During Renovation, Harmon Moves McConchie from ADA Compliant Office
During Statehouse renovations, Senate Republican Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) has been moved out of his statehouse office and replaced by Senate President Don Harmon after the state spent thousands of dollars retrofitting the office for McConchie, who uses a wheelchair. Some Republicans are complaining at the added expense of retrofitting another statehouse office for McConchie when Harmon could have chosen another location in the building.
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Some Republican lawmakers are upset Senate GOP Leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) lost his Statehouse office as part of ongoing Capitol renovations. We’re told the state had spent potentially “tens of thousands” of dollars to make the office on the third floor of the Capitol American with Disabilities Act compliant for McConchie, who uses a wheelchair.
But others vent the move is “senseless” and “petty” because another Capitol office had to be retrofitted for McConchie at significant cost and that McConchie’s office was clamed by Senate President Don Harmon himself.
I had an unrelated conversation yesterday on WMAY with Architect of the Capitol Andrea Aggertt, who is overseeing a $250 million renovation project underway at the Statehouse. While much of the work is focused on the North Wing of the building, there is significant work planned in and around the Senate chamber, forcing many Senate Democrats to move their offices.
“We’re redoing the stairs, and for us to occupy the Senate chamber, and to have a crowd full of people and the legislature back in town, we’ve gotta [be able to] safely get them out of the building. With construction going on, we just can’t do that,” Aggertt said.
The Senate will hold its session in the auditorium of the Michael J. Howlett Building next door to the Capitol until early 2025.
McConchie’s office confirmed he has been relocated to another office on the first floor of the Capitol building. Sources say the state had to spend thousands to make his new office ADA accessible.
Some Republicans are frustrated with Harmon’s move to take McConchie’s office and the additional cost that came along.
“It’s senseless, not to mention petty,” said Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet). “It’s a waste of taxpayer money.”
Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) says he believes members may have pressured Harmon to keep his presence in the Capitol, even if it meant additional cost.
“I would like to think I would have made a different decision,” Wilcox said. “But powerful positions, difficult choices. Character truly shows itself and that’s not always in a fanciful and elegant way.”
A spokesperson for McConchie decline comment to The Illinoize. A spokesperson for Harmon could not be reached for comment.
