Today, the Illinois State Senate and the House both passed a bill in special session that allows for a special election to be called in November 2016 (11.08.2016 to be exact) for the Illinois Comptroller position that is filled by Quinn appointee Jerry Stermer until 01.12.2015 and Rauner appointee Leslie Munger from 01.12.2015 until the 2016 Special in the wake of Judy Baar Topinka's death.
Outgoing Governor Pat Quinn (D) will sign the bill into law.
Justin's Political Corner on Tumblr:
Looks like there will be a special election in the Land of Lincoln on 11.08.2016 for the Illinois Comptroller job. The election should favor the Democrat running, depending on who runs.
Jon Seidel and Tina Sfondeles at Chicago Sun-Times:
SPRINGFIELD — — Democrats easily passed a bill Thursday triggering a special election in 2016 that lets voters choose a new comptroller after the death of Judy Baar Topinka.
It also cuts in half the term of incoming Comptroller Leslie Munger, who was hand-picked by Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner to fill Topinka’s office. Republicans called it a “naked power grab” that strips the new governor of his constitutional authority.
The bill crafted by Senate President John J. Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan next heads to Gov. Pat Quinn, who called this week’s special session and urged lawmakers to pass the measure. It cleared the House 66 to 40 and the Senate 37 to 15.
But it did so after a day of contentious debate, with Republicans accusing Democrats of poisoning the well on the eve of a new era of two-party rule in Springfield. They said Democrats rushed needlessly to pass the bill, and they argued it would be more appropriate to trigger a special election by amending the constitution — which could not be done before 2016.
Ray Long, Jesse Helleman, and Monique Garcia at Chicago Tribune:
Democrats on Thursday quickly approved a measure to require a special election for Illinois comptroller in 2016.
The Illinois House led by House Speaker Michael Madigan, who doubles as state Democratic Party chairman, voted 66-40 over protests of House Republican leader Jim Durkin, who called the move a “shameful way” to wrap up business in a postelection, lame-duck session.
The House vote followed a 37-15 vote in the Senate, where Democrats pushed through the bill that would see voters elect someone to serve the final two years of the late Judy Baar Topinka's term. Outgoing Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn indicated he would sign the bill into law.
House vote:
Senate vote:
Potential Candidates:
R: Leslie Munger (Rauner's caretaker appointee), Nancy Kimme
D: Jerry Stermer (Quinn's caretaker appointee), Sheila Simon, Kwame Raoul