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* Tribune…
State Sen. Heather Steans, a veteran North Side Democrat who was one of the driving forces behind legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois last year, is resigning her seat as of Jan. 31.
Steans was appointed to the Senate in 2008 and elected to a new two-year term in November. Her resignation announcement coming five days after she was sworn in for another term.
Steans said one factor in her decision was increasing family obligations, including helping care for her mother, who has Alzheimer’s disease, she said. But Steans said she has no immediate career plans. […]
Steans and her fellow budget negotiator, former Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill, both publicly backed Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford of Maywood in last year’s contest for Senate president, a role that ultimately went to Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park. Manar resigned last week and as of Tuesday is a senior adviser to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
* Politico…
A legislative source tells Playbook that Steans could follow former Sen. Andy Manar to work in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration. The source says Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford might want to jump ship, too.
The governor’s office told me yesterday that Steans was not heading their direction. And Leader Lightford just told me that after shepherding the Black Caucus’ “historic” legislative agenda through the lame duck session, she sees no reason to leave now. “After 22 years of heartbreak and being labeled as the angry Black woman, I’m going to see these life changing pillars through the implementation process.”
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 12:38 pm
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Next Post: We’ve heard this all before
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Once again, “could” and “might” are doing yeoman’s work for Politico.
– MrJM
Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 12:42 pm
Lightford’s language makes Emmanuel’s language seem tame.
For educators, Lightford has been a mixed bag, and that is being nice. The “solutions’ she pushed through addressed problems that don’t exist state wide and that made people’s jobs unnecessarily harder to do.
Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 12:42 pm
Moving day in DC, too. Though don’t think Sen. Steans would be heading there.
Comment by Ok Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 12:48 pm
Steans is not a surprise. Anyone coping with the ravages of Alzheimer’s know how consuming that can be. As for lightford, I’ve heard from at least a half a dozen folks from within the caucus and the administration about maj leader lightford about her impending departure for the admin. If not true, I’m curious about her change of heart. There is more to this than meets the eye, curiouser and curiouser…
Comment by G falkes Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 12:49 pm
I would just note that Lightford’s quote to Rich doesn’t mean she’s staying in the Senate. It could be read both ways, meaning staying or going to the administration.
Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 12:59 pm
It bears repeating; Leader Kimberly Lightford has the best Twitter name of any politician.
Comment by Shark Sandwich Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 1:17 pm
Before too long, Playbook will be using the Southern Illinois “might could” terminology to discuss political intrigue.
Comment by Candy Dogood Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 2:17 pm
Close your eyes.
Think “Sneed”… k.. got it.. good.
Now think “Sneed… but wholly lacking a grasp of the truth to the ‘Scoopsville’… “
…
*That’s* “Playbook”
Natch.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 2:20 pm
Can we let up on the shade and keeping the rumor mongering going here against Lightford. I think her statement to Rich makes it pretty clear that she’s not going anywhere. Instead of hitting her one something you make not like that she did over the course of 20 years of legislating, why not a little respect for what she helped achieved. Women like her in both chambers for too long have become accustomed to taking hits instead of getting kudos for their hard work. She has an enviable record over two decades of fighting for marginalized people and the lame duck really showcased her chops. Her work and the work of the caucus should be commended.
Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 3:25 pm
Is Harmon performing a housecleaning or are they leaving on their own?
Any more heads to “voluntarily” roll?
Comment by Housecleaning Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 3:29 pm
Ditto what JS Mill stated regarding Sen. Lightford. I’d add Steans into that comment, as she was involved in the same legislation that (I believe) JS Mills references. Also note that Sen. Steans was the sponsor of the bill that created the charter school commission, an ALEC bill.
Comment by Ashland Adam Wednesday, Jan 20, 21 @ 9:17 pm