Emil ‘Where’s Rockford?’ Jones to Step Aside

August 18th, 2008 at 09:03am Aaron Chambers

Senate President Emil Jones Jr., who tried to antagonize Sen. Dave Syverson during Syverson’s 2006 re-election bid by asking “Where’s Rockford?”, reportedly will soon announce his retirement.

Powerful Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr. is expected to announce Monday that he soon will retire, sources close to him said Sunday night, which will leave Gov. Rod Blagojevich without one of his closest allies.

Jones, who turns 73 in October, long championed more money for schools and education funding reform and made them his top priority as Senate president, a post he has held since 2003. He also has been a major voice for social justice.

His decision, not officially confirmed, likely opens a free-for-all to succeed him. Possible candidates to succeed Jones, a Chicago Democrat, as president include Sens. James Clayborne of Belleville, Jeff Schoenberg of Evanston; John Cullerton, Rickey Hendon and Donne Trotter of Chicago; and Terry Link of Waukegan, who doubles as Lake County Democratic chairman.

Jones is a staunch ally of Gov. Rod Blagojevich, serving as Blagojevich’s right hook in the governor’s feud with House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago. Jones used his control over the Senate to advance Blagojevich initiatives to the House and to block Madigan-backed initiatives from clearing the Senate. If Jones departs, Blagojevich must reinvent his strategy for fighting Madigan.

In 2006, Jones backed Rockford Democrat Dan Lewandowski in a race against Syverson, R-Rockford. In the months leading up the election, Jones repeatedly wondered aloud “Where’s Rockford?” when the Register Star asked him questions about Rockford’s place in certain legislation.

During a visit to Rockford before the election, Jones acknowledged that he was indeed familiar with Rockford — but that he was trying to highlight what he viewed as Syverson poor representation.

Syverson beat the socks off Lewandowski in that race, winning by more than 10 percentage points.

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