Politics & Government

Legislators Comment on Blagojevich Verdicts

The offices Sen. Kirk Dillard and Sen. Ron Sandack released statements this afternoon after a jury convicted Rod Blagojevich on 17 of 20 counts.

This afternoon a jury found Rod Blagojevich guilty on 17 of 20 counts, including several for abuse of power, according to the Chicago Tribune.

"Finally one chapter in this saga has concluded and hopefully the people of Illinois will be spared from any further embarrassment by the actions of former Governor Rod Blagojevich. I hope that our political system and elected officials can work collaboratively together to restore the trust in Illinois. We need to step away from the sideshow that has occupied our attention for far too long and deal with the state’s ongoing financial struggles,” said DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin.

The offices of two local senators responded to the verdict.

Find out what's happening in Lislewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sen. Kirk Dillard, whose district includes Lisle, Woodridge and parts of Downers Grove and Naperville, was in office throughout Blagojevich's impeachment trial, according to the statement his office released today. 

"Now that we have read the book on Rod Blagojevich and closed the last chapter, it is important that we don’t lose track of the message. The message is, we need to constantly press forward with reforms in campaign financing and transparency."

Find out what's happening in Lislewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Read the full statement here.

Sen. Ron Sandack, who in the 21st District, oversees areas of Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn and Wheaton.

“We are all worse for former Governor Blagojevich’s behavior, and the guilty verdict in the trial was disappointing given that yet another politician from Illinois has been convicted of a crime.  As unfortunate as this time is in the history of Illinois, it serves as a call for ethics reform and the need for true public servants to serve Illinois. The people of this state deserve a return to true public service from its elected officials," the statement reads.

"As we put the politics of the past behind us, we must restore confidence and integrity to government by not tolerating this kind of behavior from elected officials.” 


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