Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens will now juggle two jobs after being sworn in to a state House seat Saturday morning.
Stephens, who is in his third mayoral term for the village, was unanimously chosen to fill the vacancy created by Rep. Michael McAuliffe to oversee the 20th legislative district, which includes portions of Rosemont, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Niles, Schiller Park and Chicago’s Northwest Side.
McAuliffe, the only Republican in the Illinois House from Chicago, resigned recently after serving as the district’s representative for 46 years.
Stephens told the Chicago Sun-Times he would continue to hold his mayorship, as well as the House seat, in a rare, but legal, political move.
Now pulling double duty, Stephens will also draw double salaries. As mayor, Stephens earns $260,000 per year. As a legislator, he will earn $69,000 per year.
The Saturday swearing-in ceremony was the second political boost to happen in as many days in the state legislature.
Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, is now Sen. Robert Martwick — he takes the place of Sen. John Mulroe, now a Cook County judge.
In a statement, Stephens called the new role “an honor and a humbling experience to be selected to serve my neighbors as State Representative for the 20th legislative district.
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin welcomed Stephens to the GOP caucus and said in a statement he “would be a valuable addition.”
Contributing: Daily Herald
