Friday, June 06, 2003
Still awaiting word on the meeting site.
Breaking news though — the 59th Legislative District is almost officially without a state senator. I say almost, because if I understand the law correctly, the Senate President has to officially determine there's a vacancy before there is one. News Three is reporting (or will be shortly) that state Sen. Larry Woolard has sent in his much anticipated letter of resignation. He's leaving the Illinois Senate to become what Gov. Rod Blagojevich described in April as Southern Illinois' "Economic Czar" at the new Department of Community & Economic Opportunity (the old DCCA).
If there is any money for the Old Slave House from the state this year it will come from the Senate Democratic Caucus legislative initiative funds. As of last Thursday, May 29, both Woolard and state Sen. Donne E. Trotter, the Senate Democrats' point man on the budget, thought that there was some funds left from an old unspent legislative initiative. It's a long complicated story, and after two days of meetings no one is completely sure of the amount. Basically, I learned that when you enter the murky world of legislative initiatives it's best to forget everything you learned in high school civics and the YMCA's Youth in Government program (heck, even forget what you read in the Illinois Constitution). It operates on its own unpublished rules.
Just who will replace Woolard is not completely clear. Both the Franklin and Williamson County Democratic Central Committees have endorsed state Rep. Gary Forby, D-Benton, for the position. That's almost all the votes needed, but not quite. Forby would still need at least Union County if he can't pick up more than one county. Others I talk to say state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Norris City, has all the rest of the votes wrapped up. If so, and if the number includes Union County's, then he would be the winner. While in Springfield I heard a third choice may appear, but it won't be the third choice I've heard about (a former Democratic legislative primary candidate). Last night I heard it might be former Williamson County Board Chairman Rex Piper.
Who knows? The Democrats have 28 days following the Senate President's finding that a vacancy occurs to fill the spot. I don't know will be the next senator, but all who are interested in helping southeastern Illinois are invited to attend next week's meeting on the future of the Old Slave House.
Breaking news though — the 59th Legislative District is almost officially without a state senator. I say almost, because if I understand the law correctly, the Senate President has to officially determine there's a vacancy before there is one. News Three is reporting (or will be shortly) that state Sen. Larry Woolard has sent in his much anticipated letter of resignation. He's leaving the Illinois Senate to become what Gov. Rod Blagojevich described in April as Southern Illinois' "Economic Czar" at the new Department of Community & Economic Opportunity (the old DCCA).
If there is any money for the Old Slave House from the state this year it will come from the Senate Democratic Caucus legislative initiative funds. As of last Thursday, May 29, both Woolard and state Sen. Donne E. Trotter, the Senate Democrats' point man on the budget, thought that there was some funds left from an old unspent legislative initiative. It's a long complicated story, and after two days of meetings no one is completely sure of the amount. Basically, I learned that when you enter the murky world of legislative initiatives it's best to forget everything you learned in high school civics and the YMCA's Youth in Government program (heck, even forget what you read in the Illinois Constitution). It operates on its own unpublished rules.
Just who will replace Woolard is not completely clear. Both the Franklin and Williamson County Democratic Central Committees have endorsed state Rep. Gary Forby, D-Benton, for the position. That's almost all the votes needed, but not quite. Forby would still need at least Union County if he can't pick up more than one county. Others I talk to say state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Norris City, has all the rest of the votes wrapped up. If so, and if the number includes Union County's, then he would be the winner. While in Springfield I heard a third choice may appear, but it won't be the third choice I've heard about (a former Democratic legislative primary candidate). Last night I heard it might be former Williamson County Board Chairman Rex Piper.
Who knows? The Democrats have 28 days following the Senate President's finding that a vacancy occurs to fill the spot. I don't know will be the next senator, but all who are interested in helping southeastern Illinois are invited to attend next week's meeting on the future of the Old Slave House.