Lipinski To Be Replace By Lipinski

By vouchey in News on Aug 13, 2004 10:41PM

After months of whispers that he was planning to do so, Southwest Side Congressman William Lipinski announced today that he will resign his ballot position for reelection, and then retire from Congress at the end of his term. His replacement? None other than his son, and University of Tennessee political science professor, Daniel Lipinski.

Rep. Lipinski has pulled off an incredible bit of jujitsu. By timing his announcement for today, it is too late for a special election, too late for a primary challenge, and likely that many voters will vote "Lipinski" thinking that they're voting for the dad, rather than the son. To get Daniel on the ballot, Rep. Lipinski needs the approval of the Democratic Committeemen -- of which he is one, and Illinois House Speaker (and long-time Lipinski friend) Mike Madigan is another. But this doesn't preclude Dan Lipinski being challenged in the 2006 Democratic primary, or a serious Republican opponent in the 2006 general election.

Rep. Lipinski, once a Chicago Park District employee, then an Alderman, and a Congressman since 1983, has risen through the ranks to bring home a great deal of Illinois' transportation bacon. The ranking member of the House Transportation Committee, Lipinski can be generally thanked for the Orange Line, the Midway Airport rennovation, significant expansion of Metra, and the recent rebuilding of the Stevenson Expressway (most of which runs through his district, by the way).

Chicago will miss him in a tangible way. Oh, and that woman in the picture next to him? That's figure skater Tara Lipinski. No relation. Just couldn't find a picture of Prof. Daniel Lipinski.