Lake County Gazette

Marty McLaughlin thinks there's just one way to read the scandal and corruption swirling around House Speaker Mike Madigan.

“It tells me that it’s beyond time to turn the page on the old way of doing business in Springfield,” McLaughlin, now running for the 52nd District seat being vacated by Rep. David McSweeney, told the Lake County Gazette. “If I’m fortunate enough to get elected along with enough other reformers hopefully we can go there and get the job done.”

McLaughlin knows the turnaround won’t come easily given Madigan, the longest serving lawmaker in state history, was recently able to raise upwards of $555,000 in campaign contributions in a single day just weeks after being implicated in a pay-for-play scandal involving utility giant ComEd. As chair of at least four political groups, Madigan is now reported to have nearly $23 million in his political coffers, at least partly accounting for the informal title he holds in the eyes of many as the most powerful man in state politics. 

“To me the fact that he’s also head of the Democratic Party is his main influence and selling point to those out in the field trying to advance their campaigns,” McLaughlin added. “Being head of that machine to me is what’s most problematic and has a lot to do with the support he gets.”

While state Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-Elmhurst) has filed a bill that would ban politicians from using campaign funds to pay legal bills for corruption cases, McLaughlin argues it’ll take a lot more to truly start to reform Springfield.

“I think it will take all those suppressed voices to finally come forward and speak out, do what’s right for the people of the state instead of something they feel indebted to do,” he said.