my parents, Roger and Judy. Now that my children, ages 7 and 9, are more active in and out of school, I realize that I have already missed too many of their milestones.
Throughout my career, I’ve been proud of the work we’ve done championing for healthcare by making breast cancer screenings more accessible to women, raising awareness for Hepatitis C, and improving life-saving disease-screenings for newborns. And I’ve always worked to ensure that those who need our help the most, the elderly and disabled, have access to the care and support services they need.
As spokesperson for the House Veterans Affairs Committee, we worked collaboratively to enact legislation to better protect our veterans and ensure that the state’s veterans homes have the resources they need to ensure the health and safety of our nation’s heroes.
I know that our neighborhoods are better when our schools and teachers have the support they need, so I was proud to back the landmark school funding reform legislation that put more money into the classrooms while expanding education options for children from low-income families. And I have always, always fought for our first responders, the men and women keeping our neighborhoods safe, and their families. We can never thank them enough for what they do for us, each and every day.
I am proud of our accomplishments and will continue to be an active part of this community. It has truly been an honor serving the wonderful people the 20th District.”
McAuliffe insisted that he does not have a replacement in mind. He’s obviously been thinking about retiring for a while, and he said he made the final decision when he received a letter about nominating petitions. “I’m done,” he said. “My dad was there 23 years, I was there 23 years,” he said about his father, the late Rep. Roger McAuliffe (R-Chicago).
McAuliffe’s Senator, John Mulroe, announced last week that he was stepping down to accept a judgeship. The other House member in the district, Robert Martwick, might be replacing Mulroe. So, it’s conceivable that all three slots in that Senate district might change hands in the coming days.
…Adding… Leader Durkin…
For the first time in 45 years, there won’t be a McAuliffe representing the Northwest side communities of Chicago. It has been an honor to serve with Mike McAuliffe in the Illinois General Assembly for almost twenty years together. Mike has seen Illinois in its best and worst of times - and he has been a part of making this state, and his district, a better place for Illinois residents. Throughout Mike’s tenure in Springfield, he fought resiliently for the priorities of the families in the 20th district and hard-working men and women who would turn to Mike for solutions to their community issues. Mike is a symbol of the Illinois House of Representatives and has been a respected leader of the House Republican caucus. He will be sorely missed by all under the dome in Springfield and throughout Illinois.
…Adding… Hmm…
- Fax Machine - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:10 pm:
This might be the first time in 20 years that Chicago Republican Committeemen have an appointment to fill
- Thomas Paine - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:12 pm:
It will be interesting to see what Lightfoot does here.
- Fax Machine - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:12 pm:
I think the weighted vote is with Stevens in Leyden and McAuliffe himself is the 41st Wars Committeeman
- Zen - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:14 pm:
Jeasus Scolorio and the Chicago GOP finally have something in their agenda. Amen.
- GOPgal - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:18 pm:
Good thing he had that ‘R’ by his name or we wouldn’t have known he was a Republican.
- SaulGoodman - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:18 pm:
**It will be interesting to see what Lightfoot does here.**
??
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:20 pm:
GOPgal, organized labor might disagree with you.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:20 pm:
Also, he’s pro-life. Not sure what the heck you’re talking about.
- Fax Machine - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:22 pm:
This eases a little pressure on the Mulroe replacement battle royale. If Tim Heneghan or Marty Durkan doesn’t get the Senate spot they can run for State Rep.
My gut tells me that whatever Republican replaces McAuliffe won’t make it to the 102nd GA
- JoeMaddon - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:22 pm:
**Good thing he had that ‘R’ by his name or we wouldn’t have known he was a Republican.**
Seriously? The guy almost never broke with his party on anything.
- Fax Machine - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:23 pm:
My pick for this seat is Frank Coconate. Why not?
- Anon E Moose - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:27 pm:
23 years? I thought you guys loved term limits.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:30 pm:
==23 years? I thought you guys loved term limits.==
People love term limits for other people’s representatives, not their own.
- DougChicago - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:34 pm:
Don’t worry Jimmy Durkin. He won’t be gone for long I’m sure. He will end up with a bunch of lobbying contracts I’m sure. Most facilitated by Democrats as his departure assures an even bigger supermajority for them. Which leads me to wonder why do people always feel compelled to state a reason for everything when saying nothing will do? I’m sure the McAuliffe children won’t see any difference between dad in Springfield as a state rep or as a lobbyist.
Mensa won’t be calling Michael for membership any time soon but he was definitely in the school of good constituent services matters. And in a democracy that ain’t all bad.
- Roman - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:37 pm:
== whatever Republican replaces McAuliffe won’t make it to the 102nd GA ==
That’s probably right…it’s more of a McAuliffe seat than a Republican seat.
The Northwest siders have been pretty adapt at cutting deals and avoiding outright wars (with a few notable exceptions) both in primaries and generals for the better part of three decades. Not sure the peace will hold this time.
- Just Me - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:44 pm:
Just like his father, Mike is also a good man…..enjoy your retirement, Mike
- AlfondoGonz - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:47 pm:
Too many Republicans have been pulled too far right, they can’t even recognize their increasingly-few reasonable own.
- Fax Machine - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:47 pm:
The reason he retired now probably has a lot to do with the fact that he has 20+ years and turned 55 in December so he can already retire and get max pension starting tomorrow.
- Anon - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:53 pm:
Regardless of side, it’s a sad game when they retire midterm (absent unique circumstances that necessitate it).
The terms are short. Two years. Did he know he would drop out mid-term when the voters elected him to represent them for two years?
He got nominating petition info and decided to immediately retire? The more rational decision would be to toss that info in the garbage and announce you aren’t running anymore.
- {Sigh} - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:54 pm:
Let’s all hope his brother-in-law doesn’t live in the district. {sigh}
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:03 pm:
==Don’t worry Jimmy Durkin. He won’t be gone for long I’m sure. He will end up with a bunch of lobbying contracts I’m sure.==
Or just work for his wife’s company.
- oh well... - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:05 pm:
I guess HRO will swap McAuliffe for Costello seat.
- Donnie Elgin - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:06 pm:
Edison Park, Norwood Park, huge population of police and fire employees. Those folks votes lean GOP and Rosemont is a GOP lock
https://www.journal-topics.com/articles/rosemont-residents-voting-habits-differ-from-neighboring-communities/
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:17 pm:
===Those folks votes lean GOP===
They lean McAuliffe. Pritzker won that district last year. So did Kwame.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:23 pm:
===Those folks votes lean GOP and Rosemont is a GOP lock===
“Those folks” are also depending on their pensions to be there when they retire. They might be more socially conservative than, say, Lakeview voters, but even cops and firemen don’t trust the GOP on pensions.
- Nonbeliever - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:26 pm:
- GOPgal - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 12:18 pm:
Good thing he had that ‘R’ by his name or we wouldn’t have known he was a Republican.
Please explain with examples. I am informed on his record but would like to hear your reasoning.
- Grand Avenue - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:34 pm:
McAuliffe’s voting record is Pure Red GOP. Some GOP activists were mad because he had what Russ Stewart calls a “non-aggression pact” with Jimmy DeLeo, and after 2010 with John Mulroe, but that was just recognizing the reality of the respective districts
- PublicServant - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:35 pm:
===Please explain with examples. I am informed on his record but would like to hear your reasoning.===
Trolls usually don’t flesh out their statements, but it’s right to ask, and there is always hope.
- GOPgal - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:42 pm:
Yes it’s great he could help the Dems double the gas tax and raise other taxes and fees before calling it quits. Also helped pass massive expansion of gambling in final days.
Wow, so Republican.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:51 pm:
GOPgal, that was a bipartisan deal. He didn’t cross over against his party’s wishes. He did it at his party’s urging.
- Not again - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:59 pm:
Last of a generation. Great guy. Will miss dealing with him.
- EP - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:08 pm:
McAuliffe was so useless. Anyone who votes “present” is a coward in my books. He surely will not be missed by me. Good riddance.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:19 pm:
==Anyone who votes “present” is a coward in my books.==
Anyone who votes “present” can’t decide in my books. But my books are nonfiction.
- Thomas Paine - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:52 pm:
There will soon be only five Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly who served in the pre-Blagojevich era.
- Amalia - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 3:12 pm:
LOL voting present. hello Barack Obama. Coconate…yikes. Mike is a nice guy. but the district is weird because while Mulroe is pro choice, they also elected McA who is not. the non aggression pact has been around for a long time. remember this is one of two districts in Chicago that was completely anti ERA— McAuliffe Capparelli Kosinski in the old multi member district days. two of those three names explain lots of what has been happening for over 40 years.
- njt - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 3:58 pm:
===There will soon be only five Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly who served in the pre-Blagojevich era.===
Must be adhering to self imposed term limits /s
- Telly - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 4:14 pm:
== the district is weird because while Mulroe is pro choice, they also elected McA who is not. ==
Serves as a reminder that most regular folks are somewhere in the middle on the issue and don’t really base their voting habits on each candidate’s abortion views — that’s probably hard to believe for the activists on both sides of the issue.
- Amalia - Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 4:35 pm:
wow. dad 23 years, McA 23 years. makes you think that he is hit hard by this. wasn’t his dad killed in a boating accident? sad.
- Shamrockery - Tuesday, Jun 18, 19 @ 9:55 am:
== Anyone who votes “present” ==
…might just be an ethical person who is low-key avoiding a conflict of interest. But who wants someone like that in public office?