Will County Gazette

Conservative activist Mike Fricilone believes the Mike Madigan countdown in Springfield has finally commenced in earnest.

“First off, I don’t think he has the votes to be elected for another term as House Speaker,” Fricilone told the Will County Gazette. “Then, you’ve got the whole criminal case where the walls seem to be closing in on him a little bit more each day.”

The state’s longest-tenured lawmaker, Madigan now finds himself at the center of an ongoing federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme where all the perks were allegedly steered to him in exchange for favorable legislation. More recently, four Madigan associates were indicted in connection with the scheme, including longtime pal and local lobbyist Michael McClain, who counts bribery among the charges he faces.

As for the House speaker post he’s now held for nearly four decades, 18 Democrat lawmakers now insist they have no intention of supporting his latest re-election efforts.

“I think the Democratic caucus finally realizes the hammer is coming down on him and it’s about time they move on from the Madigan regime,” added Fricilone, who narrowly lost out to Democrat Marie Newman in his 3rd Congressional District run. “I think they realize it’s in their own best interest not to vote for him going forward.”

Even if Madigan is shown the door, Fricilone said he doesn’t think that alone will be enough to bring about the level of ethical reforms that are truly needed to turn Springfield around.

“You can’t have government do a good job for the people unless you turn things over with new blood from time to time,” he said. “It’s not enough just for Mike Madigan to go. We need a complete shakeup of things.”