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Today’s number: 50 years

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Illinois

The three longtime lawmakers from Southern Illinois whose legislative jobs have officially ended represent more than 50 years of combined experience.

With the swearing in of the 100th General Assembly on Wednesday, the terms of Sens. Gary Forby and Dave Luechtefeld have officially come to a close. Rep. John Bradley’s legislative career ended Jan. 1 when he resigned a few days ahead of the scheduled end of his term.

Forby and Bradley, both Democrats, were defeated in November as a Republican wave swept across Southern Illinois. Luechtefeld, a Republican, chose not to run again after his home was drawn out of the district he represents in the decennial redistricting process.

The transition marks a substantial loss of clout and experience at one time for the Southern Illinois delegation under the dome, where seniority plays a role in everything from committee assignments to parking spots. […]

There also are returning members of the Southern Illinois delegation. Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, has served since 2003, and now is the most senior member of those representing deep Southern Illinois. Rep. Jerry Costello II, D-Red Bud, has served since 2011. Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, has served since 2015.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 10:33 am

Comments

I know that the governing party thinks experience is actually a bad thing, but I can’t help but think that in some ways, Southern Illinois will miss having so many legislators who know how sausage gets made.

Comment by Arsenal Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 10:40 am
Institutional knowledge…

When a Body loses that much institutional knowledge, especially for a region, it will be interesting to see the impact of losing so much seniority, especially that experience in the majority, the region may lose a voice it once had?

The more troubling could be the “one party” influence that seems to be taking hold, and losing bipartisan inroads might be as hurtful as losing the 50 years of experience.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 10:40 am
Downstate Democrats continue to slide. Clinton-Gore 92 won 70 downstate counties. Clinton-Kaine 16 won 6 downstate counties. We need a new strategy.

Comment by Downstate Dem Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 10:41 am
Lamenting the loss of experience on one hand, but being all for term limits on the other, doesn’t quite make sense to me…just sayin.

Comment by PublicServant Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 10:43 am
“Republican wave” …is this like three republicans in a car waving like beauty queens? Okay…a few seats were picked up, but geez, wave for me is like wholesale change not crumbs left from the party…

Comment by Captain Illini Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 10:50 am
–Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, has served since 2003, and now is the most senior member of those representing deep Southern Illinois.–

Geez, now there’s a deep Southern Illinois? Do they resent those big-city folk from Mt. Vernon, or something?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 10:55 am
“Michael Madigan and the parking spaces he controls…”

Comment by Skeptic Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 10:58 am
Jil Tracy is newly elected to the Senate, but not exactly brand new in Springfield.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:01 am
=Geez, now there’s a deep Southern Illinois?=

Maybe it’s in reference to the Chicago people who think Peoria is Southern Illinois.

Comment by m Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:04 am
M, I don’t think the SI is writing for a Chicago audience.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:07 am
=M, I don’t think the SI is writing for a Chicago audience.=

I didn’t say they were. People in Southern Illinois are well aware of how Chicago views the state. Thus “in reference to”, not “to”.

Comment by m Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:17 am
Senator Dave is a big loss. Other than pork for his District, Bradley has had no legislative accomplishments. Forby, great guy, but no one that has ever spoken to him is concerned about the loss of institutional knowledge, or any other kind of knowledge with his departure.

Phelps would have lost had he been forced to run on his record, but his opponent’s personal woes gave him a buy.

Comment by the Patriot Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:22 am
Well Patriot if Bradley had not been bringing home the bacon you would be complaining about him not taking care of the district.

Take and drive between Marion and Carbondale then get back with us about Bradley not accomplishing much.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:40 am
I understand the call and need for term limits, however, institutional knowledge is still important. Even then the legislators with experience could always lend their expertise to someone out there. The worse part still is you have to learn to make the sausage all over again!

Comment by Levois Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:42 am
–I didn’t say they were. People in Southern Illinois are well aware of how Chicago views the state. Thus “in reference to”, not “to”.–

So, the SI, in writing for its Southern lllinois readership, needs to make a distinction about “deep Southern Illinois” “in reference to the Chicago people who think Peoria is Southern Illinois.”

Thanks for clearing that up.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:43 am
===Geez, now there’s a deep Southern Illinois?===

Southern Illinois is pretty much that area south of Interstate 64….not Interstate 80.

Thus the modifier “deep.” It helps to differentiate from “downstate.”

Comment by Southern Dawg Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:43 am
–Southern Illinois is pretty much that area south of Interstate 64….not Interstate 80.–

Thanks for the lesson.

What does “deep Southern Illinois” mean to SI readership?

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:46 am
Dale Fowler worked for the state for quite a while and was Mayor of Harrisburg. Dave Severin served on the Franklin County School Board for 20 years. Those two are not neophytes.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:53 am
===Dave Severin served on the Franklin County School Board for 20 years.===

So I’m sure Mr. Severin is for Term Limits?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:56 am
Coach Dave. A good,decent man. However, the last 6 years or so was as partisan as any, whose sole mission was bringing home the bacon. But i do not blame him. I blame the two party system.

Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 11:59 am
OW - to be frank I know that he’s in favor of legislative term limits but I don’t know about school board term limits. Does it matter?! They’re two totally separate things. Does the Illinois School Code allow for school board term limits? Does it even allow individual school boards to make the decision? Maybe he introduced something regarding term limits for members of his Board and it was shot down or found to be unconstitutional and not in line with the Illinois Constitution. I don’t normally mind doing research but I’m not going to go through 20 years of the Benton Evening News archives to find out.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:08 pm
“Geez, now there’s a deep Southern Illinois?”

I grew up down there and now live in the central part of the state. There are people who call this Southern Illinois. As far as I can tell there are a lot of people who think Southern Illinois starts about 40 miles north of where they are. Some say US 40 is the northern boundary but that is way far north. You might stretch it to Mt Vernon at the most but not for deep Southern Illinois.

Comment by Bigtwich Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:10 pm
Southern Illinois. My definition for what its worth. South of hwy 149/13.

Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:19 pm
===As far as I can tell there are a lot of people who think Southern Illinois starts about 40 miles north of where they are===

In my area, it’s the opposite. Starts about 40 miles south. Carlinville or maybe Litchfield. But some of those folks think it starts about 40 miles south of them. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:20 pm
===…to be frank I know that he’s in favor of legislative term limits but I don’t know about school board term limits.===

- Team Sleep - with great respect, and you know I mean that, this makes zero sense. The premise of Term Limits is that people are in power too long, not in power too long “except”

===Does it matter?!===

Yeah. If the hypocrisy of a career in politics is framed around a “Freshman” who is for Term Limits, while having served 20 years on one elected body… How comical is THAT?!

===They’re two totally separate things.===

They’re not, if Term Limits is based on the premise that people serving 20 years on a body are “corrupt” or whatever… the premise works for any legislative body.

=== Does the Illinois School Code allow for school board term limits?===

Does the IL Constitution? What does that even mean?

===Maybe he introduced something regarding term limits for members of his Board and it was shot down or found to be unconstitutional and not in line with the Illinois Constitution.===

If that’s your case, you could ask or use the Google to make that point, otherwise it’s pure speculation to explain away a 20 year seat on an elected board, then is in favor of Term Limits?

===I don’t normally mind doing research but I’m not going to go through 20 years of the Benton Evening News archives to find out===

… then your attempt to say he wanted Term Limits but… is a strawman?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:26 pm
Willy - we routinely debate whether local governments and local governing entities are allowed to do things like limit collective bargaining or further freeze certain property tax levies. Just yesterday we had discussions about how school districts can and can’t deal with substitute teacher shortages. Local school board term limits might fall in the same line of questioning. If it’s not even allowed under the current school code then it’s not even possible for consideration and passage by the Franklin County School Board.

I did a Google search of Dave Severin and school board term limits and I didn’t find anything. So there you go. And if you wanna sift through Evening News archives then be my guess.

John Bradley lost. So sad too bad.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:36 pm
===John Bradley lost. So sad too bad===

No skin off my nose. Elections have consequences.

However, you can’t say to me as a rebuttal that Severin serving 20 years on a single elected board and supporting Term Limits isn’t utterly comical on its face.

Severin has “experience” that Term Limit proponents would point to as someone that could fall into a “corrupt politician”

That’s all.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:41 pm
“Deep” southern Illinois used to distinguish itself from Madison and St. Clair counties, where there are still a few democrats. But a more appropriate name would be “southwestern Indiana.”

Comment by Collinsville Kevin Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:47 pm
Saline County was the 6th hardest hit county in the country due to the war on coal started by the Obama administration. Even though Bradley & Forby are Democrats they tried to paint themselves as pro coal. It’s hard to be both. Phelps needs to remember this lesson.

Comment by NobodysAccountable Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:47 pm
The interesting thing about Sen. Forby and Rep. Phelps is that they both take “Chicago money” from the Intl. Union of Operating Engineers local 150 in Countryside. That seems like a long way from southern IL.

Both legislators have been joined at the hip with a certain lobbyist, Todd Vandermyde. Now he’s the NRA lobbyist, but formerly worked for the president of 150, William Dugan.

Phelps, Forby, and Vandermyde “worked hard” to put up the worst concealed carry bill possible that was basically written by police unions, but are hailed as heroes by NRA types. It’s amazing to me that both of these legislators have not been tarred and feathered by the gun buffs.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:57 pm
=Thanks for clearing that up.=

I don’t know what they meant. Sorry for attempting to answer a question.

But since you seem to have no comprehension of a people’s self awareness and knowledge of how they’re viewed, I’ll elaborate.

People in Champaign often reference East Central Illinois, not just because it’s a directionally accurate term, but to bring distinction to “our” part of Central Illinois, to separate from BN, Peoria, Springfield, etc. Norcal and Northern California can have very different meanings. Up North, Norcal is “real” Northern California, not just everything North of LA, which is what Norcal generally means in LA. Northern California is more of a broad term for just the Northern half of the state, but sometimes up North, “Northern California” can be used to separate themselves from the LA view of Norcal, the “real” Norcal.

People from down south may very well use “deep” to mean “real” southern Illinois, “our” southern Illinois, not the way the way those “other people” view it, but what we know in our hearts is Southern Illinois.

But in all reality, I don’t know or really care what “deep southern” means, so enjoy whatever meaning you want to give it or anger at people who attempt to answer your question.

Comment by m Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:57 pm
I’m a fan of term limits, but not the proposed limitation of 8 years total in GA. Why not let a maxed out State Rep run for State Senate and reset their clock?

Comment by City Zen Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:58 pm
===the war on coal started by the Obama administration===

lol

That started long ago, and natural gas prices finished the work.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 12:59 pm
Whoa! Aint no war on coal in my parts. Take a ride from Sparta to Murphy. The war is on Americas use of coal. The rest of the world apparently dont give a darn about coal use.

Comment by Blue dog dem Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 1:05 pm
Maybe I should have said the war on coal the Obama administration ended. The residents keeping up the new power plant in Springfield, don’t have a natural gas option and the markets aren’t allowed to dictate the price without a thumb on the scale.

Comment by NobodysAccountable Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 1:50 pm
=== The residents keeping up the new power plant in Springfield, don’t have a natural gas option===

You’re gonna blame Obama for that? The city made its own bed.

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 2:05 pm
Everyone in the 117th knew that Dave Severin, supporter of Term Limits, sat on his Benton school board for 28 years. They don’t find his stance comical at all. In fact they voted him into office over a guy who won his last election by 30 points. Why are they wrong and you are right?

The idea that someone sitting on a rural school board is the same in any way to a state legislator is actually what is comical. How on earth would a rural school board member derive any sort of corrupting power from that position?? Access to the school gym really corrupted Dave after all those years… lol

“They’re not, if Term Limits is based on the premise that people serving 20 years on a body are “corrupt” or whatever… the premise works for any legislative body.”

That is your premise and almost no one elses. The people of Southern Illinois are able to differentiate between a small town school board and a state legislator - not their problem if you cannot.

Comment by J. Nolan Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 3:24 pm
===The idea that someone sitting on a rural school board is the same in any way to a state legislator is actually what is comical.===

That’s not the issue, but good try.

Here’s why I find it comical. Me. Why I do…

The post is about 50 years of institutional knowledge gone.

The point that was made to me is that 20 years on the same elected board IS experience.

The Republicans are running in the premise of Term Limits are critical, and 20 years seems to be in the “corrupt politician” window.

It’s not about wining or losing, it’s telling me the 20 years experience is “something” and Term Limits are needed.

So, the 20 years experience is good until it isn’t. That’s comical.

===How on earth would a rural school board member derive any sort of corrupting power from that position.===

So, are you saying no rural school board member has been indicted for malfeasance? Hmm.

=== Access to the school gym really corrupted Dave after all those years… lol===

Then you should take this up with Raunerites who continually look at long serving elected officials as corrupt, not me. I’m not for term limits.

===That is your premise and almost no one elses.===

Nah, county board races, mayors, Chicago aldermen… It’s not just my premise, but again, good try.

===The people of Southern Illinois are able to differentiate between a small town school board and a state legislator - not their problem if you cannot.===

They understand hypocrisy? Oh, got it. LOL!

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 3:45 pm
J Nolan - good points.

Comment by Team Sleep Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 3:46 pm
Dave Severin has been on that school board for over 20 years. His wife is a teacher in that district. His son is also on the school board and his wife is a teacher in that district. Benton47.org Wouldn’t know if he has proposed term limits, though.

Comment by Exit 59 Thursday, Jan 19, 17 @ 5:19 pm