McHenry Times

State Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva) wants to see Martha Paschke take a stand.

“She keeps talking about how she’s her own person and she isn’t beholden to anyone,” Ugaste told the McHenry Times of his Democratic challenger in the 65th District. “Speaker Mike Madigan has been asked to step down and I’m asking her to join me in demanding his resignation.”

With controversy swirling around Madigan after he was implicated in a still unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a play-for-pay scheme, Ugaste argues Paschke’s reaction stands to send a clear signal to voters.

“Taking a stand will show if she is person of integrity,” he said. “As it is, the speaker has been asked to step aside by people in his own party, yet she cannot find the wherewithal to demand the same thing.”

Ugaste also wants to see Paschke call for the longest-tenured lawmaker in state history and the chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party to step down from all of his leadership positions, though he admits he won’t be holding his breath.

“She’s taken money from him and has used his staff in her campaign,” he said. “She needs to step forward and not accept any more assistance from him while returning what she’s already received. This is about integrity and good government and she can’t supply it she doesn’t need to be trying to represent the people of the district.”

Ugaste said by every indication voters in the district overwhelmingly agree with him.  

“I have yet to come across a single voter in the district that doesn’t support my position in calling for the speaker to resign and many of them are expressing their support for that even stronger than I am,” he said.

Ugaste added Paschke rates as a rare exception.

"As far as I know, she hasn’t said a word to anyone on the issue,” he said.