Sen. Dan Rutherford said this morning that even though there are many calls for Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign he does not believe it will happen.
The calls for resignation are following the disclosure on
Tuesday of federal charges against the governor and his
subsequent arrest on the charges.
“I believe a resignation by the governor is probably
unlikely because it would not be his style,” said
Rutherford, R-Chenoa, in an exclusive interview with The
Daily Leader. “I think his resignation would be unlikely at
the present time.”
“It would be in the best interest of the citizens of
Illinois that Gov. Blagojevich realize his ability to govern
our state is absolute zero,” he said.
When asked if the Illinois House of Representatives should
begin impeachment procedures against Blagojevich, the
senator said he would not have a comment at this time.
“I have not made any declaration on this issue because, if
he were impeached, as a member of the Senate I would be on
the jury,” said Rutherford. “An impeachment procedure will
need to be looked at very judiciously.”
He explained that the new General Assembly will be sworn in
on Jan. 14.
“I don’t know if there would be time to begin these
proceedings under the auspices of the current General
Assembly and have them finished by the January date,” he
said. “I think it will be studied in the next few days to
determine if impeachment procedures would be best initiated
after the middle of January.”
In the meantime the senator said Blagojevich can just keep
on governing until some other action is taken.
Rutherford said he wants the issue of a special election, to
replace President-elect Barack Obama’s seat in the U.S.
Senate, thought through very carefully.
“There are so many types of different special elections that
could be held. These include an open primary and other
factors and choices. If this is the route the state takes
then I want it to be thoroughly studied before any action is
taken,” he said.
Rutherford discussed the pending closing of Pontiac
Correctional Center and whether or not that may be
postponed, even temporarily in light of the charges against
the governor and the possibility of a new governor for the
state.
“I have long been concerned that decisions which come from
Governor Blagojevich are made without legitimate
consideration for sound public policy,” said Rutherford. “In
light of the recent federal charges against the governor,
Director Roger Walker of the Illinois Department of
Corrections should step forward and take some true
leadership and suspend the plan to close PCC.
“It is obvious to me that when the Governor of the State of
Illinois and his chief of staff are both charged with
conspiracy, it’s time for the agency director to step
forward and do what is right with regards to PCC.”
Rutherford said he still believes that everyone involved in
trying to keep PCC open must continue the fight. “As I
have said from the beginning when Blagojevich announced he
would close PCC – I will do everything possible to keep PCC
open and do it in a legal and ethical manner,” said
Rutherford. “Ultimately I believe this will bear out to be
the right way to have done it.”