Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Angie Guerrero Cuellar becomes third person to represent the 22nd House District in a week

Posted in:

Illinois
Updated Posts

* The Democratic committeepersons of the 22nd House District appointed Angie Guerrero Cuellar to the open seat this morning without debate. Cuellar was supported by Ald. Silvana Tabares at Sunday’s meeting. 13th Ward Democratic Committeeperson Mike Madigan announced yesterday he would also be supporting her after the abrupt resignation of his own candidate, three-day apppointed state Rep. Ed Kodatt. After the meeting, Madigan spoke briefly with reporters…

Q: Was it a lack of vetting?

A: The events developed as they developed. The action of the committee taken on Sunday was nullified because of the resignation, creating a vacancy, and so today we fill the vacancy. I don’t plan to speak to background questions. I don’t plan to speak to the background questions.

Q: You’re normally very meticulous…

A: I think that proper questions were asked, proper questions were asked.

Q: Proper questions were asked or weren’t?

A: They were, the answer is yes. As I said, the events developed, Mr. Kodatt resigned creating the vacancy, today we filled the vacancy. I’m interested in moving forward with Angie Guerrero Cuellar. She’s been anchored in the community. As you can read from her resume, she’s worked with various community organizations in the Southwest Side of Chicago. Therefore, she’s had good experience and understanding of the needs and the desires of the people of the Southwest Side.

Q: People have a certain social media life that some of us older folks don’t. Is that something you’ve neglected to look at, their social media and what might have been evident had his name been put out there ahead of time, a little more vetting.

A: His name was put out in advance like everybody else. It was a complete circulation of resumes. Every resume that was submitted…

Q: That morning. It wasn’t until that morning. It wasn’t enough time for folks to really take a look at who he was.

Q: So, when you say questions were asked, does that mean the answers were not true.

A: See, I’m not going to get into that. I’m just not going to speak about…

Q: When did you first learn about the…

A: A little bit ago. A little bit ago.

Q: Was it after he was named, though?

A: Yes.

Q: People like Pritzker and Sen. Durbin, they blame you for the failure of the Fair Tax or Democrats have a disappointing election day…

A: I’m not going there. I’m not going there. I’m not going there.

Q: Why not?

A: Because I don’t want to?

Q: Is what happened to Mr. Kodatt another manifestation of the cancel culture? Are you concerned about that?

A: What culture?

Q: Cancel culture.

A: Uh-huh. Really. [Looks puzzled at the question.]

Q: The new chairman is going to be selected. Do you have a preference of who that would be?

A: You know what, I’m anxious to move out of here and wish all of you a good day. [Walks away.]

Subscribers know more about why and how the questions were asked and what happened after they were asked.

Cuellar is a resident of the 13th Ward.

…Adding… Bill Wheelhouse recently wrote about his experience covering Madigan at the Statehouse…

He appeared unflappable. I never witnessed a heated exchange with a reporter. He might make a wry comment about a news outlet with a smile on his face. At most, his anger might lead him to ignore a question. He was honest in answering the questions he did answer, but what would sound like a good answer to a question, was, upon further reflection, often an answer that could be interpreted more than one way, which made it hard to determine if he flipped on an issue or was dishonest. […]

One evening, I was lucky enough to catch Madigan alone walking back to his office, asking about some controversial legislation. It was an adversarial but polite exchange. He kept walking at the same pace. He was not trying to run away like many others seem to do when questioned by a reporter. Yet he never directly answered the question. We got to his office door, and he calmly, matter-of-factly, shut it in my face. That is what it was like to cover Madigan.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 11:04 am

Comments

Man, that district really runs through legislators.

Comment by Montrose Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 11:14 am
Gosh we’re in a hurry today. We’re all about moving forward, not discussing yet another mess we’ve made. What could the rush be ….
Maybe we have to arm-twist some pliant House caucus members? Hmm, can’t be that.
Maybe the travel burdens of state party chair? Nah, grounded.
Maybe a meeting with Southwest Side constituents? Oops, that was then.
Maybe we’re overdue for our hourly check-in with defense counsel at Katten Muchin?
Anybody? Class? Class? ….

Comment by Perplexed Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 11:21 am
I once asked a state gaming investigator why it took so long to get an ok for a license. He said “It takes a little while for “stuff” to float to the top. I might interview your neighbor and they say great things about you. Well we wait a few months and sometimes you tick off one of those neighbors and they start remembering “stuff” about you. And then we get a call. Its better to wait instead of rushing the licenses through.”

Comment by Been There Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 11:26 am
== A: You know what, I’m anxious to move out of here and wish all of you a good day. [Walks away.] ==

I bet he was anxious to move out there…

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 11:26 am
@Perplexed - Maybe Madigan has to go take care of his property tax firm. Clients jumping ship?

Comment by 6yrwaitatPTAB Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 11:31 am
I am surprised he even tried to take questions. Surely he knew it was not going to go well??? What an embarrassing mess. (He used to always know where there was a back door to escape through when he was avoiding the press.)

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 11:31 am
Q: “People have a certain social media life that some of us older folks don’t.”

A: “That’s those flip phones and emails, right?”

/S

Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 11:33 am
“Cancel culture”???

I’m embarrassed for whomever asked that question and amused by the recipient’s response.

Comment by Moe Berg Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 11:57 am
Moe–exactly. Madigan had the perfect response even if it was because he really didn’t know. I wish I didn’t.

Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 12:04 pm
=He might make a wry comment about a news outlet with a smile on his face.=

Did Channel 20 get a fair share of those wry comments?

Comment by Essential State Employee Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 12:15 pm
===Did Channel 20===

Like he watched that station after Jordan left and it went downhill. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 12:18 pm
MJM looks go for being so close to 80 years old. Also, His mask hanging off his right ear may actually start a whole new fashion statement.

Comment by Frumpy White Guy Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 12:32 pm
=Like he watched that station after Jordan left and it went downhill=

That started long before Jordan even arrived at Channel 20. Most likely ever since Don Hickman was let go (2001), although the bottom didn’t really drop out in my opinion until after both Jerry Lambert and Gus Gordon left in 2012.

Comment by Essential State Employee Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 12:43 pm
== A: You know what, I’m anxious to move out of here and wish all of you a good day. [Walks away.] ==

I wonder if he has said that exact same sentence before. When on his way to Saputo’s.

Comment by Essential State Employee Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 12:45 pm
[We are all] anxious to move out of here.

Comment by Kayak Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 12:50 pm
He sounds to me a lot like a guy who doesn’t feel like he as to engage in even any pretense anymore because he has moved on. And maybe is even finding that to be enjoyable a little, or at least a relief.

Comment by SouthSide Markie Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 12:55 pm
Who gets his table at Saputo’s?

Comment by Lincoln Lad Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 1:29 pm
Replacing the guy who replaced The Guy.

Comment by Rich Hill Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 2:13 pm
=Who gets his table at Saputo’s?=

Without Madigan in the GA and a regular there anymore, Saputo’s might have to shut down. The owner (Coffey) will probably just focus on Papa Franks on the far west side instead.

Comment by Essential State Employee Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 2:26 pm
These are just replacements for now next year you have to be Elected to State Rep Believe me people will be running for the position

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Feb 25, 21 @ 5:21 pm