Will County Gazette

A former Republican Congressional House candidate said that Mike Madigan's tenure should "be a wakeup call."

Rick Laib, who lost his November bid for the District 11 seat, comments come after the Chicago Democrat resigned from his state legislative seat.

"Mike Madigan, and apparently Mike Madigan alone, was able to see to something multiple lawsuits, primary oppositions and political failures could never have accomplished in the Illinois General Assembly, his removal from office," Laib told the Will County Gazette. "It should be a wakeup call that he was able to remain in office for so long and be part of so much destruction without any serious accountability."

After almost four decades of one-man rule, Madigan, earlier this month, said he plans to walk away from his District 22 House seat effective immediately.

The Chicago Democrat also resigned his role as chair of the Illinois Democratic Party.

His resignation comes just weeks after he was replaced as House Speaker in favor of state Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside) after a number of lawmakers from his party took the hardline stance they would not support his reelection efforts.

Madigan, who is the state's longest-serving lawmaker, is linked federal corruption probe involving ComEd. The federal Department of Justice is investigating an alleged pay-to-play scheme that has already netted indictments against at least four of his known associates.

Madigan has not been charged and maintains his innocence.

Laib said the odds are Madigan will escape unscathed.

"I expect Mike Madigan to do whatever Mike Madigan elects and the overwhelming population of Illinois to overtly applaud him regardless of whatever policies he advances that continue to push us into more decline," he said.