Metro East Sun

State Rep. David Friess (R-Red Bud) said Mike Madigan's exit sets the stage for Springfield to usher in the kind of reforms many voters insist they want to see.

"I believe Madigan's resignation from the state legislature means that Illinois is now free from one person rule and is now positioned to make true ethics reform," Friess told the SE Illinois News.

After approximately four decades leading the House as the speaker, Madigan suddenly resigned from his District 22 seat. He did not give a reason for his resignation. He also stepped down from leading the Illinois Democratic Party.

His resignations came as he faces potential legal trouble and being replaced as the House's top leader.

Legislators tapped Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch (D-Hillside) in January after nearly two dozen Democratic lawmakers vowed not to back Madigan's speaker campaign.

Madigan was also linked to a federal Department of Justice bribery probe that involves ComEd and an alleged pay-for-play scheme. The utility company was fined $200 million but didn't admit to wrongdoing. Madigan has not been charged and continues to proclaim his innocence.

Now serving his first term for District 116, Friess said he views Madigan's decision to walk away as proof about what sort of concerns have always registered with him as being most important.

"I don't believe Madigan's resignation is in any way related to the allegations of corruption and the scandal surrounding ComEd," he said. "I believe, after being [the] speaker for nearly 40 years, Madigan was not interested in not being No. 1."

Friess stays focused on the positive vibe he feels Madigan's ouster could finally mean for the state through all the back and forth.

"With his resignation, he is relinquishing control of the Illinois Democrat Party, and with that, his tremendous influence," he said. "I readily admit that there are Madigan loyalists within the state legislature and every agency within state government, but his resignation is a huge step for reform in Illinois."