By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – A trio of Illinois House candidates – all Republicans from the Chicago suburbs – say the influence of Mike Madigan extends past his runs as Speaker of the House and chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Just follow the money.
“Rep. (Terra) Costa Howard (D-Glen Ellyn) has made a habit of using Mike Madigan’s name and money to further her career,” said Costa Howard’s Republican challenger, Stefanie Hood, also of Glen Ellyn, “She loves to talk about corruption when the press is around but never mentions the $1.6 million in corrupt Madigan money she has taken and never returned from committees he controlled.
The other Republicans appearing on a Zoom call Thursday morning were Jack Vrett of Arlington Heights and Michelle Smith of Plainfield. Vrett is challenging State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights), and Smith and Democrat Harry Benton, both of Plainfield, are vying for an open seat.
Hosting the online news conference was State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst), who says even two years after Madigan was ousted as speaker, his successor, Chris Welch (D-Hillside), is no help. Before being elected speaker, Mazzochi served on a committee Welch chaired to investigate Madigan. After the committee dissolved without issuing a finding or asking Madigan to appear, Mazzochi resorted to name-calling: “Chairman Squelch.”
People have been talking about a Democratic “machine” here for decades upon decades. And Thursday’s news conference is proof people are still talking about it.
