Kendall County Times

Conservative activist James Mater is starting to believe there may be hope for Springfield.

“It’s looking like this could be the end of Mike Madigan and that is reason enough for optimism,” Marter told the Kendall County Times. “It lets us know there might be justice in the world of Illinois politics after all.”

At the same time that the longtime House speaker is vowing to seek another term, more and more Democrat lawmakers are anxiously distancing themselves from him as fallout from the ongoing ComEd scandal and federal corruption probe it has sparked continues to play out. The latest shoe to drop includes the indictment of four individuals with ties to Madigan, including longtime associate and lobbyist Michael McClain, who now faces bribery charges stemming from a years-long, pay-to-play scheme in which perks were allegedly steered to Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation. 

As more of the findings from the probe have become public, well over a dozen House Democrats have now emerged to insist they have no intentions of supporting Madigan for another term when the legislature reconvenes for the new General Assembly on Jan. 13.

“It could be the first step we need toward real reform,” Marter added. “For so long, Madigan has run everything with an ironclad fist. You take that control out of the equation and maybe we can start to have real conversation. Hopefully, we don’t put someone else like him in power, someone who foolishly things they’re totally in charge of everything.”

With Madigan needing at least 60 votes for re-election, Democrats are expected to have 73 members in the new House. Estimates are that he has no more than 55 votes, with even Gov. J.B. Pritzker joining the chorus of those demanding answers from him. 

“I think Pritzker sees the writing on the wall,” Marter added. “He’s been standing strong with him, but he sees what everyone else is seeing.”

Marter argues for the governor, it all comes down to self-preservation.

“If he were sincere, he would have done this a lot sooner and would have been pushing for reform and transparency all the time,” he said. “Right now, what we’re seeing with the governor is all about political expediency.”