Our View: Madigan is an effective leader, and we can use a few more
It’s likely for the best that Lisa Madigan will run for a third term as Illinois’ attorney general.
Madigan has been solid as the state’s top legal officer. She had been mulling a run next year for either Illinois governor or U.S. senator. In her surprise announcement Wednesday that she would seek re-election to her current office, she said that her family, particularly her two young daughters, weighed heavily in her decision. We respect that.
Who knows? Madigan might be a fine governor, or senator, some day. But the timing is not right for her now – at least not for a Gov. Madigan.
We say that because Illinois needs sweeping change in Springfield, and it would be especially difficult for her to deliver that.
Illinois’ next governor must have the vision and the drive to move past the old way of doing things. Illinois’ next governor must have the will and the ability to stand up to the current leadership in the Illinois General Assembly, including both the House speaker and the Senate president.
Of course, the House speaker is none other than Michael Madigan, Lisa’s father.
Michael Madigan has been speaker of the Illinois House for most of the past 25 years. He is comfortable in his position. He is comfortable with the way things work in Springfield. He is more of the same, and a part of the problem.
It would be difficult for Lisa Madigan to change the culture in Springfield when her father helped create it and participates in it in such a vital role.
Lisa Madigan would have been a favorite – likely the favorite – had she decided to run for governor. It would not be in Illinoisans’ best interests to have a Madigan in the governor’s mansion while there still is a Madigan in the speaker’s chair.
The news that Madigan won’t run for higher office – and the news this week that Roland Burris will not seek election as Illinois’ junior U.S. Senator – opens wide the field for the offices of governor and senator. We hope that means qualified, ethical candidates who are committed to reform will enter the race.
Illinois needs effective leaders. In Madigan, it has one as attorney general. Now we could use a couple more – in Springfield and in Washington.
