Michael Madigan's Successor In Illinois House Resigns Just Three Days After Madigan Arranged His Appointment
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Illinois State Rep. Edward Guerra Kodatt, who was picked to succeed former state Rep. Michael Madigan in the Illinois House, has resigned only three days after Madigan picked him for the seat.
A spokesman for House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch confirmed Kodatt has submitted his resignation to the House Clerk's office.
Just hours earlier, Madigan and Ald. Marty Quinn (13th) had issued a statement calling on Kodatt to step down.
"After learning of alleged questionable conduct by Mr. Kodatt, it was suggested that he resign as state representative for the 22nd District. We are committed to a zero tolerance policy in the workplace," Madigan and Quinn said in a statement Tuesday night.
They were not more specific about the conduct.
Kodatt, 26, won 63 percent of the weighted vote to fill the 22nd District seat in the Illinois House of Representatives. Madigan, the former House Speaker, selected him as successor on Sunday.
For the past four years, Kodatt has worked as infrastructure manager for Quinn.
Madigan, who controls 56 percent of the weighted vote to fill the seat, said he will now back Angelica Guerrero Cuellar, a community services volunteer nominated by Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd), who received the second-largest vote total on Sunday, when committeemen reconvene on Thursday to select a new representative for the 22nd District.
"After a fair and robust process on Sunday, we are prepared to proceed with selecting a replacement for the 22nd District Illinois House seat from the pool of candidates who already presented to the selection committee. I believe the most equitable way to proceed is to nominate the candidate who received the second-highest vote count. It is my intention to nominate Angelica Guerrero Cuellar," Madigan said in a statement.
Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza said, despite serving less than three days in office, state law entitles Kodatt to a full month's salary of $5,788.66.
"In the spirit of good governance, I ask Mr. Kodatt to decline the month's salary he is entitled to under this arcane law," Mendoza said in a statement.
In fact, because Madigan, Kodatt, and whoever is the next person chosen for the seat will end up serving at least part of February, all three will be eligible for a full month's salary, even though they won't have been in office the entire month.
Mendoza is backing proposed legislation, dubbed the "No Exit Bonus" bill, which would prorate state lawmakers' salaries so they get only a day's pay for a day's work.
"Taxpayers don't get a month's pay for one or two days' work, and taxpayers should not have to fund that undeserved gift for elected officials," Comptroller Mendoza said. "It's time to throw the General Assembly's 'Exit Bonus' on the trash heap of bad traditions."
The comptroller also urged whoever is chosen for the next representative in the 22nd District to also refuse to accept a full month's salary for February, and to co-sponsor the "No Exit Bonus" bill.
Madigan resigned his seat as a state representative this past Thursday, little more than a month after surrendering the gavel as Speaker of the Illinois House.
Madigan also resigned Monday as chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party.
Madigan lost his seat as Illinois House Speaker only after he was implicated last year in the sweeping ComEd bribery scandal.
"It's no secret that I have been the target of vicious attacks by people who sought to diminish my many achievements lifting up the working people of Illinois. The fact is, my motivation for holding elected office has never wavered. I have been resolute in my dedication to public service and integrity, always acting in the interest of the people of Illinois," Madigan said in a statement.
Despite Madigan's nearly 40-year reign as Speaker, during which he became seen as the most powerful politician in the state, it had appeared certain for weeks he would not get another term, after 19 House Democrats announced last year that they would not vote to re-elect him due to the ComEd scandal, leaving him short of the 60 votes he needed.
