DuPage legislators: Governor must go

As Linda Holmes, Darlene Senger and Michael Connelly prepared for their new terms in the state legislature, their focus was on capital projects, shoring up the budget and bringing business to the state.

But with the arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich on federal corruption charges, they'll be switching gears to issues of impeachment and filling President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

All three are calling for the governor to resign and hope to wrench the Senate appointment from his grasp.

Holmes, an Aurora Democrat, was elected in November to a second term representing the 42nd Senate District.

Newcomers Senger and Connelly will be sworn in Jan. 14. Senger is a Naperville Republican who will replace retiring state Rep. Joe Dunn in the 96th House District. She has been serving as a city councilman.

Connelly, a Lisle Republican, replaces retiring state Rep. Jim Meyer in the 48th House District. He is currently on the DuPage County Board.

The three legislators met with the Daily Herald Friday to discuss issues facing the state, including Blagojevich's legal woes. Here is an edited version of part of that conversation.

Q. Do you believe the governor should resign? Would you support impeaching him?

Senger: I think the whole world would like to see him resign at this point in time. From what I'm understanding ... he's resisting. Yes, I would be in favor of impeaching.

Holmes: Absolutely. We live in a country where you are innocent until proven guilty. But FBI tapes certainly are a convincing argument that he very well may end up guilty. Based on the fact that he's got legal issues he's going to be dealing with and the mistrust, there is no way he can adequately govern.

Connelly: I agree that with the allegations being what they are, immediate resignation is best for the state and, frankly, for him. I credit the attorney general's office for looking into a 382 petition (to temporarily remove him from office). I think there's universal support for the notion that he is incompetent to govern. It's really embarrassing and really appalling.

Q. If the governor does resign and Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn takes over, what's next?

Connelly: He has the power to pick the next U.S. senator and then it's time to get down to business. Let the Department of Justice take care of the former governor.

Q. Should the governor be prohibited from making an appointment to fill the Senate seat?

Holmes: The reason we're called back Monday is to address that. We want to make sure the governor does not have the power to appoint anybody to that seat. One of the reasons they're saying he's unfit is because (U.S. Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid has said if the governor were to appoint somebody it would not be accepted. So it's impossible that could happen.

Q. What is the best way to appoint someone to fill Obama's Senate seat if not by Gov. Blagojevich? Would you favor an appointment by Quinn or a special election?

Holmes: Obviously if Pat Quinn takes over as governor he has that option. I'm really a proponent of an election because it's always nice to have the people weigh in on what they want. However, that's got a price tag of $30 million to $40 million on it. And if we do it along with the municipal elections it would go until April, so there's a big delay.

Connelly: There's an interesting roadblock to that. The House passes the bill, the Senate passes the bill and guess who has to sign it?

Q. If Blagojevich doesn't resign he could still be in office for months. How do you go about working with him during that time?

Holmes: The leaders, (new Senate President) John Cullerton and Speaker (Michael) Madigan are really going to have to try to work this out.

Connelly: And the brutal irony is, to prove competency, (Blagojevich will) actually have to do some things.

Senger: Anytime he says a word it's going to be in the media, so if he makes it difficult or makes it hard for us to get the work we have to get done, it's going to be out all over the place.

Connelly: We are in truly uncharted Constitutional waters.

Q. Sen. Holmes, Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner recently credited you with ending pay-to-play politics with your ethics reform package. Is this situation now personal for you?

Holmes: We know more work needs to be done. Unfortunately, we have an individual here who has abused that power to a huge extent. I don't think it should reflect on the rest of us but I do think it means we need to be vigilant in making sure we are passing further laws that tightens up our ethics reform.

Connelly: We've got so much more to go. We've got the Illinois Accountability Portal that's been sitting around. It's got almost universal bipartisan support and for some reason it hasn't gone to a full vote. Essentially it really opens the books of state government. I'm a First Amendment advocate like it's nobody's business. But perhaps we do need to put a limitations on contributions, on the amount of money that's spent. Money is a cancer in Illinois politics that has to be removed, otherwise we're going to be stuck with the same problems.

Q: Sen. Holmes, you received a $1,000 contribution from businessman Raghuveer Nayak who reportedly was fundraising for Blagojevich to help U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. land Obama's Senate seat. What was the nature of your dealings with him?

Holmes: I met him when I was running in 2006 because he had an interest in developing the old Copley Hospital in Aurora. I only know him as someone who was looking to work in the medical community. I have no idea what his outstanding business interests are or if he was in any way shape or form connected to the governor. I'm sure all of us have received contributions from organization or people who have also contributed to the governor.