Tim Kirsininkas
Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – A bill which would implement term limits on leadership roles in the Illinois General Assembly advanced out of committee Wednesday.
House Bill 642, introduced by Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, would bar any individual from serving more than 10 consecutive years in a leadership position in the General Assembly, including speaker of the House, president of the Senate and minority leader positions in each chamber.
The bill, if signed into law, would take effect for all legislators taking office on or after the second Wednesday in January 2023.
While the Illinois House and Senate both passed term limits on party leadership in their respective chamber rules in January, DeLuca said his bill would be important to enforce the new rules via state law.
The changes in rules regarding party leadership come on the heels of former Speaker Michael Madigan’s ousting following his record 36 years as speaker of the Illinois House between 1983
For years before this election and for weeks during the campaign, both finalists for Peoria mayor have been profiles in perseverance.
Now that election day has come and gone, Rita Ali and Jim Montelongo will have to persevere a little longer.
When votes were tabulated Tuesday night, there was no decisive outcome. Of about 16,000 votes cast, Montelongo was ahead by 73. He received 7,983 votes to 7,910 for Ali, a fellow City Council member.
Outstanding vote-by-mail ballots, due April 20, probably hold the key to deciding who will replace incumbent Jim Ardis. Updates to the count are scheduled for Thursday, Monday, and on April 14, 16 and 20.
PEORIA Andre Allen did not have to sweat out Tuesday s election results.
An unlikely chain of events led to a rare uncontested race in Peoria City Council s 4th District, leaving Allen a clear path to the seat. Some observers have grumbled about the possibility of behind-the-scene machinations that might ve helped Allen while also lending a hand to his former opponent, Steve Kouri, who unexpectedly pulled out of the race last month.
But this purported political plot which would have involved Gov. JB Pritzker pulling strings in Peoria s council contests, a conspiracy involving Peoria lawmakers, including Dave Koehler is all hot air, according to Allen, Kouri and Koehler.