Chicago City Wire

Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey reminded Illinoisans about gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin's running mate who allegedly helped indicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan in his plot. 

"Here's a reminder that the Michael Madigan scandal wasn't just a Democrat one," Bailey said. "Richard Irvin's running mate, so-called Republican Avery Bourne, played a part in the scheme, sponsoring a bill in Springfield as a favor for Madigan. And the lobbyist who orchestrated it all — asking Bourne to do it, was Nancy Kimme, longtime friend and mentor to Irvin campaign manager Mike Zolnierowicz."

Bourne aided Madigan, who was the longest-serving legislative leader in the nation's history, to carry out a real estate scheme that's become the subject of his federal indictment. The 29-year-old from Raymond, now running for lieutenant governor, sponsored a bill for Madigan that was central to a scheme detailed by federal prosecutors over 106 pages last Wednesday, according to the South Central Reporter.

Prairie State Wire previously reported that, according to the state budget and lobbyist registration records, since 2015, 29 of Kimme’s clients have received 2,878 state contracts valued approximately at $17 billion. She became part of Bruce Rauner’s transition team, led by Rauner Chief of Staff Mike Zolnierowicz. Kimme mentored Zolnierowicz and Richard Goldberg on the requirements of Rauner's job and the ways of Springfield.

Madigan and former Ald. Danny Solis conspired to allow developers control over a prime piece of land in Chinatown owned by the state if they would hire Madigan’s law firm for their property tax appeals, court records showed, according to Chicago Sun-Times.

Bailey and other GOP candidates running in the gubernatorial race have committed to the upcoming WGN/Nexstar debate. While Irvin, whom Bailey dubbed "a corrupt and career Democrat" and "afraid of a televised debate," is "joining the undercard debate to dodge a prime time, televised debate" with him.

“He also knows he can't stand toe-to-toe with a conservative champion, Darren Bailey, and talk about conservative solutions for Illinois,” Bailey’s campaign stated.