Arroyo successor calls challenge to her appointment ‘purely political’ — but rival dubs process ‘rigged and corrupt’

The challenge to the appointment of criminally charged former Rep. Luis Arroyo’s successor — chosen with the help of Arroyo’s votes — picked up some steam on Tuesday with a preliminary meeting scheduled for next week and the naming of a panel chairman who vowed to help restore “trust and confidence in our General Assembly.”

State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, will lead the qualifications challenge committee tasked with evaluating complaints related to the appointment of state Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado, whom Democratic leaders chose to replace Arroyo last fall after disregarding warnings to exclude Arroyo’s proxy votes from the selection process.

“It’s no secret that in recent months, bad actors in government have publicly marred the efforts of all legislators who serve with integrity. Restoring trust and confidence in our General Assembly demands we recommit ourselves to our fundamental belief in fairness and justice for all, free of bias or partisan influence,” Welch said in a statement.

Delgado said in a statement that her appointment “followed the law every step of the way, and I am confident that my qualifications as an attorney, community leader and experience in the public and private sectors will withstand any challenge.”

“The objections to my selection are purely political,” the statement continued. “The objections do not even attempt to state a legal basis to challenge my selection. ... While I remain disheartened that political agendas continue to drive outcomes in the General Assembly, I look forward to working with Representative Welch and members of the committee to bring this to a resolution.”

The committee will be formed to hear the challenges filed by Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin and Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, against Delgado’s qualifications. In his challenge, Durkin called for a “clean break” from Arroyo.

Rich Hein/Sun-Times

“A clean break from the arrested legislator is required to re-establish the General Assembly’s trust with its constituents,” Durkin wrote in his letter challenging Delgado. “Had the votes of Mr. Arroyo not been part of the selection process, this appointment would not be called into question.”

Reps. Patrick Windhorst, R-Metropolis, Avery Bourne, R-Raymond, John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, and Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, will serve on the committee, a Durkin spokeswoman said.

Delgado was appointed to the seat in November after Arroyo was hit with a federal bribery charge. She is poised to finish out the rest of Arroyo’s term until the winner of this year’s election can be sworn in next January. Delgado faces CPS teacher Nidia Carranza in the Democratic primary.

In a statement, Carranza said she applauds the “creation of a committee to investigate the appointment of corporate lobbyist” Delgado.

Rich Hein/Sun-Times

“From the outset, I denounced the appointment process as rigged and corrupt — exactly the opposite of what the working people of the 3rd District deserve,” Carranza said. “The appointment allowed the allies of Luis Arroyo, who has been charged with bribery in federal court, to hand-pick his successor.

“My opponent was not only silent about the obvious ethical concerns surrounding this process, but put her own ambitions ahead of the good of the 3rd District to accept the position. Enough is enough. We don’t need another lobbyist engaging in pay-to-play politics in Springfield. Fortunately, the voters will have their say on March 17,” Carranza’s statement reads.

Democratic ward committeepersons representing parts of the House district made the appointment at a November meeting that sparked an uproar. Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa, who’s also the 35th Ward committeeperson, walked out of the meeting after declaring “the fix is in.”

Even before the ward committeepersons met, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan warned them that “any involvement” by Arroyo’s 36th Ward organization “whether a direct vote or a vote by proxy would cause the candidate’s qualifications to be challenged by the full Illinois House of Representatives.”

But the ward bosses didn’t heed that warning, and Ald. Ariel Reboyras (30th) served as Arroyo’s proxy, casting the 36th Ward votes and his own for Delgado.

The qualifications committee will meet next Tuesday to establish rules and the process for moving forward.