There's an old Statehouse saying that House Speaker Michael Madigan cares mostly about two votes each Democratic legislator makes: one to re-elect him speaker, and the other for his chamber's operating rules.
Some, such as Representative Elaine Nekritz, have gotten away with voting against Madigan's rules. Nekritz explained to Madigan why she voted against them, and he was impressed with her thoughtfulness. She's since moved up the ladder to become one of the House's hardest-working members who also carries some major legislation.
But nobody ever gets away with voting against Madigan for speaker.
There's no question that Democrat Will Guzzardi ran a highly effective outsider campaign against state Representative Toni Berrios (D-Chicago) earlier this year. Guzzardi soundly defeated Berrios, the daughter of Cook County Democratic Party Chair Joe Berrios, and along the way told the Chicago Tribune that "the monolithic structures of power in Springfield aren't doing any good for anyone."
It's not difficult to discern whom he was talking about. The longest-serving House speaker in Illinois history is the very embodiment of a "monolithic structure of power."
So there have been some expectations that Guzzardi might not cast his vote for Madigan's re-election as speaker next January. He said last week that he hasn't yet made up his mind: "That's something I intend to figure out when the vote comes up."
While voting against the speaker would likely score points back home in his independent-minded district, Guzzardi said it's still a "tough decision" because there's "a lot hinging on it."
Guzzardi said he talked with Madigan's chief of staff, Tim Mapes, after the primary. Mapes congratulated him and said that the speaker hoped to sit down with him after the general election.
"We've got to figure out what sort of relationship we're going to have," Guzzardi said, adding, "I'm sure it'll be a good one. I want to get stuff done."
Those last two lines are probably the most important, and telling.
It's a pretty decent bet that Guzzardi can only have a good relationship with Madigan and get things done for his district if he votes for Madigan.
I reached out to Guzzardi because Madigan's Democratic Majority PAC is hosting a meet-and-greet event with the speaker's top targeted candidates this month.
Representative Jaime Andrade (D-Chicago) is the only incumbent on the list, but he was appointed to the seat. He's attending despite the fact that he has a hugely Democratic district.
The list also includes Carol Ammons, a Democrat who defeated Madigan's preferred candidate - Sam Rosenberg - in the Champaign County-area district currently represented by Democratic Representative Naomi Jakobsson. Ammons used Madigan's backing to bludgeon Rosenberg. Apparently, fences have been mended.
But there are a couple of big holes in the list of meet-and-greet attendees. Most notable is Guzzardi, who said he wasn't invited to the event.
Another absence worth noting is Mo Khan, who defeated the establishment's pick in the 20th House District. Democrat Jerry Acciari was seen by some as a Democratic "lay down" candidate against Chicago's only Republican state legislator, Representative Michael McAuliffe. Acciari was backed by the city's 41st Ward, which sent out flyers using Khan's original first name of Mohamed, even though his legal and ballot name is Mo.
Khan ended up winning, but Madigan hasn't yet expressed his support. There's a decades-old truce (albeit often violated) on the Northwest Side and surrounding suburbs between the two parties. It appears to be holding for now. Khan said he first heard of the meet-and-greet was when a supporter recently forwarded him the invitation. The House Democrats promised to respond to questions about the event but never got back to me.
By the way: McAuliffe was one of the few Republicans who voted for Madigan's resolution last week to put a minimum-wage-increase referendum on the November ballot.
So is Madigan dissing Guzzardi and Khan? Madigan's spokesperson said they weren't invited because candidates who face no real opposition in November were left off the list.
So why was Andrade invited? Andrade has a solidly Democratic district, after all. Well, Andrade is an appointed legislator, I was told, and that's why he was invited while others weren't.
That's a bit of a stretch, but at least it shows that the Madigan folks aren't publicly going out of their way to be hostile to Guzzardi. However, fully embracing him could be a problem during the spring session, considering some of the residual bitterness about that primary battle among some legislators.
Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax (a daily political newsletter) and CapitolFax.com.
