February 28th, 2008
Sen. Todd Sieben, R-Geneseo, today said he intends to resign, and in effect retire from the Illinois Senate, on March 6.
In late January, Sieben said he planned to retire after the Feb. 5 primary to help pave the way for fellow Republican Tim Bivins, a retired Lee County sheriff.
Republican Bivins would therefore enter the Nov. 4 general election as the incumbent, potentially giving him a significant edge over Democrat Marty Mulcahey.
Since the Senate seat is held by a Republican, the district’s GOP chairmen get to pick Sieben’s successor. The district covers much of northwestern Illinois, stretching from western Winnebago County through Freeport to Galena and south to Geneseo. …
Mulcahey said the move smacks of insider, old-school politics — an attitude he claims he would counter as a legislator. …
The Senate district leans strongly Republican, so this development seems like bad news for Mulcahey. It’s largely rural with scattered urban pockets. In the 2004 presidential race, George W. Bush won 56.2 percent of the vote. Democrat John Kerry won just 43.8 percent.
Sieben has had a 30-year career in politics, where he served in the Senate for 16 years. He also spent three terms in House. He is assistant Republican Senate leader.
UPDATE 1
Senators honored Sieben on the chamber’s floor today, as he presented his final bill as a senator.
No one seemed to really care about the contents of the bill during the debate. Instead, one after another, senators on both sides of the aisle spoke fondly of the retiring Republican.
“You exemplify what it really means to be a statesman,” said Sen. Jacqueline Collins, D-Chicago.
Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, was one of several lawmakers who said they considered Sieben a mentor, particularly when they were freshman senators.
“I don’t have any opposition to the bill, but I do have opposition to Sen. Sieben leaving us,” Lightford said. “I appreciate all the support you have given us over the years, and like you say, you watched me grow here.”
Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, joked with Sieben about the possibility of him staying in the Senate longer.
“If this bill goes down in defeat today, will you stay in the General Assembly long enough to pass it?” Burzynski asked.
In response, Sieben said:
“That decision has been a challenging one since last August, but this will be my last effort for sure so I hope the (voting) board doesn’t go too red too long,” he said.
As Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, opened voting, more than two dozen legislators voted against the bill.
Then slowly a few legislators changed their ‘No’ votes to ‘Yes,’ and suddenly in snowball-like fashion, the ‘No’-voting senators flipped their votes as well.
As Hendon called for the last votes to be cast, the Senate fell silent, watching the board’s final two ‘No’ votes.
Burzynski, as if toying with the idea of pursuading Sieben to stick around, finally flipped his ‘No’ vote to ‘Yes.’ The Senate erupted in cheers, and Sieben, triumphantly throwing his fist in the air, ended his legislative career with his final bill passing, 51-0.
February 28th, 2008
Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s proposal to raze Cole Hall brought a lot of heat today from newspaper editorial boards and columnists around the state.
Many believe it is too early to entertain the $40 million idea to demolish Northern Illinois University’s Cole Hall, where a shooter killed five students and himself on Feb. 14. In its place, the governor wants to construct a new building named Memorial Hall.
Here is our story for background.
But as a Northern Star columnist points out, NIU, like every other university, has other infrastructure needs in far worse disrepair than Cole Hall.
NIU has an immediate need in determining the future of Cole Hall, but NIU also has needs that have existed and seemingly been ignored in Springfield for years.
The Stevens Building has needed money for renovation for nearly 10 years now, as President Peters attested to in a Northern Star story nearly one year ago.
The AP found mixed reaction from NIU students.
On one of our other blogs, we have invited your comments as well here. So far, you disagree, some vehemently so, that tearing down Cole Hall is fiscally irresponsible.
Those comments are not too far from the rest of the state’s columnists and editorial boards.
Our own Chuck Sweeny summed it up nicely today:
Do I have to explain how this would set a dangerous precedent? There are state university buildings all over Illinois, many of them older than Cole Hall, that need to be replaced. Others need extensive remodeling to bring them to 21st-century standards.
The governor and NIU leaders should not trivialize the massacre of students by using the traumatic event to lay a guilt trip on the General Assembly to fund a new building with $40 million the state doesn’t have.
The Chicago Tribune’s editorial board wants to slow the runaway train, too:
At the moment, Cole Hall speaks of trauma, madness and life’s fragility. But it could also be transformed into a reminder of resilience, that precious human trait.
The Daily Herald raises some important questions about the razing:
What are the survivors’ wishes? What do the families want? What do the students and faculty and alumni think would be meaningful?
NIU alumnus and Chicago Sun-Times columnist Phil Kadner joins the dissent:
Cole Hall should stand as a reminder that terrible tragedies can be overcome.
Students should continue to learn there as a tribute to those who, through no choice of their own, no longer can. …
Tear it down and all the bad things inside will go away, he implies.
Well, a new building would always remind me of a very expensive publicity stunt.
February 28th, 2008
The governor’s news release:
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today named Illinois Department of Agriculture Assistant Director Tom Jennings as Acting Director of the agency. The Governor accepted the resignation of Charles “Chuck” Hartke, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture since 2003. Effective Monday, Jennings will take over the Director’s responsibilities for the Department of Agriculture.
“I want to thank Chuck for all of his hard work at the Department of Agriculture over the last five years,” said Governor Blagojevich. “As a family farmer and longtime state legislator, he brought unique experience and enthusiasm to the post. I wish him and his wife, Kathy, the best.”
Under Hartke’s leadership the Department of Agriculture has received federal funds to fight to keep emerald ash borer out of Illinois, created a statewide veterinary emergency response team that strengthens Illinois’ ability to contain animal disease outbreaks and increased sponsorship of the Illinois State Fair by 25 percent since 2003. Before becoming the Director for the Department of Agriculture, Hartke served in the Illinois House of Representatives and held a seat on the House Agriculture Committee, from 1985 until 2003.
The SJ-R has more on Hartke’s departure.
Chuck Hartke, who spent more than 18 years in the Illinois House before getting his dream job as director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture in 2003, is stepping down from that post.
Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Charles Hartke will be retiring from his position. In part, it’s to spend more time with his ailing wife, he said, and in part because it’s time.
