The Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday voted unanimously to inaugurate Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) as the new House Minority Leader.  Durkin had his wife, Celeste, and daughter, Caroline, at his side on the House Floor when the vote was taken. 

“It’s an honor to have been selected by my peers to serve as House Republican Leader.  It is an awesome responsibility. I am thankful they put their faith in me and that we have come together as a unified caucus,” said Durkin.  “I am proud my family could join me. The support I’ve received from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle has been overwhelming - working together we can get Illinois back on track.”

Earlier in the summer, the members of the House Republican Caucus voted unanimously to name Durkin as the new House Republican Leader to fill the spot being vacated by Tom Cross.  Under official House Rules, the appointment could not be formalized until the Illinois House reconvened and a vote was taken by a quorum of the entire body.

“Illinois is a great state and I’m proud to call it home.  As a husband, father, and taxpayer, I am worried about the direction we are going and will work hard to find ways to solve our fiscal crisis, grow jobs and keep taxes under control,” said Durkin.