Peoria Standard

Mary Burress, a candidate for the new 87th House District, is questioning all of the Democrats involved in Mike Madigan's organization that are still in politics. 

She pledged to make ethics and good government a priority, with transparency and efficiency - to do better, showing her opposition to Madigan's actions.

“Today’s indictment shows that no one - not even the seventeen (17) term Speaker of the Illinois House and the longest-serving state speaker in U.S. history - is above the law,” Buress stated on Facebook. “His former chief of staff is under indictment. Several of his former staffers and associates have either been indicted or already been sentenced to prison. Lobbyists connected to him have been indicted. And now he has joined them.” 

For Burress, Madigan ruled the Illinois House with an iron fist and she thinks that the recent indictment of the former House speaker calls for reform.

“This indictment and the indictment of many others show the glaring need of ethics reform in our state,” Burress, who is currently in her third term as Tazewell County Treasurer, said. “The public’s trust is shattered. For our state to thrive, we must regain that trust. Time and time again Republicans have proposed strengthening our ethics laws and holding our elected officials accountable. Democrats have swept those efforts and corruption under the rug, and Mike Madigan’s Democrat enablers turned a blind eye to his actions and abuses.”

Madigan, who served the state as the longest speaker of the House, was alleged to have been involved in a $150 million bribery scandal, according to several investigation papers. He was recently indicted with 22 counts of racketeering conspiracy. 

"Madigan’s indictment is 106 pages long and encompasses charges brought by both the FBI and IRS," Buress continued. "It ensnares scores of officials and the politically-connected and powerful. It was a massive scheme against the taxpayers, and we all pay through the nose. Every voter can and must oppose this corruption at the ballot box!"

While no name was indicated in the indictment papers, it mentioned that "MADIGAN explained that he would assist Alderman A in obtaining an appointment to a State board by “go[ing] to [the future Governor of the State of Illinois]. Gov. J.B. Pritzker denied those accusations. “The governor does not recall Michael Madigan ever asking him to consider Danny Solis for any position," a Pritzker spokesman said in a statement.

In a statement, Madigan said he was “never involved in any criminal activity” in his 50 years in office. Madigan, who spent 36 years as House speaker, the longest in the country’s history is accused of using the office for personal gain. “I adamantly deny these accusations and look back proudly on my time as an elected official, serving the people of Illinois,” Madigan added.

The new 87th House District encompasses all or parts of Tazewell, McLean, Logan, Woodford, Sangamon, Macon, and DeWitt Counties, as well as the Morton, Lincoln, Clinton, and Mt. Pulaski, as well as adjacent localities.