Will County Gazette

House Republican Leader Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) recently issued a statement after a dramatic event unfolded in the Illinois House of Representatives over mask mandates.

The episode occurred after Rep. Lekeshia Collins (D-Chicago) called for nine unmasked House GOP members to be removed from the Chamber for not following mask rules. Rep. Steven Reick (R-Woodstock) was one member Collins initially named, believing he wasn't wearing a mask, she corrected herself before the vote, but Reick still confronted Collins following the vote, according to NBC Chicago.

“When I was being confronted by my colleague and what my colleague said to me, in that moment I was triggered,” Collins said, according to NBC Chicago. “I was scared. I felt unprotected. And I was shocked that this even transpired.”

Reick explained his actions stemmed from frustration over being falsely accused when he is a law-and-order type of guy.

“Because I’m also a rules guy,” Reick said, according to NBC Chicago. “I’m not that kind of guy. I’m just not. I’m big, I’m loud, sometimes I’m profane — but I’m not that kind of guy.

Reick, Collins, Rep. Chris Welch (D-Westchester) and Durkin met afterward to discuss the incident. All parties are optimistic after the meeting that they can move on, according to NBC Chicago.

"I think overall that we have much more in common than you really think," Durkin said. "We all have different backgrounds, we were raised differently in different parts of the state. We have different vocations. But, at the end of the day, the most important thing that I could say is that we all love the state of Illinois. That's why we are here. That's why we take up this very noble position and I do believe it's a noble position to serve in the Illinois House of Representatives."

Durkin says that their constituents are watching their every move and that it's important to show an example of everyone having commonalities, even if not in policy.

"I didn't know Rep. Collins at all before this. But when I heard her talk about her story about who she is and where she is right now, it's giving me a greater understanding of how she approaches life, but I also love how she approaches this position. It's a great story, Rep. Collins, and you should be proud of it.

"We should give the people who are watching us the opportunity to realize that we're serious people who all have something in common —that's to fix our state, to help our neighbors, help our neighborhoods," Durkin continued. "Because when the state fails and when we fail, I can't imagine what is our purpose then?"