Ill. Senate Republicans consider minority leader job

Posted by Barton Lorimor

While Illinois Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson recovers from a “mild” stroke in St. Louis, members of his caucus are throwing their names into a hat for his job.

Watson, a Greenville Republican, announced Tuesday he would not seek re-election for his post as the caucus’ leader, but retain his seat in the Senate.

The announcement spawned a number of Senate Republicans to throw their names into a pool of possible successors. The caucus will elect its new leader in January.

The pool included the name of Carbondale’s voice in the Senate, Dave Luechtefeld. Elected to his first term in 1995, Luechtefeld serves as assistant minority leader. Luechtefeld said his name is on the list at the request of people from inside and outside the Senate Republicans.

“I have not really withdrawl from consideration, yet my main motivation is to try to hold the caucus together,” Luechtefeld said.

Sen. Christine Radogno, R- Lemont, said she is very interested in the position because she may be able to include Chicago’s voice in the caucus better than Watson. She said that is not because Watson was inconsiderate, but geographically displaced. Radogno’s district office is near the Interstate 355 and Instate 55 intersection.

But Radogno said her strong relationship with her colleagues is what seperates her from the pack. If elected, the 12-year veteran Senator would continue to push for less government spending.

Minority Caucus Whip Kirk Dillard was someone Radogno said was another Chicago-area Republican interested in the position. Dillard, who served as former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar’s chief of staff, could not be reached for comment Friday.

Though their districts have had strong Republican support in the past, most central Illinois Senators have kept their name out of the race. Sens. Bill Brady and Dan Rutherford have said they are not interested in the job.

Brady said Wednesday his gubernatorial intentions yielded his interest in minority leader. The Bloomington Republican told his supporters in a letter Thursday he intends to run for the state’s highest office in 2010.

However, speculation about Sen. Dale Righter’s interest in the positon remained unconfirmed Friday. The Mattoon Republican, a strong opponent of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s, did not return a phone calls to his cell phone or district office.

Sources close to Watson said the stroke affected his left leg, right arm and speech. But Watson’s doctors remain positive that he will make a full recovery, according to Patty Schuh, the Senator’s spokeswoman.

Lorimor is a reporter and columnist for the Daily Egyptian.