Mike Madigan asks his successor to resign – two days after planning his appointment

Just two days after personally anointing his successor in the Illinois House, Mike Madigan on Tuesday abruptly urged the 13th ward official to step down because of “alleged questionable conduct”.

Madigan was instrumental in engineering the nomination of state deputy Edward Guerra Kodatt, 26, on Sunday, giving him 56% of the weighted votes. But just over 48 hours later, the former Illinois mayor suddenly changed gears.

“After learning of Mr. Kodatt’s alleged questionable conduct, it was suggested that he resign as 22 state representative^WL District, ”Madigan said on Tuesday in a joint statement with Ald. Marty Quinn (13th). “We are committed to a zero tolerance policy in the workplace.”

The statement did not detail the nature of the “questionable conduct”.

With the support of two other personalities from the Democratic committee, Kodatt received 63% of the weighted votes needed to replace Madigan during a Democratic meeting held on Sunday morning in the building that also houses the headquarters on the southwest side of Madigan.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times Archive

CapitolFax first reported Madigan’s change in attitude.

It was not clear whether Kodatt would resign. He did not return requests for comment.

Madigan, 78, also serves as a member of the 13th Division committee. He and four other members of the Cook County Democratic Party were tasked with making the nomination for the chair that Madigan held for half a century.

Kodatt has worked as an infrastructure manager for Quinn, the councilor chosen by Madigan, since July 2017. Chicago data lists him as a team assistant, earning $ 42,456 a year.

Quinn and Kodatt sat next to each other at Sunday’s meeting. Kodatt’s mother and girlfriend were also in the room for the oath, which took place shortly after the vote.

(Archives Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Chicago Sun-Times

During that meeting, Ald. Silvana Tabares (23), who is also a representative of her ward’s Democratic committee, asked Kodatt difficult questions during his presentation.

Tabares supported a rival candidate, Angélica Guerrero-Cuellar, for the job.

And after Kodatt won, Tabares said he would have to “run again for his work with the people who matter, and those are our constituents.”

“The constituents, the residents, need to have a say,” said Tabares. “They are the ones who really matter in this process, so he’s going to have to talk to them. He is responsible for them. “

Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times Archive

Two other people on the committee also voting for Kodatt on Sunday were Ald. Derrick Curtis (18th) and Vincent Cainkar de Stickney, who gave his share of the weighted vote to Curtis. State Representative Aaron Ortiz, who also serves as a representative of the 14th district committee, supported another candidate.

Madigan’s abrupt reversal is the latest turn in her downward political spiral – a shame for a veteran politician with a reputation for being several steps ahead of his rivals.

The former Southwest Side power stepped down as president of the Illinois Democratic Party on Monday, less than a week after resigning his Illinois House seat since 1971 and six weeks since the beleaguered lawmaker gave up his seat. candidacy to remain as mayor.

It all started last summer after federal prosecutors accused ComEd officials of bribing Madigan associates in exchange for their organization’s help in passing favorable legislation.

Madigan was not charged with any crime and denies any wrongdoing, but four members of his inner circle were indicted in November in connection with the alleged bribery scheme.