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[Bumped up to Friday for visibility.]
* I told subscribers about this earlier tonight…
Democratic state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie won’t run for re-election in 2018, sources with knowledge of her decision said, signaling a career ending for Illinois’ first female majority leader and a longtime ally of House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Her decision comes more than 20 years after Madigan first named her to the influential post in early 1997 and nearly 40 years after she first entered the House in 1979.
State Rep. Lou Lang, a Skokie Democrat and deputy majority leader, said Currie’s departure will mean a great loss of institutional knowledge. He contended the era of of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has worn down many lawmakers who were interested in process.
Currie’s district includes Woodlawn, South Shore, Hyde Park, Kenwood, and South Chicago. Her decision to step aside removes a House Democrat mentioned as a possible Madigan successor and could touch off bids for her seat in Springfield. […]
She is now among a bevy of lawmakers of both parties who have made the same decision not to run again or to step down immediately. Among them was the state’s first woman to serve as a legislative leader, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, who stepped down in June.
* More…
“I like travel. I like having outings with family. I like music and opera and having opportunities to do that is good.”
Currie said she called several colleagues on Thursday to tell them of her decision.
“I will miss a whole lot about the Legislature. I have loved my time there. I have thoroughly enjoyed the people on both sides of the aisle. It has been a wonderful place,” Currie said. “I could not have asked for a better way to spend my years. I will miss it, but there are other things in life that one can do.”
House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, stands up on the House pages’ bench to speak to reporters in 2004.
Currie said her age has nothing to do with her decision: “People have said ‘Hang up your spurs.’ I don’t feel as if I need to hang up my spurs.”
* Hyde Park Herald…
Currie said she planned to make an official announcement next week but the news got out Thursday, Sept. 14, after she told a couple of colleagues.
“I’m not planning to re-up for re-election in 2018 but I do plan to finish out my current term,” Currie told the Hyde Park Herald. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the legislature and will continue to pursue progressive policies in education, social welfare and criminal justice in other venues.”
Currie said she has no immediate plans to leave her Hyde Park home.
Currie attended the University of Chicago. She graduated from the College with honors before earning a Master’s degree in Political Science. She is a member of the Chicago League of Women Voters, the Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership, Women United for South Shore, and the Board of the ACLU of Illinois. She is active in many civic, community, and environmental organizations. She and her late husband, David P. Currie, a law professor at the University of Chicago, have two wonderful children and four grandchildren.
* Press release…
“Barbara Flynn Currie is one of a kind, and someone whose intelligence and command of a wide range of public policy issues is matched only by her decency. Throughout her career she has been a passionate advocate for the people of Chicago and the state of Illinois. As the first woman to hold the position of Majority Leader, she shattered a glass ceiling and blazed a trail for countless others. From fighting to raise the minimum wage, to expanding access to early childhood education, to advocating for common sense gun laws, Leader Currie has been a voice for the voiceless and a steady champion for the most vulnerable among us. On behalf of a grateful city, I wish Barbara nothing but the best in her well-earned retirement.”
I had a long chat with her tonight and I’ll have more for subscribers tomorrow.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 2:21 am
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It had to happen someday. She’s a class act. Currie will be missed.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Sep 14, 17 @ 11:04 pm
Irreplaceable
Comment by unclesam Thursday, Sep 14, 17 @ 11:17 pm
Queuing SB-1 comments in 3,2,1…
Comment by City Zen Thursday, Sep 14, 17 @ 11:21 pm
She was one of the good ones. I wish her all the best in retirement.
Comment by G'Kar Thursday, Sep 14, 17 @ 11:26 pm
Big loss for the GA for sure. Surely going to be missed by many. Be really interesting to watch the positioning for leader now. Who can the Speaker trust and who’s left in the inner circle?
Comment by DuPage Bard Thursday, Sep 14, 17 @ 11:27 pm
I did not see this one coming.
Comment by Dome Gnome Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 6:40 am
She will be missed. Brilliant, dedicated and classy. I wish we had a lot more like her.
Comment by titan Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 7:15 am
In all my meetings with BFC she was always classy respectful and asked meaningful questions. Her age never showed. However its important for turnover to occur and hopefully this will send a signal to other gray hairs in the GA that its okay to move on. the times they are a changing.
Comment by iggy Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 7:39 am
Dear Leader Currie,
First, thank you for your service to this state and your tireless work to make her better.
While politically I may have not always agreed with your positions or the politics surrounding them, I always knew that within your positions and those politics you felt you were doing what you felt was best for Illinois and I knew your heart and that love for Illinois was very near in shaping how you saw both those things in the governing.
You are the first woman to be majority leader of the Illinois House, and while that in of itself is something that cements your imprint on Illinois, it’s really all the tireless advocacy and behind the scenes work you have done that makes your legacy stand out and works in tandem with your historic rise and your historic leadership
This is not idle flattery, the true measure of your giant shadow over the Illinois House won’t be the worry of the “next woman” to be majority leader. The measure is that the next majority leader, be they a man or a woman will have very large shoes to fill and a long shadow they will have to try to emerge from after you.
You are a giant. You’ve been celebrated, respected, and revered during you’re time in the House because you’ve been willing to stand and be counted, and be counted on, things that leaders work so hard to be, and hope to be seen and celebrated.
You will be missed by your district, the Illinois House, and this state and you can look back when you do finally walk away knowing you stood tall for your beliefs, you made a difference, you made history along the way too.
That’s a heck of a legacy.
Oswego Willy
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 7:43 am
So who becomes Madigan’s new lieutenant in Rules? Those bills can’t kill themselves.
Comment by just a bill Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 7:49 am
She was large. Yet I look forward to fresh leadership.
Comment by Mr B. Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 8:04 am
She played “Good Cop” to the Speaker’s “Bad Cop” for lots of us on the left and she was good at it. Where Madigan put winning above almost all else, Currie reminded us what Democrats stood for. The trait she shared most obviously with Madigan is the one he values most: she worked as hard as he did and was twice as smart.
I’ve been anticipating with much dread the day when she decided to leave the General Assembly. I’m grateful she stayed this long. It is truly a better institution with her in it. It will be a huge loss for so many of us who looked to her as out North Star.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 8:18 am
A loss of institutional knowledge that will be felt for a decade to come. Her humor and wit will be equally missed.
Comment by Centennial Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 8:24 am
All best to Barbara, who has worked hard for the district for almost forty years. I am grateful to her for serving so long after David’s illness and death, and hope she has a very happy retirement.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 8:25 am
Just means another seat up for grabs and wish Rep. Currie well!
Comment by Levois J. Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 8:31 am
Noooooo! Not the Notorious BFC!
Comment by MissingG Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 8:33 am
So that’s about two dozen retirements on both sides of the aisle.
I imagine those mysterious “job creators” the governor talks about are giddy with excitement.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 8:39 am
BFC took a picture with me at the capitol with me when I was a kid, fourth or fifth grade.
Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 8:43 am
She will be missed, she was the voice of reason.
Comment by Flynn's mom Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 8:59 am
So, what ultra-liberals will be left in the General Assembly? Oh, wait. Never mind.
Still, best wishes to Leader Currie.
Comment by phocion Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 9:02 am
smart, friendly, hard working, what a legacy! note to other pols, BFC never made one feel that she was above you or anyone else. disagree, yes. political, yes. but always looking for the intelligent connection. also a potent reminder that we are all older than we think we are!
Comment by Amalia Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 9:08 am
She’s a true lion. A true liberal but a pragmatic one. She could debate with the best, has an amazing dry wit and is one of the smartest people I’ve ever known. MJM will definitely miss her. She was a loyal lieutenant but she also had the credibility to get even more liberal members to take tough votes, and she never shied away from a challenge or a fight. I personally owe a lot to her but the State of Illinois does as well. Huge loss of institutional knowledge, huge loss for cooperative government.
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 9:19 am
==A loss of institutional knowledge that will be felt for a decade to come.==
No mentoring program in the Legislature?
Comment by City Zen Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 9:38 am
I met Rep. Currie many times over the years and had a number of opportunities to chat with her in small groups and even one on one. We didn’t agree on too many things, but we did on some. What struck me is the respect and collegiality she always showed and her willingness to acknowledge a good argument or a good point. She had an almost maternal charm about her at all times. Overwhelmingly, she demonstrated kindness and even encouragement to continue to advance differing views in a thoughtful way. Whoever replaces her will not have the platform she has, nor will that person be in a position to so easily engage (even in disagreement) with the other side of the aisle.
She’ll be missed by many. I will be very much among those who miss her. For her tact, her intellect, and commitment to engaging as a Gentlewoman. Good Luck Leader. Enjoy the next chapter.
Comment by A guy Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 9:41 am
BFC was one of the hardest workers in the Illinois General Assembly.
She was always honest and direct with me, and I will truly miss her.
Comment by winners and losers Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 9:49 am
We can’t even talk about a successor until after November 2018 because we have no idea who’ll be left - more retirements sure to come plus a few long time incumbents could be losing their seats.
Comment by Grand Avenue Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 9:51 am
The fact that there is so much turnover speaks volumes about the toxic atmosphere in Springfield.
Comment by Stones Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 9:53 am
A very kind and knowledgeable women. Always available to discuss issues and offer suggestions. I will miss her and I’m sure many others.
Comment by Just Curious Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 10:05 am
Bruce Rauner is a walking talking term limits machine.
Comment by don the legend Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 10:24 am
Brilliant Individual. She was Pippen to Madigan’s Jordan.
Comment by Red Dog Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 11:28 am
As a constituent of hers, I will miss Barbara.
Comment by JoanP Friday, Sep 15, 17 @ 3:49 pm