Macon Reporter

Dwight Kay isn’t surprised that House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) seems to be doing everything he can to run Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood) out of Springfield.

“Scott Drury said no to being a rubber stamp for him,” Kay, a Glen Carbon Republican running in the GOP primary for the seat held by Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) in the 112th House District, told the East Central Reporter. “He’s the first Democrat to stand up to him and Madigan’s reaction has been to lash out. That’s just the way he does things and he’s been doing it for so long it almost comes naturally to him.”

The two Democrats have been at odds ever since Drury didn’t vote for Madigan to return as House speaker. Drury, a former federal prosecutor, is now running in the Democratic primary for attorney general and Madigan has been far from a supporter, culminating in a union with reported ties to Madigan attempting to have Drury knocked off the March 20 ballot, according to the Illinois News Network. 

“With Madigan, it’s all about mob politics and the way things were done back in the 1930s,” Kay said. “He learned all the tricks of the trade under (Mayor Richard J.)  Daley and has perfected them.”

Kay said as he’s crisscrossed his district, more and more voters have expressed to him they’re tired of the Madigan way of running the state.

“His name is the first one out of everyone’s mouth and they all say they want him out,” Kay said. “I tell them we can make that happen if Democrats think he is as big a problem as I know he is.”

As for his own campaign, Kay said he and his team have placed nearly 1,400 yard signs over the last few days and enthusiasm seems high.  

“I think Illinois is worth fighting for,” he said. “I can remember the time when we were one of the best states in the nation and I know we can be again. We weren’t always broke as a state. We just need to put people in Springfield that want to work for the people in the districts that elect them and not themselves. Until we get to that point, we’ll just keep fooling around with issues that won’t really matter much to people we’re supposed to be representing.”

The 112th District includes Glen Carbon and parts of Maryville, Edwardsville, Collinsville, Granite City and O'Fallon.