Rep. Art Turner won’t run for reelection
Thursday, Sep 26, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller
* As noted in the story, I told subscribers about this yesterday…
State Rep. Art Turner won’t seek re-election in 2020, and political strategist Ty Cratic is the first big Democratic name to try to secure the seat. “I’m running,” he told Playbook. […]
Turner’s departure, first reported in Rich Miller’s blog, comes as he makes plans to marry and make a possible full-time move to Springfield. His brother, Aaron Turner, is also circulating petitions for the Senate seat that their father, former Rep. Art Turner Sr., held for nearly 20 years before he was succeeded by Art Jr.
Both Cratic and Aaron Turner were also mentioned in my earlier story.
Leader Turner has been enormously successful in the House. He’s well-liked and respected by his peers. He will be missed.
* Meanwhile, I tipped subscribers on this last week…
When he ran for a fourth term as mayor of Woodstock, Brian Sager announced it would be his last.
Now he has announced what’s next.
Sager told The Independenthe would campaign as a Democrat for the 63rd District seat in the Illinois Legislature, now held by two-term Republican Steve Reick.
Sager, who will be 67 next month, decried the extreme partisanship in politics generally and the Legislature specifically. Most voters, he said, don’t care about party affiliation as much as they do results from elected leaders.
“They want to send people to the Legislature who are simply willing to work together,” the mayor said. “I have a record of that.”
…Adding… Oops, I forgot to post this one…
MARTIN McLAUGHLIN wants McSweeney’s seat. The Barrington Hills Village president, has announced his campaign for state Rep. in the 52nd District now represented by David McSweeney who won’t seek re-election in 2020. The district contains parts of Cook, Kane, Lake and McHenry counties. McLaughlin says during his term as village president, he’s lowered spending, lowered the tax levy for five out of the past six years and increased spending on infrastructure. “These are all things that government bodies can and should be doing, including the state of Illinois,” he said in a release sent to Playbook.
He confirmed to me that he’s in the race.
- A guy - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:34 am:
Nice guy. Robust sense of humor. I wish him well.
- 32nd warder - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:34 am:
i thought it was curious that I started seeing Art’s brother in Springfield more and more last year. Shocker that he wants the seat!
- Flat Bed Ford - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:36 am:
Reick should step aside so somebody who could actually win the General can run. He is now a liability.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:39 am:
The ole Jack Franks seat.
This will be an interesting watch due in part to a remap is coming and how a contested race plays there could determine how that “seat” might look in 2022.
- SaulGoodman - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:40 am:
We’re going to see A LOT of that dui video/mug shot.
- DD - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:40 am:
The would-be Speaker’s club just dropped another one. He’s joining other would-be speaker’s in departing the body like John Bradley, Lou Lang, Elaine Nekritz. It’s a long list.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:45 am:
Rep. Reick will face a harsh and brutal election.
Rep. Reick might not be helped by it being a presidential election year.
Still, it’s a bit early to write off Rep. Reick.
- Chi Guy - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:57 am:
It’s about time Ty Cratic ran for something. You see him everywhere. I like Art, I’m going to like Ty, too.
- So_Ill - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:58 am:
Damn, love Art. One of the best. He will be missed.
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:00 am:
He could have came in roaring and letting everyone know who his father is and treating staff and state agency legislative staff like servants. Instead I was always treated with respect by him and never once felt he was on a power trip.
Will miss him.
- {Sigh} - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:01 am:
=His brother, Aaron Turner, is also circulating petitions for the Senate seat that their father…=
{Sigh} their father served in the HOUSE. Art serves in the House, not the Senate.
- Austinman - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 10:47 am:
Im going to miss my neighbor Rep. Turner, i wish him well. I wish Aaron all the luck.
- LetsGo - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 11:21 am:
Turner is a loss, he could’ve been Speaker with some work. Ty Cratic is an opportunist who bounced from one organization to the next with zero loyalty or every amassing much of any real quality government or political experience. He’s not even from the district and barely moved in a year ago. He’s won’t play well in the area against a true homegrown candidate like Aaron Turner.
- Oh Ty - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 12:29 pm:
Everything LetsGo said is 100% true about Ty Cratic. Ty cares about Ty and no one else. Also, the idea of wanting to go from for-profit lobbyist to member of the House is troubling. Who will he be serving? And will he give up his business interests and focus on running a campaign in the district or just try to be spotted on the rail…
- Fax Machine - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 12:42 pm:
Aaron looks exactly like his brother.
- Fax Machine - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 12:45 pm:
Art Turner Sr passed on running for his seat to run for Lt Governor and came in second to Scott Lee Cohen.
- Chi Guy - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 1:22 pm:
Wait, so you all just nagging on Ty Cratic for wanting to run for office. I’ve met Ty a few times. The persons y’all describing, ain’t him. Sound like talking points to me. Here come the old machine politics trying to keep it all in the family.
- AlfondoGonz - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 2:14 pm:
Rep. Turner told me, when I was a staffer and we wore gym shoes with our suits for whatever charity that was, that my shoes were “sweet kicks,” and I’ll always have that.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 2:41 pm:
Leader Turner has been a solid member of the House, made a good name for himself, and I wish him well as he moves on.