THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008

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May Widen Recall Plan Scope

Local elected officials may have a major stake in how a proposal to enact an Illinois recall law plays out.

An Illinois Senate committee this week advanced a revised version of the original recall proposal by allowing for recall of a much larger number of officials. The initial measure, which has generated much interest throughout Illinois, called for a new state statute that allows for a recall procedure for top statewide officials and legislators.

The revised plan adds local government officials and even judges. That means that if the measure passes the House and Senate, it would affect everything from city councils and mayors to park district officials. Also, the proposal changes the language to say that the governor and lieutenant governor would have to be recalled together because they are elected together.

Should the measure win approval is uncertain. The political climate in Springfield in which officials constantly are at odds with each other make any prediction difficult. If a proposed constitutional amendment allowing for a recall vote is to appear on the November ballot, House and Senate members will have to act by the end of this weekend.

Des Plaines Mayor Tony Arredia, who is president of the Northwest Municipal Conference, said yesterday (Thursday) that the organization is reviewing the proposal.

"There are a lot of questions that need to be looked at," said Arredia. "This may be one of those things that on the surface looks good, but if you are against it, you look like you're against Democracy."