McHenry Times

Rep. Dan Ugaste (R-St. Charles) isn’t bashful about throwing his full support behind Mike Madigan’s decision to leave the Legislature.

“His departure is something I’ve been strongly advocating for over the last several months,” Ugaste told the McHenry Times. “No one should be able to obtain that much control over state government for the period of time that he has.”

After almost four decades as House speaker, Madigan said on Feb. 18 that he would relinquish his District 22 seat.

His resignation comes just weeks after Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D-Hillside) replaced the Chicago Democrat as House speaker.

Madigan is also linked to a federal corruption investigation involving ComEd about an alleged pay-to-play scheme that has already led to the indictments of at least four of his known associates.

ComEd was fined $200 as a result of the investigation but admitted no wrongdoing. Federal authorities have not charged Madigan, and he admits no wrongdoing.

Ugaste said not many in Springfield are surprised to see the state’s longest-serving lawmaker finally go.

“After he was out as [the] speaker, it was pretty much a given that he didn’t want to hang around to just be a member,” he said. “At the same time, I think he could feel people in the party had started to see him more as a liability than an asset with everything that’s happening.”

With Madigan gone, Ugaste hopes Democratic legislators can arrive at a new place in terms of putting politics aside and doing what’s best for the people.

“I will say there are a lot more conversations happening now, but only time will tell,” he said. “No matter what, it’s good that just one man won’t be making all the decisions.”

Thus far, Ugaste said Welch has struck a different tone from Madigan.

“There [are] definitely more lines of communication open, and I would say the new speaker has said some things to the press where he can be held accountable,” he said.