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Doors and Don Harmon

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Illinois

* My Sun-Times column is about doors…

House Speaker Michael Madigan often uses an unmarked door to his grand, private office that opens directly into a public hallway. The hallway is usually empty, which allows Madigan to avoid entering or exiting through his office’s main lobby, where he would have to deal with the usual horde of lobbyists anxiously awaiting on bended knees.

Madigan’s side entrance is a double door, one heavy wooden door opens into another, both of them tightly locked. So, you can forget about knocking, even if you can find it.

Talking to Madigan the other day as he tried to unlock both doors and escape inside his sanctuary got me to thinking about what’s going on with the new doors in the Illinois Senate and what it might mean for the future.

Hey, you got a better segue?

The Senate President’s office has long had a “secret” door to an adjacent office, which was once occupied by the Senate majority leader. The door was sealed off by former Senate President Emil Jones after his majority leader, the late, great Vince Demuzio (D-Carlinville), developed the unfortunate habit of strolling through the shared doorway unannounced. Jones’ next majority leader was installed in an office down the hall, and Sen. James DeLeo (D-Chicago) was given Demuzio’s old office. The door, however, remained locked.

Jones is gone, but DeLeo still has his same office. DeLeo and new Senate President John Cullerton have been friends since almost before the state joined the union. DeLeo is also one of the most knowledgeable, capable and smartest legislators in the business. Cullerton has wisely unlocked that door, and DeLeo has promised not to walk through it without knocking.

Cullerton also reconfigured a former staff suite on the other side of his office from DeLeo. For years, that suite had its own public entrance and was mostly occupied by high level staff. Now, the only staff member back there is Cullerton’s chief of staff. The public entrance has been sealed off and a new door was cut so Cullerton can walk into the suite without going “outside” and meet with Senate Majority Leader James Clayborne (D-East St. Louis) or Assistant Majority Leader Don Harmon (D-Oak Park).

I’ve admittedly taken the long way around, but this column is actually supposed to be about Harmon.

Harmon is one of five assistant Senate majority leaders, but he’s the only one with such a prized office location. And for good reason.

Harmon and Cullerton are as close to being ideological soul mates as one can get. They’re both extremely hardworking, smart, liberal lawyers. Cullerton has handed over some of his most important “legacy” legislation to Harmon, like privatizing the management of the Illinois Lottery and “streamlining” the sales tax. Cullerton admits that Harmon is being singled out for big things.

Harmon began his political life as a protege of fellow Oak Park resident and former Senate President Phil Rock, who is still revered by people like Cullerton. Harmon now has Rock’s old Senate seat and Rock’s Democratic township committeeman’s job. Half his Senate district is represented by Republican state Rep. Skip Saviano, and the two men get along famously. The other half is African-American, and Harmon has demonstrated a remarkable ability to ally himself with just about all of the black power bases in that district.

Harmon ran for Senate President last year and managed to greatly impress Mayor Daley in the process, while not alienating Cullerton. Harmon instinctively knew when to fold his candidacy and cut his best deal.

As a result, the door to the future is swinging Harmon’s way.

* Related…

* State Sen. John Cullerton: Finally, real progress in wake of gridlock

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Apr 10, 09 @ 9:03 am

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