Chicago City Wire

Though she’s arguing for change from the state’s political past, 15th District House candidate Amanda Biela’s recycling of a Reagan-era campaign slogan may provide the key to reaching voters with her message.

As one of several new Republican candidates focusing on making changes in Springfield, Biela took to social media to voice her campaign’s new mantra: “Are you better off than you were 47 years ago when Mike Madigan was first elected?”

In this April 25 Facebook post, she invokes the Reagan-era slogan to refer to Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-Chicago), a 22nd District General Assembly representative since 1970 and State House Speaker since 1983.

Rep. John C. D’Amico (D-Chicago)

“Mike Madigan has been in office since before I was born,” she wrote. “He's been speaker of the house since I was in first grade. He's the longest reigning speaker of the house in the nation.”

Biela attempted to discredit her Democratic incumbent opponent, John C. D’Amico (D-Chicago), by pointing out that D’Amico supported Madigan’s recent successful bid to retain his speakership.

“My opponent, John D’Amico, voted yet again to re-elect him to lead our legislation,” she continued. “Are you better off than you were 35 years ago when Mike Madigan was first elected speaker?”

In an e-mail interview with the Chicago City Wire, Biela said her emphasis on Madigan’s long and arguably unsatisfactory (to some) tenure reflects what she hears on the stump.

“As I knock on doors and talk with constituents, you constantly hear that people are fed up with Madigan and his machine,” she said. “They know it’s time for a change, but often don’t think they have a voice.”

Biela, who earned a master’s degree in social sciences from the University of Chicago, comes to politics from a teaching career. Her Ballotpedia.org bio says she taught at Chicago’s Curie Metropolitan High School before serving as a director at Chicago Youth Programs at Washington Park.

“I’m not surprised at all that my opponent John D'Amico would vote for (Madigan),” she continued. “He's a cog in the Madigan machine.  He votes lock-step with him and would never defy him because he benefits from that relationship (financially and politically), even if his constituents don't.”

Biela may be hoping that her membership in the opposition party will appeal to voters because she has no ties to the so-called Madigan machine.

“I'm not running to earn a place in (the) political machine; I'm running to serve the people,” she said in the interview. “My only allegiance would be to the constituents of my district and the state of Illinois.”

If she’s elected, Biela plans a two-phase strategy of opposing the Democrats.

“I would hold Madigan accountable with my vote in the legislature and also my voice, getting the word about all ill-advised legislation that Madigan and the Democrats try to push through,” she said.

Optimistic that new Democrat candidates may be tiring of the Madigan era, Biela suggests a vote for her campaign would help turn the tide against entrenched policies and politicians.

“Thirty-five years is too long for one person to be in charge – no matter the party,” she said.