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| MADIGAN: Makes conciliatory remarks |
It’s
probably going to be up to Lightfoot on whether she desires an antagonistic
relationship with “Mr. Speaker” himself!
IF
SHE IS willing to show gestures indicating that he’s the guy of prominence within
Illinois state government, it would be likely that Madigan would give support
to the city’s needs and desires.
Of
course, one possible key is that many of the people who were inclined to vote
for Lightfoot and view her mayoral election as a moment of great historic
significance likely are the same people who wish that Madigan somehow could be
voted out of office.
I
don’t doubt that at least a few of Lightfoot’s followers eagerly would want her
to be hostile and do whatever she can to undermine his political influence.
If
that happens, we’re going to see a political relationship that will sour
quickly – and will make us think of the “good ol’ days” (heavy sarcasm intended)
when people like Bruce Rauner and Rod Blagojevich were in positions of
authority.
THIS
ISSUE IS coming to the forefront because Lightfoot – although she won’t actually
be mayor until mid-May, is making her first trip to the Statehouse Scene in
Springfield.
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| LIGHTFOOT: Will she retort in kind? |
She’s
expected to be there until Thursday, although Madigan felt the need to issue a
statement Tuesday welcoming her (sort of) to the capital city.
“I’m
proud to welcome Mayor-elect Lightfoot to a Capitol where women, people of
color and members of the LGBTQ community (Illinois House Majority leader Greg Harris is openly gay) are serving in critical leadership
roles within the Illinois House Democratic caucus,” Madigan said.
I
don’t doubt he’s being sincere, in that he wants all of those groups of people
to not view him with hostility. As to whether or not he really believes in
Lightfoot as mayor, that remains to be seen. But as long as he doesn’t view her
as “the enemy,” perhaps she won’t view him that way either.
IT
SHOULD BE noted that Madigan publicly always acknowledges the significance of
Chicago’s interests in defining his job. I remember back to the days of Richard
M. Daley as mayor when Madigan would always downplay talk of his own political
power by saying that the mayor was the number one Democratic political
official.
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| PRITZKER: Says he'll get along fine with Lightfoot |
In
theory, he’s giving Lightfoot the same treatment – respecting her new job
title. Will Lightfoot return the gesture?
I
couldn’t help but notice comments she made recently to WTTW-TV where she talked
of “not wanting to be part of the (Democratic) party apparatus,” and also
hinted that perhaps Madigan has held his dual role as Illinois Democratic
chairman (since 1998) for too long.
“I
respect the speaker, but I believe in term limits,” Lightfoot said – a line
that likely will appease the North lakefront crowd that was the base of her voter
support this month but had to have Madigan and his loyalists seething deep
inside.
SO
WE’LL HAVE to see just what kind of relationship Lightfoot is able to create
with the state government officials. For what it’s worth, Lightfoot had dinner
last week with Gov. J.B. Pritzker at his Gold Coast neighborhood residence, and
he says he thinks he’ll get along just great with the new mayor.
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| Political amateur Lightfoot gets introduction to Statehouse Scene |
As
Madigan said on Tuesday, “I believe Illinois is strongest when Chicago succeeds
and when all are heard.” Which certainly is true enough. But it seems we’ll
have to see for ourselves just how sincere he is, and how much Lightfoot is
willing to put aside her own ego for the betterment of the public good.
And
we’ll have to see what kind of reaction she has the first time someone puts a “horseshoe”
before her, that so-called sandwich concoction many Springpatchers try to
portray as a culinary delight!
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