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Sen. Toi Hutchinson to step down, become “cannabis czar”
Thursday, Sep 26, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller * One of the worst-kept Statehouse secrets this week is that Sen. Toi Hutchinson (D-Olympia Fields) is resigning to oversee implementation of the new cannabis legalization law. She informed Senate President Cullerton yesterday and her law firm today. Hutchinson will oversee the activities of five state agencies: Agriculture, Public Health, Revenue, DCEO and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. She’ll also have sway over the Illinois State Police’s policies. Gov. Pritzker had tried to recruit her into his administration earlier this year, but she declined. Sen. Hutchinson told me earlier this week that she had two big goals when she became a Senator: 1) Reform the state income tax code; and 2) Legalize weed. She helped do both this year and she said it was time to go. Hutchinson has served in the Senate since January of 2009. She chairs the influential Revenue Committee. She’s also the Immediate Past President of the National Conference of State Legislatures. She became the NCSL’s President-Elect two years ago. Sen. Hutchinson says she is unsure if she will back a replacement. She would’ve been up for reelection next year, so the petition circulation scrambling will begin soon, if it hasn’t already started. Half of her district is represented by a Republican (Rep. Lindsay Parkhurst), but the other half is heavily Democratic, giving this district a definite D bent. Gov. Pritzker won it by 11 points and President Trump lost it by 11. However, Gov. Rauner won it by just under 4 in 2014 and the late Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka won it by about a point. As it stands now, 2020 looks a whole lot more like 2018 than 2014, however. I’ve known Toi since she ran then-Sen. Debbie Halvorson’s district office operation. Halvorson introduced us at an ABATE function and I thought right away that this young person was going places. And she surely has. Good luck in your new gig, Toi. …Adding… Senate President John Cullerton…
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- Chambanalyst - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 1:54 pm:
An articulate and educated woman of color in a very important administrative position. Solid choice and best of luck to her. The IL Senate will miss her leadership.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 1:56 pm:
“she had two big goals when she became a Senator: 1) Reform the state income tax code; and 2) Legalize weed“
Such great goals, and for reforms that are so necessary. She and most every other Democrats did their heavy lifting, to get the graduated income tax on the ballot. Congratulations, thank you and good luck to Sen. Hutchinson.
- Anon E Moose - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 1:58 pm:
“An articulate and educated woman of color”
Is that surprising to you?
- Chambanalyst - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 2:01 pm:
@Anon…not at all surprising given her experience and qualifications. I also think it’s an especially important distinction to make given the social equity aspects of IL’s legalization crusade. Let’s not turn a positive into a negative. Let’s recognize and celebrate something we actually did right.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 2:01 pm:
First Rep. Turner, now Sen. Hutchinson.
The GA is losing some of its best.
Best of luck, Sen. Hutchinson, don’t get caught in the haze.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 2:31 pm:
Sen. Hutchinson has…it…I’ll wish her good luck…knowing she doesn’t need it…Strong is the descriptive word that comes to my mind.
- Ron Burgundy - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 2:34 pm:
Clearly this position should be entitled the Pot-entate.
- Moe Berg - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 3:01 pm:
Her floor speech in support of the Reproductive Health Act was some of the finest speaking ever done in either chamber of the General Assembly.
She has certainly left her mark.
- ugh - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 3:05 pm:
Don’t call black people articulate. Don’t refer to black people as being articlulate. Don’t. Don’t Don’t. Google it or read this:
https://www.theroot.com/he-s-so-articulate-what-that-really-means-1790874985
Also Sen. Hutchinson is a force, and I’m happy for her.
- Shytown - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 3:22 pm:
This is amazing news - loss for the Senate but win for Cannabis
- Been There - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 3:31 pm:
I like Toi and she was great to deal with. Well, she was great once you tracked her down. She’s not the best at returning calls or coming to meetings but once you had her ear she understood your issues and would follow through. This looks like it will be a good fit for her and I wish her well.
- Missing her already - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 4:03 pm:
This is a profound loss for the GA but happy for Toi. She will be missed personally and professionally.
- Rick Bryant - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 4:11 pm:
Good luck Senator. What a long strange trip it’s been, as they say. I’m sure you are up for the challenge.
- Blue Dog Dem - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 4:37 pm:
Cannabis czar. OMG. Sounds like a position ripe for some real influence peddling. Hope she can resist the many temptations which she will be exposed to.
- nitpicker - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 5:01 pm:
Shouldn’t that headline be “cannabis czarina”?
- Taxedoutwest - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 6:42 pm:
Respect her to the utmost, but I will now has less bills to fight.
- West Side the Best Side - Thursday, Sep 26, 19 @ 9:15 pm:
Nitpicker - Reminds me of a Steve Allen riff about the czar, the czarina and the little czardines.
- Career Politician 2.0 - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 2:42 am:
Does this mean she will be returning the recent campaign contributions that she received?
- No term limits needed - Friday, Sep 27, 19 @ 12:05 pm:
Her and Art Jr and all the rest that have left after just 3-4 terms - thats better then term limits advocates have wanted