Opinion: Can Chicago Leave the 19th Century Behind?

Too often it happens in Illinois that an "elected" official is not elected by citizens, but is selected in a small room by senior politicians.

It is time for Illinois and for Chicago to leave the 19th century behind; skip the 20th century; and revise the Illinois Constitution so that the People of Illinois are always the selectors of a new office-holder.

Currently about 25 states require a special election for elective-office vacancies that occur outside the election cycle. Illinois is not one of those states. 25 states allow small groups of politicians to interview and name an "elected" official after such a vacancy.

This is absurd.

At a minimum, the Illinois Constitution portion that deals with this, must be amended to require a special election in these circumstances.

Even better, Illinois can join the group of five states that have rules to minimize the need to even replace an elected-official for the circumstance of that elected official winning an election to a higher office. In those five states, you must relinquish your current position prior to running for another elected position. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Ask the ancient Greeks! :)