Marron Expected to Resign for Economic Development Job
Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian) is expected to be named President & CEO of Vermilion Advantage, a Danville-based economic development agency.
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Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian), who has already announced he won’t seek re-election next year is expected to resign by the end of the year to take a local economic development job, multiple sources tell The Illinoize.
Marron is expected to be named President & CEO of Vermilion Advantage, a local economic development organization.
Marron, who was first appointed to the House in 2018, is one of seven House Republicans who represent districts won by President Biden in 2020. His district stretches from southwest Champaign to Danville and has trended more Democratic in recent years. Governor Pritzker won the district by a little over a point last year.
He did not return messages from The Illinoize Monday.
“It’s the worst kept secret in Vermilion County,” one insider said Monday.
Marron announced in July he wouldn’t seek re-election in 2024, leading to a struggle for both House Democrats and House Republicans to find a top tier candidate for the seat next year. Democrats have recruited union electrician and community college board member Jarrett Clem to run for the seat. Republicans appear to have a two-way primary shaping up (more on that below).
We’re told Marron prefers Legislative Assistant Marguerite Bailey for the post, though there may be dividing lines between Champaign and Vermilion County forces in the appointment process. Bailey lives in Champaign County and, we’re told, has the support of Champaign County’s GOP Chair, who can essentially make the appointment himself.
There has been a division between Champaign and Vermilion County Republicans over legislative seats since at least 2002 when then-Rep. Rick Winkel of Urbana beat then-Sen. Judy Myers of Danville in a GOP primary after a remap.
No time frame has been settled for Marron’s departure, though it is likely his replacement will be in place when the legislature returns to Springfield in January.