Will County Gazette

House Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) insists that the recent election of embattled Chicago Ald. Ed Burke’s wife as the state’s most powerful judge stands as a testament to how much change is needed in Illinois politics.

“In Illinois politics, so often, unfortunately, it’s a family business,” Batinick told the Will County Gazette in the wake of Anne Burke’s election as Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice, which comes while her husband faces a federal corruption indictment. “We just need a clean washing of our whole political system on so many levels. There are a lot of good local people around the state, but between the City of Chicago and at the state level, a clean sweep would be great.”

Among Anne Burke’s new responsibilities will be to “consider the work of the courts” and propose improvements to the courts and to “the administration of justice.”

Chicago Ald. Ed Burke

An attorney by trade, Ed Burke faces allegations of shaking down the owners of a fast food restaurant in his ward as part of an elaborate scheme to steer business toward his private, property tax-appeals law firm. In all, Burke, the city’ longest serving alderman, faces 14 charges.

“I wish they were paying more attention,” Batinick said of Illinois voters while stressing he still holds out hope that things can improve.

“We can get there, it’s just a matter of if we have the political will,” Batinick said. “And the only way we're going to have the political will is if voters force it upon us. If the voters wake up, start making some changes and let people know they’re not going to tolerate this garbage, whether it's Ald. Burke, Auditor General [Frank] Mautino or anybody else, things will change. Until voters send a strong, clear message, we’re going to have more of the same.”