Dan Caulkins is desperate to see Illinois voters stand up to Mike Madigan.
“Mike Madigan continues to run roughshod over this state and this is just the latest example of his partisan politics,” Caulkins told the Chambana Sun of news that the longtime Democratic House speaker has not moved to fill the inspector general position in Springfield on a permanent basis, despite more than 300 women signing a #MeToo letter detailing the culture of sexual harassment in the state Capitol in 2017.
Julie Porter was installed in the position back then on an interim basis with her contract slated to expire at the end of June. During the more than two years the position went vacant before Porter’s arrival, at least 27 complaints of sexual harassment went unscrutinized in Springfield.
Dan Caulkins
“People have to understand that Mike Madigan only looks to do things that benefit Mike Madigan,” Caulkins, a Decatur Republican running against Democrat Jennifer McMillin for the seat being vacated by Rep. Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth) in the 101st District, said. “And with this being an election year, dealing with something like that isn’t convenient for him. It’s just Madigan pulling another one of his stunts. To deny putting someone in that position shows how broken this state is.”
Caulkins said things don’t figure to change anytime soon unless voters decide on a change.
“These career politicians and this corrupt system doesn’t serve any of us, and when enough Democrats start to feel beaten-up and betrayed by everything that’s happening they’ll turn against the system,” he said. “Until then, the whole state will continue to suffer. Hopefully people will decide more of this is not what’s best this November and make the changes needed.”
The 101st House District includes parts of Champaign, McLean, Dewitt, Macon and Piatt counties.
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