Republicans in Illinois
Senate pick downstater as leader
12/06/2002 12:00 AM
By Kevin McDermott Post-Dispatch Springfield Bureau |
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois state Senate Republicans chose Sen. Frank
Watson, R-Greenville, on Thursday
to lead them in their new role as loyal opposition in a Democrat-dominated
chamber.
In a Legislature long controlled from Chicago and its suburbs, he becomes
the first downstater in two decades to reach a top leadership post.
"The message is that a downstater is not unacceptable to this (Senate
Republican) caucus," said Watson,
57, a St. Louis-born pharmacist who has been in the Legislature for 24
years. "My vision and my message . . . (is) to see us all working
together, whether it's upstate or downstate."
But others say Watson's election
by his fellow Senate Republicans is a repudiation of their own party's
current leadership - long centered in the Chicago suburbs - after the
disastrous November elections. The GOP lost its Senate majority, as well
as the governor's office and the House.
"I think most of it comes down to geography. ... It was not a plus to
be from DuPage County," said Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, one of
two suburbanites who competed unsuccessfully with Watson
for the leadership post.
"Sen. Watson will add
something significant to the statewide political balance of
Illinois," Dillard said. "There was clearly a message being sent
by some that they wanted a change from DuPage County."
Watson will succeed longtime state
Senate President James "Pate" Philip, R-Wood Dale. Philip
announced this week he was stepping down as leader under the new
Legislature.
Watson will take charge of the
Senate Republicans just as they become the minority party. After Jan. 8,
the Senate's 31-28 GOP majority will become a 32-26 Democratic majority.
But Watson will still be one of
the five most powerful people in Springfield. The governor and the
"Four Tops" - the Democratic and Republican leaders in the House
and Senate - control the state budget and virtually everything else
legislative that happens.
The last person from outside the Chicago area to be a caucus leader was
then-state Rep. George Ryan, R-Kankakee, who was House speaker in 1981 and
1982. Ryan is now governor.
"It shows you don't have to be from Chicago," said state Sen.
David Luechtefeld, R-Okawville. "I've always felt that Frank
had a view of the whole state.
"I do believe there is a feeling among some people in Southern
Illinois that they're sort of left out," Luechtefeld added.
"This, I think, can change that feeling."
As a leader, Watson will be able
to set the Senate Republicans' agenda, deciding what issues they pursue,
representing their interests in state budget negotiations and leading the
expected political battles against the new Democratic government.
"(We) as a caucus will reach out to the new governor (Democrat Rod
Blagojevich)," said Watson.
"I think it's important that we do that. We will be with him when we
can. We will tell him when he's wrong. I think you'll see a very active
and very vocal caucus here."
Watson also will be the political
leader of the caucus. In Illinois, that means unfettered control over
unlimited campaign contributions, which are meted out by leaders to their
rank-and-file legislators.
He said his top political goal would be to regain the Senate majority.
"I think it's important we recruit candidates. We need to raise
money," he said. "(And) we need to show the people of Illinois
that we are visionary, that we have a message, that we've got a
philosophy. We've fallen from grace, so to speak, from the people of
Illinois as Republicans in this last election, and we need to improve on
that."
Watson's term is for two years -
though, traditionally, Illinois legislative leaders quickly become so
powerful that they are re-elected to the posts until they decide to step
down.
----
From the Chicago Tribune
12/6/02
On Thursday, GOP senators chose the respected downstate Sen. Frank Watson as their new
leader. Illinois is about to be let in on a little secret: The Senate Republican caucus has some of
the most thoughtful, creative, principled legislators in the state capital, legislators who have
labored, in frustration, in the shadow of their leader. At last, the Republicans have an opportunity
to establish Senate leadership that is true to conservative principles but doesn't carry all the
baggage of the truth according to Pate Philip.
---
December 5, 2002
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Breaking with 21 years of leadership from the Chicago suburbs, Illinois
Senate Republicans chose downstater Frank Watson on Thursday to lead their caucus for
the next two years.
Watson, a pharmacist who has served in the Legislature since 1979, lives in Greenville, about 50 miles northeast of St. Louis.
He will be the first downstate legislative leader since George Ryan of Kankakee, now the governor, served two years as
Illinois House speaker two decades ago.
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