UPDATED: Senator Andy Manar Resigning to Join Pritzker Administration
State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) is resigning from the Senate and joining the Pritzker Administration as Senior Advisor.
One of the most prominent downstate Democratic legislators is resigning to join the administration of Governor JB Pritzker.
Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker HIll) was elected to the Senate in 2012 after serving as Chief of Staff to then-Senate President John Cullerton. He won a contentious race in 2012 and was re-elected in 2014 and 2018. Manar was left on the outside looking in when he backed Kimberly Lightford for Senate President instead of eventual winner Don Harmon.
Manar’s resignation is effective January 17, and just moments after his resignation was revealed, Governor JB Pritzker’s office announced Manar will join the administration as a Senior Advisor to the Governor.
“Andy has been one of the most thoughtful and successful lawmakers of his generation, and he will be a trusted advisor,” said Pritzker in a statement released Monday. “I value his insights and look forward to him joining my administration as we overcome this pandemic and rebuild Illinois together.”
Manar has been credited as a leading budget negotiator for Senate Democrats and was praised by Democrats and teachers unions for a change to the state’s education funding formula. Though, Republicans criticized the legislation as a bailout for Chicago Public Schools.
Manar, 45, represents a closely split district downstate that includes conservative rural areas and more liberal blocks of voters in Springfield and Decatur.
He will likely receive a salary bump, and eventual pension bump, for joining the administration. The Governor’s office did not respond to our question about Manar’s salary, though it is likely he will make more than the around $68,000 a year a member of the Senate makes.
There are no clear leaders for the appointment to replace Manar for the next two years. One Democratic House member, Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) lives in Manar’s district, though we’re told she’s unlikely to seek the appointment. The district will be redrawn ahead of the 2022 election.
(Disclosure: I consulted on a campaign against Manar in 2018.)
UPDATED (4:32 P.M.):
Former AFL-CIO Chief Mike Carrigan, who now sits on the Illinois Commerce Commission, will not seek the appointment to Manar’s seat. “Absolutely not,” I’m told.
UPDATED (6:12 P.M.):
A spokesperson for Governor JB Pritzker did not return our message, but the Chicago Tribune reports Manar will be paid $278,000 per year. Half from the state and half from the billionaire Governor.
