Democratic candidates in House District 54 address issue of Speaker Madigan
Michael Madigan's future as Illinois' House speaker may be an dividing issue between the two candidates in the Democratic primary for a legislative seat representing several Northwest suburbs.
Palatine resident Ryan Huffman will face Maggie Trevor of Rolling Meadows in the March 17 primary. The winner will run against Republican state Rep. Tom Morrison of Palatine in November for the 54th House District seat.
The district includes parts of Arlington Heights, Barrington, Hoffman Estates, Inverness, Palatine, Rolling Meadows and South Barrington.
Trevor, 57, is taking her second shot at the District 54 seat. Morrison topped her by 37 votes in November 2018.
Huffman unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination in the 2018 primary for the 6th Congressional District seat that Sean Casten won. Casten went on to defeat Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam in the general election.
Huffman, 33, and Trevor addressed campaign issues in a Daily Herald Editorial Board joint interview this week. One question asked was whether they would support Madigan's continuing his record run as House speaker.
Trevor, owner of a market research and business consulting company, declined to say what her vote on Madigan would be without knowing a potential alternative to him as House leader.
"Particularly as a junior legislator, how much weight (would we) have in choosing the leadership within our own party?" Trevor said.
"I think that would be something I would have to see. If I am faced with the decision of voting for Mike Madigan or a Republican as leader of the House, I would need to know what that Republican's viewpoints are. And so I am reluctant to state with certainty what I would do on that vote, because I don't know the alternative."
Huffman, who works as a data analyst, said he would not vote for Madigan.
"I think it's time for a fresh start for our state," he said.
Trevor has a massive lead on Huffman in campaign contributions, according to documents filed with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
At the end of the most recent reporting period from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, Trevor's campaign fund had $40,693 in available funds compared to Huffman's $716.
Records show Schaumburg-based Northwest Suburban Teachers Union Local 1211 has been one of Trevor's biggest financial backers. The teachers union contributed $5,000 to Trevor on Feb. 4 and $1,000 on Nov. 12.
On Dec. 11, Huffman reported a $5,560 in-kind contribution of video shooting and editing by self-employed filmmaker Ryan Bingham of Milwaukee.