Jeff Leef’s reaction to House Speaker Mike Madigan’s (D-Chicago) running feud with Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood) over his lack of support for the longtime party leader is to openly wonder how it is anyone, in good faith, could co-sign on any of Madigan's policies.
“I would love to believe that Democrats are not my enemies but friends with different opinions and beliefs, that we often have the same goals but have vastly different ideas on the ways in which those goals could be met,” Leef, a River Forest Republican who is running in the GOP primary in the 7th Congressional District for the seat held by U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), told the West Cook News. “If that were true, how could any honest person, of either party, possibly tolerate, let alone support, Madigan.”
Madigan has been going at Drury ever since Drury didn’t vote for him to return as House speaker. Drury, a former federal prosecutor, is running for attorney general in the Democratic primary and Madigan has been far from a supporter, culminating in a union that Illinois News Network has reported as being tied to Madigan making an attempt to knock Drury off the March 20 ballot.
Jeff Leef
“No one cares,” Leef said. “Illinois voters apparently don't and, without question, neither do his partners in crime, which include members of almost the entire Illinois Democratic legislature as well as many across the aisle. Unless the entire Illinois legislative body is thrown out, we are doomed.”
Leef, who has endorsed Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) in her Republican primary run against Gov. Bruce Rauner, doesn’t seem to be holding out much hope of any answers coming from the governor’s mansion should her campaign fall short.
“I'll tell you this: J.B. (Pritzker), (Chris) Kennedy and Rauner are certainly not the answer, and I question the sanity of those that think otherwise,” he said.
Leef previously told West Cook News he wasn’t surprised to hear rumblings about Rauner refusing to debate Ives and otherwise directly steering clear of her.
“He is avoiding Ives because she is good. She is honest,” Leef said. “She is receiving some support, and I'm hoping that Illinoisans wake up. The alternatives are horrible.”
The 7th Congressional District includes much of the West Side of Chicago and parts of Bellwood, Broadview Maywood, Oak Park, Westchester and River Forest.
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