Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on Thursday picked a second replacement for a seat he vacated just last week. As he did with his first replacement, selected Sund
(The Center Square) – Former Illinois House Speaker Micheal Madigan on Thursday picked a second replacement for a seat he vacated just last week. As he did with his first replacement, selected Sunday, Madigan didn't ask any questions o.
Candidates seeking or considering the appointment to replace state Sen. Heather Steans, left to right: Mike Simmons, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy and Justin Koziatek.
State Rep. Kelly Cassidy and two others interested in the appointment to outgoing state Sen. Heather Steans’ legislative seat laid out their resumes and fielded questions from constituents Tuesday evening at a virtual meeting hosted by a group that has raised concerns that the selection process shuts out voters.
Mike Simmons, a lifelong resident of the district, and Cassidy explained their qualifications for the state’s upper legislative chamber during the Zoom meeting hosted by a local chapter of Indivisible.
The hand wringing over the replacement process is so overblown. It’s not clear to me how a special election with little turnout is preferable. Plus people pretend Committeemen aren’t also elected themselves (in elections that might very well have higher turnout than specials). People are more than welcome to run for committeeman or vote out appointed incumbents. Plenty of great legislators were first appointed through this process. Once again a “process” complaint rather than substantive. I suppose it would be better to change the process so people shut up about it. But then when those specials are dominated by connected people who can put an organization together quickly, where will the complaining turn?