Longtime Rep. Lou Lang Resigns To Become Partner In Lobbying Firm

SKOKIE, IL — Two days before he was due to be sworn in for a 17th term in office, state Rep. Lou Lang announced Monday he has resigned to become a lobbyist with a Republican-led firm.

After 32 years in the state legislature, the Skokie Democrat said he plans to become "full partner" at Advantage Government Strategies, a government affairs and public policy firm founded by Nancy Kimme, former chief of staff to late Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka.

"I'm not going to come to the legislature and lobby for things that I was against last year," Lang said. "I'm going to pick and choose carefully the clients that I work on and the projects that I take on and I'm going to try to continue the kind of things I've been doing, just on the other side of the desk, so to speak."

Lang, who ran unopposed in the November election and will have a major say in selecting his replacement, told Patch he received the firm's offer following the November election. He said he had received other business offers over the years, but this was the first one he decided to consider. This deal simply happened to have been finalized just as a new legislative term was set to begin.

"This is something that, as most business deals do, came together when it came together," Lang said. "When I considered it, I looked ahead at a new general assembly and a new governor, I thought this was the time for me to make my transition."

Lang, 69, was appointed to the Illinois House in July 1987 and rose to become deputy majority leader. He resigned his leadership positions in May following allegations of sexual harassment, bribery and threats in connection with the passage of a 2013 medical marijuana bill.

The acting legislative inspector general closed the investigation in September, finding the allegations against him unfounded, in part because his accuser, Plainfield medical marijuana advocate Maryann Loncar, declined to take part in the investigation. She described the investigation as "a joke." Lang said he had been "vindicated."

Among his top accomplishments in office, Lang included the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, Illinois medical cannabis legislation, laws to combat drug abuse and expand mental health services. In his 16 terms representing the 16th House District of Skokie, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove and a portion of Chicago's North Side, Lang has also championed the expansion of gambling, capital infrastructure investment and tax credits for film productions.

In addition to his former role as a top deputy to Speaker Mike Madigan, Lang served on the Legislative Ethics Commission and Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, which left the role of legislative inspector general vacant despite appropriating $1.8 million for an empty office. The ethics commission was accused of sitting on dozens of ethics complaints against state lawmakers without taking any action.

In August 2017, Lang was recruited to become "of counsel" to the Berwyn-based Del Galdo Law Group, a municipal law firm and a major political donor with close ties to Madigan in August 2017. Lang, who had been tipped as a potential eventual successor to the Democratic Party leader, told the Chicago Sun-Times Loncar's allegations did not contribute "one iota" toward his decision to resign.

The addition of a senior Democrat as partner as Lang heads through the so-called "revolving door" of Illinois politics is expected to significantly increase the capabilities of Kimme's lobbying firm, which has found success over the past four years due its close connections to the Rauner administration.

“I am excited to join forces with one of Springfield’s leading legislators,” Kimme said in a statement. “Lou was one of Governor-elect J.B. Pritzker’s earliest supporters and brings with him an unparalleled working knowledge of the General Assembly including how to pass good legislation.”

Besides Kimme and Lang, the firm's other partner is Ryan McCreery, a second-generation lobbyist, former gas company public affairs manager and Rauner appointee as deputy director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

“I was both flattered and intrigued at the idea of building upon Nancy’s already acknowledged professional success and creating an even more influential, bi-partisan government affairs firm,” Lang said in a statement Monday. “As much as I have enjoyed my legislative service, it is time to take a broader, long-term look at my professional career. I’m looking forward to my next act.”

Lang has been Niles Township Democratic committeeman since 2006. He is also the vice chair of the Cook County Democratic Party. He said he will continue in both roles.

Due to the timing of his resignation, a trio of local Democratic Party leaders will appoint his replacement. In a vote to weighted by turnout in party primaries, Lang and former Sen. Ira Silverstein will each have close to half of the vote, while 40th Ward Chicago Ald. Pat O'Connor will have a small share of the vote.

Lang said he hopes for the process to be complete by the end of January.

"We're going to have an open and transparent process, we invite anybody who has an interest to let us know," he said. "My goal is to pick the right person. Not do it the fastest, but do it the right way."

Related:

• Rep. Lou Lang Resigns Leadership Roles Amid Misconduct Probe
• Harassment Allegations Against Rep. Lou Lang Dismissed
• Lang Recruited As 'Of Counsel' to Del Galdo Law Group