Madigan's Shadow Looms Over North Shore State Rep Race

SKOKIE, IL — All five candidates running for the nomination to replace Laura Fine as 17th District State Representative in the most hotly contested Democratic primary race on the North Shore were asked if they were supporters of Illinois House Speaker Madigan at a forum Tuesday night at the Skokie Public Library.

Several of the candidates took the opportunity to trash the state party chair and leader of the Democrats in the Illinois House of Representatives since 1983. One compared his rule to a despot in a developing country, another pointed out he’s been in charge longer than she’s been alive, one said the voters didn't need the party to put its proverbial trumb on the scale in the primary and all supported term limits on leadership positions.

But one candidate has avoided criticizing Madigan – the same one who's received more than $40,000 and two staffers from the state Democratic Party and Madigan political committees, according to electoral board records.

"To be in this situation is really uncomfortable to me," said Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, who did not say whether she supported the Speaker at the forum. "I honestly think that this is, you know, pretty unfair."

In an interview Wednesday, the Glenview attorney suggested her opponents' badmouthing of the Democratic machine was disingenuous.

"It's easy to say now to say that they would turn down something that they were never offered," Gong-Gershowitz said.

Madigan has been embroiled this week in accusations that he waited too long to cut ties with longtime staffer and consultant Kevin Quinn – the younger brother of 35th Ward Alderman and Madigan protegé Marty Quinn – after being told of allegations of sexual harassment by Kevin last November. He was fired Monday, a day after his accuser spoke to a newspaper and the same day she filed a federal discrimination complaint.

Candidate Mary Rita Luecke, former board president of Evanston/Skokie School District 65, said it appeared the Speaker took "far too long" to take the allegations seriously. She said he should step aside until a full inquiry into the complaint is held.

"What did he know? When did know it?" Luecke told Patch. "The Democratic Party must distinguish itself from Trump and others who perpetuate a permissive atmosphere for sexual harassment. Having the state Democratic leader act as another 'good old boy' is not what we need"

"I am disgusted that our leadership is allowing this to happen," said Alexandra Eidenberg at the forum. "If it's not one thing, it's another with this man." She said she was "bummed" that Madigan had gotten involved in the primary.

Eidenberg later said she had been told party leadership would stay out of the race before being informed last September that senior Democrats had selected Gong-Gershowitz as the preferred candidate.

Another one of Gong-Gershowitz's opponents, current District 65 board member Candance Chow, called her the party-backed rival to return contributions tied to Madigan in the wake of the scandal.

“It’s become clear that Jennifer’s campaign is under the control of Mike Madigan’s political operation,” Chow said in a Wednesday news release. “The last thing we need is a representative who owes her seat to Mike Madigan and Springfield insiders. That’s not the way we will bring the needed change to our state.”

Don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen, suggested Luecke. She told Patch taking money from Madigan-linked organizations "creates a perception of allegiance to the Speaker and puts pressure on the recipient to vote for and go along with the Speaker when hard decisions must be made by the legislature."

In an interview Wednesday, Gong-Gershowitz said she would not be beholden to party leadership.

"There have been many independent-minded Democrats who have served independently in the Illinois legislature who had the support of the Democratic Party when they ran for the first time," she said, pointing to North Shore lawmakers like Daniel Biss (who recently claimed Madigan opposed him during his first two campaigns), Scott Drury (who did not run in a contested primary in his first campaign) and Elaine Nekritz (who did run in a contested primary as a sitting Democratic committeeman in 2002, six years after losing her first bid for the state house.)

As for suggestion that Madigan should have handled the accusation against Quinn differently, Gong-Gershowitz said she had limited knowledge about the situation and wasn't able to judge its specifics.

"What I think is important is that when there are allegations of sexual harassment – in every industry and in every office – that there are processes in place ahead of time to make sure that the integrity of the victim is the priority," Gong-Gershowitz said. "And then there should be due process for the person accused."

Gong-Gershowitz has been endorsed by three local Democratic township organizations: Niles, New Trier and Northfield, where her campaign manager Mike Kreloff is the committeeman. She also received incumbent Rep. Fine's endorsement this week.

No candidate managed to capture the required two-thirds majority needed to gain the endorsement of the Democratic Party of Evanston, although local candidates Chow and Luecke together combined for more than 80 percent of the vote.

Chow – who, according to filings with the state election board, has financed a majority of her campaign with a $95,000 loan from her husband – told attendees at Tuesday's forum, sponsored by local "housing, economic and social justice" nonprofit Open Communities, that Madigan's involvement in the process "disturbs" her.

"This district has smart voters," she said. "This district doesn't need to be told who to vote for, doesn't need $100,000 to come into the campaign to support a message coming out."

Gong-Gershowitz suggested adopting knee-jerk anti-establishment views would not be productive.

"Are we going to say that only extremely wealthy people can run? And anyone who tries to run with the support of organizations that support Democratic candidates – or if you're a Republican, Republican candidates – is somehow a bad person?" she asked. "That's ridiculous."

Gong-Gershowitz said it was "convenient" her opponents sought party backing, didn't get it and are now complaining.

"They're upset now because I received the support that they didn't, based on my qualifications, my integrity and my fearlessness."

Gershowitz is an attorney who formerly specialized in commercial anti-trust law at the firm Winston and Strawn. She pointed to her pro bono legal work and volunteer efforts to help to set up the immigration law practice at the Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid clinic in 2016.

The 17th District includes all or parts of Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Northbrook, Skokie and Wilmette.

Peter Dagher – who said Tuesday he was unable to express his dislike for Madigan and his "Madigoons" without swearing – did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

All five Democrats are due to attend a forum in Evanston Saturday.

The winner of the Democratic primary will face Wilmette Republican Peter Lee in November.

Check out each of the candidates' websites to learn more:

• Candance Chow
  
• Pete Dagher
  
• Alexandra Eidenberg
  
• Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz
  
• Mary Rita Luecke

The Chicago Sun-Times posted brief video interviews with each 17th District Democratic candidate Tuesday: