Democrats lining up to be upper chamber leader
SPRINGFIELD - A behind-the-scenes power struggle among Illinois Democrats intensified Monday with the announcement that Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr. will retire from the Illinois General Assembly.
Several Democratic senators are scrambling to line up support in hopes of being the next Senate ruler - a position that has wielded immense power within state government.
The early list of possible successors to the 72-year-old Jones include:
• Waukegan Democrat Terry Link
• Chicago Democrat John Cullerton
• Chicago Democrat Rickey Hendon
• Belleville Democrat James Clayborne
• Evanston Democrat Jeff Schoenberg
• Oak Park Democrat Don Harmon
• Chicago Democrat Donne Trotter
• Rushville Democrat John Sullivan
"There's no real consensus. There's no candidate that'll make everybody happy," said state Sen. Susan Garrett, a Lake Forest Democrat. "Depending on where you are from and where your allegiance has been will help determine that."
Jones announced Monday afternoon he would call it quits at the end of his term, which would be in January. He gave no reason for his decision.
"This has been a great privilege to work on behalf of the people of Illinois for over 35 years," Jones said in a statement sent to media outlets.
Jones made $90,271 as Senate president last year and will be eligible for a full state pension. He'll also be able to tap into more than a half-million dollars in his campaign fund that predates a 1998 state law banning lawmakers from using political dollars for personal use.
The Senate president is one of the select lawmakers who negotiates multibillion-dollar state budgets and other high-priority legislation behind closed doors.
The power structure is such that the Senate president can single-handedly decide what will and what won't be voted on in that chamber.
In the political realm, the president controls a campaign fund often used to reward colleagues and keep new candidates loyal to leadership.
In these roles, Jones has served as a key ally for embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich, using his Senate position to give voice to Blagojevich's policies and thwart House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat who's become the governor's chief rival.
"Emil Jones is a man with a big heart and a man of action. He is a true champion of the people," Blagojevich said in a prepared statement. "He didn't just do the talk, he did the walk. All of us in Illinois owe him a great debt of gratitude,"
Jones also played a significant role in Barack Obama's 2004 U.S. Senate win, introducing the then little-known Obama to the right people and letting him handle important legislation to help raise his political profile.
For weeks, there have been private conversations and meetings within Democratic circles regarding the next Senate president. With Jones' official announcement, that process could explode into the public spotlight and has the potential to turn into a political free-for-all that could splinter Democrats.
At least one suburban lawmaker - Waukegan Democrat Terry Link - is seeking the post. He told the Daily Herald why he thought he'd be a good pick.
"First of all, I have taken a county - Lake County - and turned it from bright red to pale blue," Link said. "I have probably added more Democrats to the Senate than anybody else. I've shown my ability in that area."
But two campaign workers were recently indicted on forgery charges regarding Link's nominating petitions from earlier this year. Link said that will not be a factor.
"As your paper has reported ... I had no involvement in it. This has nothing to do with me," Link said. "You can't control everybody in the world."
Next: Waukegan Democrat makes his case for top spot
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=228317">Senate president, Blago ally Jones retiring this fall <span class="date">[08/18/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>