Prairie State Wire

Despite House Speaker Michael Madigan's more than four decades in power, Democratic state representative-elect Anne Stava-Murray, of Naperville, is determined to oppose him.

“Legislators are deciding this week on whether or not to commit to vote for Madigan as speaker,” she recently posted to Facebook. “I have committed to voting ‘nay,’ a campaign promise I will keep.

“Some other reps are currently considering speaking out against bullying and voting ‘nay’ to Madigan, and community support could help them commit sooner,” she added.

Illinois State House Speaker Mike Madigan

Stava-Murray, who the  Illinois Policy Institute reports is the first Chicago Democrat to publicly voice opposition to voting for Madigan for House speaker in more than three decades, is looking for all the help she can get.

“Contrary to popular belief, you can do something about this,” she added in her post, imploring followers to demand that their representative support someone other than Madigan (D-Chicago).

The official vote is expected to take place sometime in early January with the winner needing at least 60 votes.

“Fear and intimidation are used by this machine to silence voices before they speak a word of dissent,” Stava-Murray wrote in a separate post. “I believe dissent is patriotic; we need change for Illinois, and that change cannot be brought by Madigan as Chair of the party.”

In taking a stance against Madigan, Stava-Murray joins outgoing state Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highland Park), who earlier this year called for the speaker to step down after several of his top operatives were embroiled in a growing sexual harassment scandal.

As recently as in March, Drury, who lost in the Democratic primary for attorney general to Kwame Raoul, claimed Madigan sought campaign donations from him to insure support for legislation Madigan supported.