BARTLETT – Republican candidate for State Senator Seth Lewis is calling on the 23rd District's Democrat incumbent state Senator Tom Cullerton to make clear his position on a lawsuit to stop the Independent Map Amendment.
“It’s time for Tom Cullerton to publicly disavow the lawsuit being brought against the Independent Map Amendment by his party’s leadership,” Lewis said in a statement issued Monday. “Cullerton can’t credibly claim to support independent maps while his party’s leadership are the very people suing to stop them.”
A petition drive to have Illinois' legislative districts drawn by a non-partisan panel was approved by over half a million Illinoisans, and received certification from the State Board of Elections to be on the November ballot.
Mike Madigan and the Democratic Party of Illinois’ top lawyer, Michael Kasper, are now suing the sponsors of the Independent Map Amendment to prevent the measure from being on the General Election ballot in November. An organization called “the People’s Map” is taking the lead as plaintiffs on the lawsuit.
Last week the Chicago Tribune editorial board wrote , “We know House Speaker Michael Madigan's top lawyer is leading the effort. We know who stands to lose if the amendment is passed. You might as well call The People's Map by a different name — Madigan's Map.”
Senator Tom Cullerton has refused to comment on the Madigan-backed lawsuit.
“We need independent leadership in the 23 rd District, not someone who remains silent when party bosses expect it,” Lewis said.
