Former Rep. Pappas Replaces Cullerton in House
Sen. Diane Pappas (D-Itasca) was appointed to replace former Sen. Tom Cullerton, who resigned and pleaded guilty to embezzlement charges.
Former Rep. Diane Pappas, who was defeated for re-election in 2020, has been appointed to replaced disgraced former Sen. Tom Cullerton.
Pappas, of Itasca, doesn’t appear to be organizing petitions to file for the new 24th District Monday, but alluded to the Daily Herald she would be open to being slated to the ballot if no other Democrat files.
With just a month left in the scheduled session, local Democrats have named former state Rep. Diane Pappas to replace disgraced state Sen. Tom Cullerton in the 23rd District.
Cullerton resigned earlier this month and on Tuesday pleaded guilty to a federal embezzlement charge related to no-work payments he was accused of receiving from the Teamsters union.
Pappas, who served one term as a state representative, said Thursday she was a logical choice to replace Cullerton because her experience will enable her to quickly get up to speed in the short time left in the session.
"This is by far the most stressful and the busiest time in session, and it's really hard to throw someone in there who's never done this before," she said.
Democratic Party leaders from the townships that make up the 23rd District voted over Zoom Wednesday to select Pappas from a field of five candidates.
She said she has not circulated petitions for the June 28 primary but could be interested if a seat that would require Democratic Party officials to choose the candidate becomes available, a possibility in the newly drawn 24th District.
If Pappas does wind up slated for the November ballot, she would likely face a rematch with the Republican who unseated her in 2020. Rep. Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett), is seeking the new 24th Senate seat after being drawn into a House primary during redistricting.