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* Hannah Meisel…
State Rep. André Thapedi (D-Chicago) is set to resign from his seat in the Illinois House after 12 years, he told NPR Illinois on Sunday.
Thapedi, who has served as representative for the 32nd District since 2009, said he wants to take an active role in searching for a replacement for his seat. The 32nd District stretches westward from Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood to south suburban Hickory Hills. […]
“All the change that’s occurred over time — we’ve got the first black female vice president of the United States, the first Black secretary of defense, the first Black speaker of the [Illinois] House, the first Latina [U.S.] Supreme Court justice, the first Black female mayor of the city of Chicago, the first Black female president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners,” Thapedi said.
Thapedi said “so many things have happened,” making it impossible for him to pinpoint one big or most memorable accomplishment during his tenure.
You’d think he’d be ready for that question. His most recent newsworthy act…
An emergency rule for businesses to enforce masks and social distancing in Illinois stands didn’t get the required number of votes.
Some on the panel wanted the entire 176-member body to take up the issue as a bill. […]
State Rep. Andre Thapedi, D-Chicago, voted present, asking why the Pritzker administration didn’t bring a bill to pass into law after already having filed one emergency rule that expired after 150 days.
He could’ve filed his own bill, of course.
Thapedi chairs the Judiciary - Civil committee, so this will set off a robust internal contest to replace him.
* Onward…
Thapedi's announcement kicks off another replacement process for members of the Cook County Democratic Party (there's an ongoing process to pick a successor for former Sen. Heather Steans). Here's the weighted vote totals for those who have a hand in picking Thapedi's successor: https://t.co/aS8RXdBZd7 pic.twitter.com/fXrxtPSHdh
— Rachel Hinton (@rrhinton) February 1, 2021
* And…
With the resignation of Rep. Thapedi and a couple other potential departures, it's likely that soon a majority of House Democrats will have been in office for fewer than five years. https://t.co/vmnL6GNwac pic.twitter.com/QRJ2Mr67CH
— John Amdor (@JohnAmdor) February 1, 2021
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 11:33 am
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I really don’t like this “get re-elected and quit and name your replacement” thing, but I also don’t know what to do about it.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 11:35 am
I’m getting more than a little tired of the practice of running for reelection and announcing retirement shortly after being sworn into a new term. Maybe show more respect for the voters and let them choose your replacement?
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 11:36 am
@Ron Burgundy- Special Elections, at least for the house. I know people hate them but it is an incentive to stop this type of behavior.
Comment by kj Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 11:55 am
Agree NIU Grad and Ron Burgundy
Comment by wondering wendy Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 12:07 pm
To be fair, the election cycle is incredibly long and circumstances changes. Plus, let’s try to remember elected officials are human beings too.
Petitions were filed more than a year ago. A lot changes between filing and the actual start of the election season. There’s also an incredible amount of time between the primary and the general, and the general and inauguration.
It isn’t always about disrespecting the voters, but more often about a member realizing it might be time for them to move on.
Comment by facts matter Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 12:08 pm
I’m going to miss the confusing labyrinth of special rules and procedures said no one who has had a bill in Jud Civil over the past few years.
Comment by Franklin Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 12:13 pm
Technically, he can’t name his own replacement, as he won’t be on the committee do so. Also, if he stepped down prior to the election or prior to the primary, he could still influence someone to run for the seat (”quit and name your replacement”).
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 12:15 pm
Who will introduce the resolution in the house honoring his service and wishing him well?
Comment by Hmm Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 12:16 pm
Yea there really needs to be pushback. Running and getting elected has value. It’s a declarative statement that one wishes to represent you for the next two years.
Changing your mind on that within weeks isn’t coincidence. It’s a sad play.
Comment by Anon Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 12:16 pm
Another one? You know this doesn’t look good with the Democrat party.
What Rep. Thapedi woke up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat and decided to ‘immediately’ resign? C’mon he knows better. He’s an attorney.
We need to fix this and yes, I would argue for this election law change regardless of the party in power.
Comment by Pizza Man Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 12:21 pm
I’m not sure there’s a perfect way to handle this, but I’d feel better if the member retiring wasn’t uber-influential in picking their successor. Thapedi said he’s gonna “take an active role” and Cassidy is trying to engineer a 2-for-1 appointment in which she moves to the senate and helps designates her house successor. When you do that it’s no wonder that average citizens think this is a process for insiders only.
Comment by TNR Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 12:24 pm
After observing the legal, but sometimes distasteful, process of filling vacancies in the General Assembly, the appointment controversy after the passing of Judy Barr Topinka, the controversy that can arise when the Governor of one party appoints an executive vacancy held by another party, and the cost/benefit and timing needs of an election, I believe this problem is best solved by having each candidate name and run with their shadow. The shadow would be on the ballot with the candidate and would only step-in in the case of a vacancy. This person may not hold any other office, must file economic interest statements, must take an oath, and will be paid a minimal amount (say one payment of $50 per year with no pension or group insurance benefits). In the event the shadow becomes the officeholder, the shadow would then have to appoint their own shadow. In the case of a simultaneous death of the officeholder and shadow, the Governor shall appoint a person of the same party as nominated by a listing of three persons from the party’s State committee that was previously holding the office.
This way, voters will have had the opportunity to have considered a candidate’s replacement during the election process, the opportunity for political shenanigans in so-called “smoke-filled rooms” is minimized, the Office of the Lt. Governor could be abolished and related cost savings realized, and total overall costs are minimized.
Comment by An Idea Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 12:55 pm
Is Indivisible active in that district?
Comment by Amalia Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 1:10 pm
===I also don’t know what to do about it.===
Here’s a thought - we could (gasp) have an election to elect our elected officials.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 1:13 pm
@An Idea, just make them have to serve 51% of their term to be able to appoint someone, or trigger a special election. That way the time spent in office is less than the time spent on the campaign trail and would require only serious candidates run. Also eliminates this within the first year of a two year term resignation nonsense.
Comment by Jefferson T Duncan Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 1:31 pm
I’ve never seen a member of the house, not in leadership, send out solicitations for a campaign event where the top donor level was 20k. I’ve also never had a rep insist that the meeting being requested by a lobbyist for a non-profit with a presence in his district, take place in his political office and not his district government office. It sounded like a set up for a shake down. Later Andre. Bye Felicia.
Comment by Morris Day and the Time Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 1:40 pm
Maybe ranked choice voting could alleviate this? If the winner steps down go with the 2nd pick or change the rule so that lawmakers can only resign between the end of the filing deadline for the next election and the day before the election occurs (or a month before the election takes place) with carve-outs for certain medical issues.
This doesn’t look like good governance if its happening this often right after an election occurred with the reasoning provided about stress/family events that took place long-before said election took place.
Comment by 1st Ward Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 1:41 pm
Really need to move to keeping the seats vacant until a special election can happen.
Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 1:51 pm
We can learn from our state’s protocols for congressional vacancies.
Mandate special elections for House vacancies and voters can put U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley in office.
Provide for gubernatorial appointments for Senate vacancies and voters can get stuck with U.S. Sen. Roland Burris.
Comment by Perplexed Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 2:03 pm
When did the House last have the rate of turnover of the past half decade? Seems like just yesterday that Barbara Flynn Currie was majority leader, but how many Democratic members seated in September of 2021 will have served with her?
Comment by Rich Hill Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 2:09 pm
@Jefferson: ==or trigger a special election==
How many people do you think are going to turn out for a special election? A ballot with one seat on it? And people will complain that whoever picks the actual election date didn’t give people enough time to circulate petitions or to raise money or to build an organization, or this or that or …
Whoever won a special election for these seats will have to circulate petitions for the 2022 election this summer. Maybe right after they win the special.
People gonna complain about something, but nobody’s got anything better to do.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 2:22 pm
===How many people do you think are going to turn out for a special election? ===
Who needs voters anyways? They just get in the way and show things down.
Comment by Just Me 2 Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 2:58 pm
candidate name and run with their shadow
I am not sure if this is snark or serious…..
Comment by Fav Human Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 3:04 pm
Here’s a thought: if they resign after being re-elected that must seat hold a special election, if not no representation for that district until the next election.
Comment by Just Curious Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 3:50 pm
As others have alluded, this is an opportunity to get better representation for the district.
Comment by Advocate Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 5:21 pm
I’m guessing André has an issue with Welch and tried to look past it but couldn’t…
Comment by Andrade’s Social Media Studio Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 7:24 pm
I’m thinking he’s running for SOS or has a spot with the Gov.
Comment by marylouise Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 8:40 pm
===or has a spot with the Gov===
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Feb 1, 21 @ 11:33 pm