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Long leaving Statehouse beat

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Illinois

There’s a big change coming in the Statehouse pressroom, as RAY LONG, 56, who has been Chicago Tribune bureau chief there since 1998, will soon take a Chicago-based job as part of that paper’s investigative watchdog team.

Long had been with The Associated Press at the Statehouse for three years before joining the Tribune. A native of Winchester, he had interned with the Alton Telegraph in 1981 when it still had a Statehouse bureau and as he was getting his master’s degree with the public affairs reporting program at what is now the University of Illinois Springfield. […]

Long has also been president of the Illinois Legislative Correspondents Association — the organization of Statehouse reporters — since 2006. […]

Taking over the Trib’s Statehouse bureau will be MONIQUE GARCIA, 30, a daughter of Air Force veterans who was born in Germany, graduated high school in Belleville, got her journalism degree from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and was Long’s intern when getting her master’s at UIS in 2007. She’s regularly covered major government events in Springfield as she has worked for the Tribune and has been based at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.

“It’s a great, interesting time for the state and for the beat,” Garcia said.

Monique will most definitely liven up this beat. She’s a solid reporter and a whole lot of fun to be around.

* From Ray’s Facebook page…

How about we do a congratulatory caption contest featuring two “presidents”?

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 8:45 am

Comments

“I remember the tie looking like…this..,when I covered Abe, I mean the President.”

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 8:50 am
The Wise Guys at the Goat will certainly miss Monique.

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 8:54 am
“Seriously, Mr. President, I have a 5 o’clock deadline. I need your reaction to Governor Rauner rescinding Governor Quinn’s last-minute executive orders. Mr. Lincoln? This isn’t funny anymore. I have a job to do.”

Comment by ToddAF Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 8:57 am
“The only guy I can’t get to gossip in Springfield”

Comment by Stones Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 9:02 am
“Mr. President: Care to explain that personal debt problem you accrued back in New Salem from running that store?”

Comment by Ron Burgundy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 9:07 am
Fortner is being tight lipped. I’ll make some calls.

Comment by LizPhairTax Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 9:09 am
John O’Connor of the Associated Press (left) and Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune wait patiently for Gov. Bruce Rauner to explain how he intends to address the current fiscal year budget shortfall.

Comment by South of Sherman Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 9:14 am
“Yes, Mrs. Lincoln, I’m straightening his tie right now… Don’t worry, Mrs. Lincoln — I’ll have him to the theater by curtain!”

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM (@MisterJayEm) Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 9:18 am
“Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Lincoln…”

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 9:28 am
Long time comin’ Long time gone

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 9:31 am
Hey, the guy still gives better sound bites than does the Speaker.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 9:38 am
Mr. President, any idea that what Speaker Madigan thinks about this issue?

Comment by Suburban Dad Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 9:48 am
Congratulations, Ray! Happy for you, but many of us are going to miss you around the Capitol.

Comment by In the Middle Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 9:48 am
Abe: “Mr. Long, make up your mind. Either interview me or get off that #$%& cell phone!”

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:01 am
RL: “Mr. Lincoln, what’s your opinion of celluloid collars?”

AL: “Mine curl up every time I start arguing with The Little Giant!”

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:03 am
RL: “Mr. Lincoln, I notice you’re leaning to the right. Is that a political statement? Have you been watching Fox News?”

AL: “No, Tad just broke the heel off my darn boot.”

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:04 am
RL: “Mr. Lincoln, what do you think of my beard?”

AL: “Pitiful. Plumb pitiful.”

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:07 am
Abe: Don’t tell me it’s Madigan on the phone, I know it’s that ^%$$* Douglas!

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:08 am
RL: ‘I saw the recent documentary about your secret life as a vampire killer. Do you care to comment.’
AL: What?!

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:09 am
Adding…Scott reeder organizing the going away party.

Comment by Strunk Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:18 am
Take care Ray, job exceptionally well done for AP and the Trib. Welcome Monique, couldn’t be happier for you!

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 10:21 am
“Mr. Lincoln, can you tell us about the subpoenas?”

It’s hard to believe Ray’s leaving the beat. He’s a legend among statehouse reporters, not just in Illinois, but around the country.

Comment by Dan Vock Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:24 am
“I would like to comment, Mr. Long, but I’m advised that Mr.O'’Connor has an “exclusive” for this event.”

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:28 am
Ray: Mr Lincoln, do you want a table or a booth?

Abe: I think I should avoid the booth!

Comment by Ready n ABEl Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:33 am
“Mr. Lincoln, please. I still have to file and my editors are almost done editing my story.”

Comment by Dirty Red Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:33 am
“So, other than that, how’d you like the play?”

Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:40 am
“I don’t have to explain it to you Ray. You know how this place works. You would have jumped out the window with me.”

Comment by walker Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:41 am
WHAT ABOUT THE SUBPOENAS???!!!
WHY WON’T YOU TALK ABOUT THE SUBPOENAS?!!!!

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 12:17 pm
Flaherty +++

Comment by Frost Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 3:00 pm
See what you started with that whole Emancipation Proclamation? Executive Orders comin’ from everywhere.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 4:14 pm
…so Lincoln says to me, he says, hey pal, why the long face.”

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 4:24 pm
Word with a Newhart reference, Walker with an Old State Capitol historical reference, but Flaherty for the RRB reference win.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jan 20, 15 @ 11:50 pm
Mr. Lincoln - why do you wear those silly hats?

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jan 21, 15 @ 9:29 am
Mr. Lincoln - how do I get the gray out of my beard?

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jan 21, 15 @ 9:29 am
Mr. Lincoln - any truth to the rumors about your heart being made of wax?

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jan 21, 15 @ 9:30 am