Metro East Sun

Republican state House candidate Amy Elik isn’t surprised to see Illinois voters take the only stance against House Speaker Mike Madigan that she thinks truly matters.

“With the House investigation into Speaker Madigan's role in the ComEd scandal beginning this past week, pressure is certainly mounting for him to cooperate with the investigation,” Elik, who is running against Democratic incumbent Monica Bristow in the 111th District, told the Metro East Sun. “It is unsurprising to me that people are demanding answers and that he resign his role as speaker and as chairman of the Democrat Party of Illinois.”

With Madigan now at the center of an unfolding federal corruption probe involving ComEd and a pay-for-play scheme in which payments and perks where allegedly steered to the state’s longest-serving lawmaker in exchange for his support of certain legislation, voters have now taken to protesting outside of Madigan’s home in hopes that he walks away.

Protesters have included members from several advocacy groups, including the Sunrise Movement's Chicago chapter, which chided Madigan with chants of "no dirty energy" and banners that said: "No dirty energy, no dirty money."

The demonstrations come as Madigan is also under investigation by a special bipartisan state House committee recently convened to delve into his recent conduct to determine if any disciplinary actions are warranted on the part of lawmakers.

Through it all, Elik said she finds it alarming beyond words that Bristow has remained so quiet.

“While many other Democrats are denouncing Madigan's corruption, Bristow has remained silent and continues to take his campaign dollars,” she said. “I hope the protesters are responsibly making their voices heard. We need to demand change in leadership in Illinois. Once that happens, we can begin to root out the corruption that plagues this state.”