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Cross officially steps aside

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Illinois

State Representative Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) today has taken over the reins as the new House Republican Leader.

Tom Cross who has served in the position since 2003 has stepped aside to pursue another opportunity.

“Tom Cross was a good leader. I wish him the best in his future endeavors and thank him for service to our caucus,” said Durkin.

“It is a privilege to have been selected the new House Republican Leader by my peers and I’m anxious to get to work. Illinois is a great state facing serious challenges. House Republicans have solid ideas on how to solve our fiscal crisis, and get residents back to work. Like our neighbors, we want safe schools and neighborhoods, and an end to government corruption. We want to restore pride in Illinois – working together we can get the job done.”

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 9:28 am

Comments

–House Republicans have solid ideas on how to solve our fiscal crisis, and get residents back to work.–

As Judge Smails would say…..

“Welllllllll…… we’re waiting!”

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 9:32 am
One “down” …”One” to go…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 9:35 am
I’m confident Durkin will be a marginally less ineffective than Cross. An extremely low bar to be sure.

Comment by too obvious Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 9:57 am
I really hope Durkin means what he says about trying to mend some fences in the caucus. Seems what he is doing behind the scenes would contradict that…

Comment by Annonymous Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 9:59 am
“Well, Jim, I watered the plants, and I left you 3 letters in the Desk, in case you are having problems.

The password on the computer is “GOLF18″, all Caps.

If the mail still has my name, the sender just didn’t get the change I sent out or you, but if you get Golf Digest or any of the Sweepstake stuff from the Golf Channel, just get that to me, I still have a few drawing entries and a subscription out there…

The holes on the floor? Yeah, you may not get the deposit back on the Office, I wore my golf spikes a few times, to break them in and all. They really ate up that hardwood, didn’t they?

Oh, and at the end of the Cycle, you give out “Participatory Trophies”, I think the HRO has an account with the Trophy company, and you give like a real stern speech, then you tell a joke or something, and give all the Senoir Staff the trophies. …Yeah, we never told the Caucus…

Speaker Madigan’s ring tone … no Not Darth Vader …it’s “Call Me, Maybe …” so answer it pretty quick.

Yeah, um … recruiting … yeah …great question …

…Well, good luck and all, and forward me all those Golf Digests if they show up here …”

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 10:01 am
I love this sentence:

=== Tom Cross who has served in the position since 2003 has stepped aside to pursue another opportunity. ===

Comment by Bill White Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 10:09 am
Just another leader oh will vote against our retirement. And for Mr Cross he sure wont get my vote.

Comment by Quincy Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 10:26 am
Cross was ineffective as a leader and will hopefully find full retirement staring him in the face sooner rather than later.

Comment by BDuty6 Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 10:46 am
Let’s concentrate on today forward. Welcome Leader Durkin.

Comment by A guy... Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 10:49 am
Nice guy, but still another loser that stayed around too long.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 11:06 am
What’s going on with the staff? Are they generally staying? Or is there an exodus?

Comment by Marty Funkhouser Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 12:47 pm
Cross is a very good all around guy. Better to work with.

Jim’s personality is more like Mike’s — quiet, clever, tough. Harder to beat?

We’ll see.

Comment by walkinfool Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 2:32 pm
Interested to see if having both GOP leaders from the same district will have any affect on message or effectiveness.

Comment by Bill F. Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 3:31 pm
- Bill F. -,

Most recently, we had Lee and Pate…

But “Commander Galloway” is NOT Pate Phillip, and Durkin is NOT Lee A. Daniels.

It is going to be an interesting dynamic between the two of these leaders.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 3:39 pm
Good point. They’ve merely migrated into southern DuPage (and Cook).

Comment by Bill F. Monday, Sep 23, 13 @ 3:46 pm
Durkin and Radogno get along very well (unlike Pate and Lee), so at least they have a shot at marshalling their resources. The map, the map and the map. Brady was the last ditch hope to backstop the Republicans on the map and we know how that turned out. Now all you can do is be as efficient with your resources as you can and maybe there will be a force majeure that will sweep them into power while they work on a new map.

Comment by Robo Tuesday, Sep 24, 13 @ 9:49 am
Anyone else noticed that the legislature has not voted yet?
Wonder if he gets the fatter check, even sweeter pension, car keys, seat on state jets or just an empty office with Skip or Skipette lurking in the corner

Comment by Anon10:20 Tuesday, Sep 24, 13 @ 10:22 am