In Chambers
The judge will see you now. Step into Springfield Bureau Chief Aaron Chambers’ chambers for an insider’s view on Illinois politics and government. No, Chambers isn’t a real judge. At least not in the sense of wearing a robe, wielding a gavel and issuing orders. But like a good judge, Chambers tells it like it is.

Posts filed under 'Senate Republicans'

Bivins Begins First Day As State Senator

1 comment March 11th, 2008

Former Lee County Sheriff Tim Bivins on Tuesday began his first day in his new job — as the state senator from the 45th district.Tim Bivins

The 55-year-old Dixon resident was sworn in Friday by a Lee County judge to replace retiring Sen. Todd Sieben, R-Geneseo.

Although Bivins was appointed to the seat, he still must be elected during November’s general election. Marty Mulcahey, who works for the Illinois Secretary of State and is the son of former Rep. Dick Mulcahey, is Bivins’ Democratic opponent.

In February, Bivins won the Republican primary for Sieben’s district, which includes the western part of Winnebago County and all of Stephenson County. Sieben has said he hopes his retirement will give Bivins an advantage over Mulcahey during the general election.

Bivins, who was the Lee County sheriff from 1986 to 2006, said one of his legislative initiatives will be to watch the state budget closely.

“We can’t borrow ourselves out of debt,” he said.

In the short term, Bivins’ largest task will be learning how Springfield works and of course, learning names.

“(I’ve forgotten) all of them, including my own,” he said.

Kiyoshi Martinez: Elephant Man

3 comments January 21st, 2008

Kiyoshi Martinez, who last spring was the Register Star’s Capitol intern, is jumping from journalism into the hotbed of politics.

Kiyoshi has accepted a job with the communications staff of the Senate Republicans. As such, he will help manage Web and press matters for Senate Republican lawmakers, perhaps even Sen. Dave Syverson of Rockford or Sen. Brad Burzynski of Clare.

Kiyoshi is an extremely bright young man — a master of words and the World Wide Web. I’m sure he will excel at this job just as he did when he diligently served this newspaper. The Senate Republicans scored with this catch.

I wish him well.


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