Mike Madigan’s successor, Edward Kodatt, leaves office three days after the appointment

Mike Madigan spent 50 years at the Illinois House, but the man he personally chose to succeed him served less than 72 hours.

Edward Guerra Kodatt offered his resignation from the Illinois General Assembly on Wednesday, just three days after taking office.

Madigan, 78, who had enough of the votes needed to make the nomination alone, wasted no time in supporting another candidate on Wednesday morning.

Kodatt, 26, is also unemployed in the 13th district, but is entitled to a full month’s salary as a state deputy – $ 5,788.66 – despite serving less than an entire week, without presenting bills, without voting and without attending legislative sessions.

A spokesman for the mayor, Emanuel “Chris” Welch, said that Welch’s office received Kodatt’s letter of resignation on Wednesday morning.

Kodatt’s resignation followed a statement by Madigan and Ald on Tuesday night. Marty Quinn (13th) suggesting that Kodatt resign because of “allegations of questionable conduct”.

“After learning of Mr. Kodatt’s alleged questionable conduct, it was suggested that he resign as state representative in the 22nd District,” says the statement in part. “We are committed to a zero tolerance policy in the workplace.”

Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times Archive

The statement does not explain what the “questionable conduct” was.

Kodatt also lost his job in the 13th District as an infrastructure manager for Quinn, the councilman chosen by Madigan, a job he held since July 2017. Chicago data listed him as a team assistant earning $ 42,456 a year.

Although Kodatt is not entitled to a pension under current law, he is entitled to an entire month’s wages, according to state controllership. Parent company Susana Mendoza asked him to refuse to pay $ 5,788.66.

Madigan was instrumental in Kodatt’s nomination for engineering on Sunday, giving him 56% of the weighted votes needed to occupy the Chamber seat Madigan has held since 1971.

Madigan and the other four people on the committee tasked with choosing a successor plan to meet on Thursday to try again.

“After a fair and robust process on Sunday, we are prepared to proceed with the selection of a replacement for the 22nd District of Illinois seat in the House of Candidates who have already presented themselves to the selection committee,” said Madigan in a statement. “I believe that the fairest way to proceed is to nominate the candidate who obtained the second highest vote count. It is my intention to appoint Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar. ”

Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times

Guerrero-Cuellar was nominated by the 23rd Division committee person and by Ald. Silvana Tabares for the position on Sunday. She is the operations manager for Envision Community Services.

The Coalition for Change, which is made up of progressive groups on the Southwest Side and elsewhere, said in a statement that “Madigan’s ‘veto’ of candidates at Sunday’s nomination hearing was a total scam.

“By not asking Kodatt questions and requesting unanimous consent for his appointment, Madigan has stamped Kodatt because such misconduct is the norm in the Madigan Machine,” says the statement in part.

Ashlee Rezin Garcia / Sun-Times Archive

“Madigan’s“ zero tolerance policy ”is ridiculous, considering that his own office is famous for sexual harassment, behind-the-scenes deals and decades of scare tactics against opponents. CCIL3 requires good governance at all levels, ”continues the statement. “We will not stand idly by while the Madigan organization presents a facade of transparency, refuses to ask tough questions of candidates and blindly nominates unqualified people for positions of power.”

Democratic committee members are scheduled to meet at 10 am Thursday morning in the Ballroom of the Balzekas Museum, 6500 S. Pulaski Rd, the same building that houses the offices of the district of Madigan.