North Cook News

In a loss for the redistricting efforts in Illinois and for Gov. Bruce Rauner, Cook County Circuit Judge Diane Larsen ruled that the Independent Map Amendment ballot measure does not meet the conditions set forth in the Illinois Constitution to be put on the Nov. 8 ballot. 

Mel Thillens, Republican candidate for state Senate in District 28, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, saying that the current legislative mapping does not work.

"There are so many uncontested elections in Illinois because of the way the maps are drawn,“ Thillens told North Cook News. “Fair maps would help make elections more competitive and put power in the hands of the voters."

Mel Thillens | Contributed photo

Currently, the legislative maps are drawn by state lawmakers every 10 years after a census is taken. Independent Maps, the group spearheading the redistricting efforts, said the current system does not reflect the voice of the voters and added that it leads to one party dominating a certain district with little competition. 

Independent Maps proposes that the district maps be re-drawn using an 11-member bipartisan committee selected by a panel of people initially screened by the state’s auditor general. If the commission could not agree on the map, then State Supreme Court justices would be called in.

The group collected more than 560,000 signatures from supporters - more than enough for the State Board of Elections to approve the measure for the November ballot. However, another group, the People’s Map, challenged the proposed amendment. The group’s attorney is Michael Kasper, a lawyer who has close ties with many top Democratic leaders, including House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-District 22).

The group filed a lawsuit against the amendment, and Larsen blocked the amendment from appearing on the ballot.

Larsen, in her ruling, said the proposed amendment did not meet the requirements of the Illinois Constitution because it added extra duties for the state’s auditor general and Supreme Court justices. It also would allegedly take power away from the attorney general concerning remap challenges, the judge said.

Thillens criticized the ruling, saying the system squashes the will of the voters.

“It’s a shame the entrenched politicians and their insider allies would fight so hard to protect a system that’s rigged against the voters,” Thillens said in a press release. “As a state senator, I will represent the will of the voters in the 28th District. My opponent, on the other hand, is responsible to her insider allies and campaign financiers that fought the Independent Map Amendment tooth and nail.” 

Thillens said his opponent, Democratic state Sen. Laura Murphy, allegedly has taken $1,500 from Kasper’s law firm since she was appointed in October, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections website. Murphy represents all or parts of Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village, Hanover Park, Hoffman Estates, Park Ridge, Roselle and Schaumburg. It is this alleged political piggybacking that Thillens wants to fight if elected.

“’(This) ruling was a defeat for voters in Illinois,” Thillens said. “The Independent Maps Amendment would be a more impartial and fair method of drawing legislative districts. As it stands, the politicians in Springfield will continue to pick their voters, not the other way around.” 

However, the redistricting cause is not completely lost. There is still a chance of an appeal to the State Supreme Court, which is the course Independent Maps is taking. Thillens said he hopes that the court will hear the case.

"There's still a chance for the referendum to make it onto the November ballot,” Thillens said. “Hopefully, a higher court will rule in favor of the Independent Map Amendment."