Cronin has last day in Senate; Cowlishaw honored

Sen. Dan Cronin had his last day in the Illinois Senate Thursday, after being elected DuPage County Board chairman earlier this month.

As per tradition for retiring lawmakers, the Elmhurst Republican was honored on the Senate floor, where his family joined him.

Sen. Dan Kotowski, a Park Ridge Democrat, said he respected Cronin's honesty.

“He would give a straight, thoughtful answer,” Kotowski said.

The senators ribbed their colleague, too.

Sen. Kirk Dillard called him the Senate's “germophobe.”

“He's got that hand sanitizer back here,” Dillard said.

Cronin is resigning his seat effective Nov. 30, before the next round of meetings by state lawmakers. He joined the Illinois General Assembly in the House for a single term, before moving to the Senate in 1993, where he's served since.

“I want very much to work with all of you,” Cronin said about his new job. “You are my friends.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives honored another DuPage lawmaker, the late Mary Lou Cowlishaw, on Thursday. Cowlishaw, of Naperville, served as the 41st District representative for two decades, and was renowned for her commitment to education.

Cowlishaw also was a longtime member of Naperville Unit District 203's school board.

In the Illinois House, she sponsored legislation that created more educational stability for homeless children across the state, pushed for Chicago school reform and was instrumental in the creation of the Illinois Math and Science Academy in Aurora.

Rep. Darlene Senger, a Naperville Republican, spoke of Cowlishaw as an inspirational female lawmaker.

A Naperville District 203 school, Mary Lou Cowlishaw Elementary, was named after her in 1997.