CHICAGO, Ill. 鈥� Rep. Edward Guerra Kodatt 鈥� a handpicked successor of former Rep. Mike Madigan 鈥� officially resigned Wednesday morning, just three days after his appointment. The south-west Chicago native sent an email to the House Clerk declaring his resignation Tuesday night. However, staff received the notice Wednesday.
The longest-serving lawmaker in Illinois history suggested his successor should resign late Tuesday night. The 26-year-old received 63% of the weighted vote in order to win former Rep. Mike Madigan鈥檚 seat on Sunday.
鈥淎fter learning of alleged questionable conduct by Mr. Kodatt, it was suggested that he resign as state representative for the 22nd聽District,鈥� stated Madigan and 13th Ward Alderman Marty Quinn. 鈥淲e are committed to a zero tolerance policy in the workplace.鈥�
Madigan鈥檚 hand-picked successor
Former Rep. Edward Guerra Kodatt
The former House Speaker put his 56% of the weighted vote toward Kodatt Sunday morning. But, Madigan clearly changed his mind once aware of the 鈥渜uestionable conduct.鈥� No details have been released about the alleged misconduct and state leaders won鈥檛 comment on the situation. Many already questioned Kodatt鈥檚 background since he worked as an infrastructure manager for Quinn, one of Madigan鈥檚 closest allies, since 2017.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no reason I would assume, as bad as this seems to be to make a move like this, that someone in Madigan鈥檚 operation didn鈥檛 know what was in this young man鈥檚 background,鈥� said Rep. Tim Butler.
The Springfield Republican believes the Democratic Party of Illinois (DPI) should use the full 30 days to appoint a replacement. However, the second committee hearing to pick a representative for the 22nd District will take place Thursday morning. Madigan also stated committee members will select a candidate who initially presented Sunday.
鈥淚 believe the most equitable way to proceed is to nominate the candidate who received the second-highest vote count,鈥� Madigan stated. 鈥淚t is my intention to nominate Angelica Guerrero Cuellar.鈥�
What about the salary?
Comptroller Susana Mendoza says Kodatt could receive a full month鈥檚 salary 鈥� $5,788.66 鈥� even though he only worked two days. Under current state law, Mendoza explained any legislator has the ability to claim the month鈥檚 salary for just one day鈥檚 work.
The Comptroller鈥檚 office delivered a letter to Kodatt鈥檚 house since his email on file no longer worked. Mendoza says he still has the opportunity to decline the salary.
鈥淛ust do the right thing for the taxpayers,鈥� Mendoza added. 鈥淒on鈥檛 ask them to pay you for a full month鈥檚 salary for just a few hours, literally, of being a state representative and to help set the tone for the change that is necessary.鈥�
鈥淣o Exit Bonus鈥� proposal
Still, Mendoza emphasized the next representative could also receive the full salary if appointed Thursday. That would leave the Comptroller鈥檚 office paying a combined $11,000 to Kodatt and his successor.
鈥淚 need them to officially tell me as comptroller that they will not take the money,鈥� Mendoza said. 鈥淭hen, that way, I鈥檓 not legally obligated to pay them. Hopefully, the new representative will gladly do that.鈥�
Mendoza stressed this is exactly why lawmakers should pass her 鈥溾€� proposal introduced last year. The bill had bipartisan support and would only allow lawmakers to get paid for each day they work. Butler supports Mendoza鈥檚 ideas, just as he has co-sponsored similar legislation filed by Democrats and Republicans.
鈥淭his is something that we should have taken care of a long time ago,鈥� Butler explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that鈥檚 been talked about for a while now. Yet, it seems that former Rep. Kodatt 鈥� kind of humorous to say that in those terms 鈥� could be eligible for almost $6,000 in salary. That鈥檚 really insane to think about.鈥�
Under current law, Madigan is also eligible for the full-month salary, even though his resignation was effective February 18. Several former lawmakers caught in corruption scandals received 鈥渆xit bonuses鈥� when they left office, including Rep. Luis Arroyo and the late Sen. Martin Sandoval. Mendoza noted former Rep. Nick Sauer also exploited the current law to get the larger paycheck after he faced online sex charges for sharing explicit photos of an ex-girlfiend.
鈥淲e really need to close it,鈥� Mendoza said. 鈥淎nd we need to make an example of the people who abuse it.鈥�
