The multi-car pileup that passes for Illinois state government may finally change a bit next year.
Senate President Emil Jones’ pending retirement has sparked an aggressive succession battle that will alter the Statehouse’s political dynamic.
Jones was Gov. Blagojevich’s staunchest political ally, and his Senate Democratic members have had quite enough of following the extremely unpopular governor off every cliff in sight. So even Sen. James Clayborne (D-East St. Louis), whom Jones privately supports, will not be able to lead the chamber like Jones did, even if he wanted to, which he doesn’t.
Sen. John Cullerton is Clayborne’s chief rival. Cullerton (D-Chicago) is Blagojevich’s own state senator, but the two aren’t allies, to say the least. Cullerton wants the Senate to be far more independent of the governor’s office. He has a strong political relationship with House Speaker Michael Madigan, going back to his days as a Madigan lieutenant, but Cullerton insists he can be an honest broker.
That Madigan relationship is Cullerton’s greatest handicap in a chamber that views the speaker with great suspicion. His fund-raising and legislative skills are his greatest assets.
Clayborne is a widely respected, strong leader and has quite a lot of support in his caucus from fellow downstaters and African Americans. He has his problems, including Jones’ tacit endorsement, which is the kiss of death for some senators. Clayborne also lives far away from Chicago, and Mayor Daley has passed the word to Chicago-area senators that he prefers someone from Cook County. Daley denied this week that he ever said it, but there’s no question that he did.
Some of the Senate’s freshmen are starting to line up behind Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). Harmon is widely touted as a progressive reformer and he’s promising a more radical change in direction. He has his own downside, as everyone does. Insiders say Harmon was instrumental in stripping language out of an ethics bill that would have banned legislators from participating in government bond deals. Harmon is a bond lawyer.
Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) touts his years of experience as a budget expert and reformer as his chief qualifications. Schoenberg is apparently hoping for success on a second ballot because he has little verifiable support within his caucus right now. Schoenberg borrowed $100,000 from a business client to finance his Senate president bid this year — which raised more than a few eyebrows in Springfield.
Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) is another candidate hoping for a victory on the second, or third, or fourth or umpteenth ballot.
Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan), one of Barack Obama’s poker buddies back in the day, was an early favorite and he’s still in the hunt. He’s a popular, skillful member, but Mayor Daley’s preference for a Cook County person won’t help the Lake County Democratic Party chairman.
Sen. Rickey Hendon (D-Chicago) is always the most entertaining legislator in the room, and this time is no exception. Hendon is doing everything he can to derail Sen. Clayborne’s candidacy. Hendon thought he should be the choice of the Senate’s Black Caucus, but most went with Clayborne, so he’s retaliating and trying to cut his best deal.
Hendon attacked Clayborne this week for being pro-gun, but the Sun-Times reported in 1994 that Hendon owned an unregistered handgun. Hendon’s new book, Black Enough, White Enough, the Obama Dilemma, isn’t going over well with his colleagues, either.
So, there you have it. Somebody will eventually win, and whoever does will move the Senate in a new direction.
Whether that will be enough to break the Statehouse’s disastrous two-year gridlock remains to be seen, but it’s all the hope we have right now.
By the way, the Sun-Times has increased my column’s frequency to twice a month. It was cut back under previous management for “diversity” reasons.