North Cook News

Charles Hutchinson, who ran for the Illinois House of Representatives in District 18 during the 2024 election, spoke candidly about the lasting impact of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's corrupt legacy.

Madigan, who served as Illinois House Speaker for an unprecedented 36 years—the longest leadership term of any U.S. political leader—was convicted on Feb. 12 of 10 counts of conspiracy, bribery and wire fraud related to corrupt dealings involving the state’s largest utility, ComEd.

Hutchinson, who lost to incumbent State Rep. Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) in the November 2024 election, described Madigan's control over the Illinois political landscape as the creation of a “criminal enterprise” rather than just a culture of corruption. 

“Madigan created more than a culture of corruption,” Hutchinson told North Cook News. “Madigan created a criminal enterprise called the Democratic Party of Illinois. The only way businesses got something done in the State of Illinois was to work with the criminal enterprise, of which the head of the enterprise was Mike Madigan.” 

Madigan directly benefited financially from his law firm, Madigan & Getzendanner, the largest player in Cook County's property tax appeals business. Between 2011 and 2016, the firm appealed over $8.6 billion in commercial property assessments, securing significant reductions.

Hutchinson explained that Madigan’s influence over the state’s politics would not diminish even if he were incarcerated. 

“Madigan will continue to run the Democrat party in Illinois, even if put into jail,” he said. “No different from any other criminal enterprise where the head of ‘the family’ runs the enterprise regardless of where they lay their head at night. Corruption and crime will not change in Illinois as a result of the Madigan or (former Chicago Alderman Ed) Burke convictions.” 

Burke, who is serving a two-year sentence, also engaged in a similar tax reduction scheme as Madigan. Burke solicited work for his private law firm, Klafter & Burke, from companies involved in redevelopment projects, including the Old Main Post Office and a Burger King, with his actions described as a “shakedown” in exchange for property tax reduction services. 

Hutchinson painted a bleak picture of the state’s political system, arguing that Madigan’s actions in gerrymandering Illinois' legislative districts undermined the democratic process.

"It allowed the Democrat criminal enterprise to select the voter for the representative, not allow the voter to select their representative,” Hutchinson said. “As a result, it put Republicans into a super-minority in both chambers of the Illinois Legislature."

According to Illinois Policy, Madigan's long tenure was marked by a legacy of corruption, fiscal mismanagement, and rising state debt. Madigan, who held the position from 1983 to 2021, wielded immense political power, shaping both legislation and elections. His control over the state’s budget and pension system has resulted in the nation’s worst pension crisis and a near-junk credit rating for Illinois.

Under Madigan’s leadership, Illinois’ financial situation worsened significantly, with high taxes and massive debt driving residents out of the state. 

Hutchinson also pointed to his former opponent, Gabel, as an example of a politician who owed her career to Madigan's influence. 

“The state representative in my community is Robyn Gabel who owes her entire political career to Mike Madigan and who has been a staunch supporter of him ever since she has been in office,” he said. 

“Madigan removed her as Chair of the Human Services Committee because she could not say ‘No’ to special interest groups. He then put her into leadership as the House Majority Leader, because he could easily control her with money and loyalty.” 

Gabel has represented the 18th House District, which includes the suburbs of Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Northfield, Winnetka and Glencoe. since 2010.