Jones anoints son to his seat in Illinois Senate

[HardRCafé]

Following the lead of political families like the Strogers and Lipinskis, Illinois Senate President Emil Jones is anointing one of his children to take over for him when he retires in January.

Jones, 72, began the process of handing off his Senate seat to Emil Jones III by filing paperwork Monday with the State Board of Elections to drop himself from the Nov. 4 ballot. Next, Democratic Party leaders in Jones' South Side and south suburban Senate district will choose a replacement.

"His preference, yes, would be to see his son serve," said Cindy Davidsmeyer, Jones' spokeswoman. "But it's the committeemen's choice."

That's true. But given Chicago's political history, Emil Jones III's candidacy appears a done deal that's stirring up old questions about politicians who retire near election time and then use their clout to pass on their jobs as family heirlooms.

"It isn't a good thing for the community," said state Rep. Monique Davis (D-Chicago), who has had a chilly relationship with the elder Jones despite him being her state senator. "Just because it's your son doesn't mean he'll do a good job for the 14th senatorial district. I don't think people have an opportunity to express their choice because this person wasn't in a primary."

Emil Jones III, 31, has kept a low profile. He worked for the state between May 1999 and November 2006, when he briefly left the payroll.

Despite not having a college degree, he was hired in April 2007 as an administrator for Gov. Blagojevich's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity -- a job that pays $59,436 annually. Attempts to reach him Monday were unsuccessful.

A handful of ward and suburban township committeemen are expected to sign off on Jones III's selection sometime before an Aug. 28 state deadline to get on the ballot.

The lone opponent he'd face is perennial candidate Ray Wardingly, a Chicago Republican who did charity work as a clown. With only a nominal chance in the heavily Democratic district, Wardingly condemned the process by which Jones is attempting to keep his Senate seat in the family.

"What is this, Russia? First it was Stroger, then Lipinski. Now we have Emil Jones," Wardingly said.

But state Rep. Robert Rita (D-Blue Island), a longtime Jones ally and inheritor of a political legacy himself, said he sees nothing wrong with Jones III getting a chance to hold his father's Senate seat.

"Give him a chance to prove himself," Rita said.

[ill ind]

  Welcome to dysfunctiona Illinois Politics 101

sigh!!!!

  Also not mentioned is that fact that Jones can collect $550,000 from his campaign fund and use it for personal purposes (The law states you can take out whatever the balnce was in 1998, so he is limited to that 550 grand)  Also Jones gets an $80,000 plus per year pension which gets bumped up to over $120,000 after 1 year due to his serving over 20 years in the legislature.

  That's a pretty good reward for 35 years at the public trough.  Now he can turn around and put his son in there so the family can feast at it for many more years.  It's pretty insulting and offensive, but in Chicago it will fly.

Ill_ind