Craig Wilcox said the recent harassment controversy in which gubernatorial candidates and state representatives are asking House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to resign due to his lack of timely response to an alleged sexual harassment complaint goes beyond just the speaker's case.
Wilcox, the McHenry County board member running in the GOP primary in the 32nd Senate District to replace Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) who is not seeking re-election, told the Lake County Gazette all leaders have an obligation to take action.
“More importantly, elected officials should be morally obligated to first ensure the safety and well-being of the person or persons who have been mistreated in any way by anyone within their sphere of influence,” Wilcox said of Madigan not immediately responding to former campaign worker Alaina Hampton’s sexual harassment allegations against Madigan’s longtime operative Kevin Quinn,
“Associates must have trust in the system and believe that they can confide in their leader and know that proper actions will take place in a timely manner,” Wilcox said. “I believe in almost every circumstance transparency is paramount when acting as a public servant, and public servants must be as loyal to their subordinates as they are to the very public that put them there.”
Wilcox said all too often situations like these are mishandled, and the leaders appear as if they have been caught off guard in some way when the reality is, the issues percolated behind closed doors and leaders have not taken action for far too long.
“We have seen this ‘surprised’ behavior and the corresponding delayed actions all too often, as they seem to play on the news in a continuous loop, with little end in sight,” Wilcox said.
Wilcox said he is grateful for the courage of the victims themselves who have now found a voice and are rallying together and taking a stand to force leaders to address issues they might wish were never made public.
“The result being we now recognize how rampant the dire inaction by so-called leaders is, and quite frankly it is appalling,” Wilcox said, noting the difference between ethics and truth.
“True leaders are inclined to action when crisis erupts; ethical leaders are committed to action long before the public or others are aware because they foster and instill high standards of conduct everyday while motivating the people around them to achieve great visions,” Wilcox said.
In the light of the recent controversy, timing is everything, he said.
“This being an election year, it is incumbent on the people of the state to hold the political leaders to the highest of standards,” Wilcox said. “Exercise the power of the vote and make your presence known, because you are the key to the pillars of excellence in leadership. Without your input, very little will change.
“I am determined to be a part of the generation of leadership that will one day put an end to this type of behavior."
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