Rickey Hendon Retires: 'Hollywood' To Step Down After 18 Years, Following Mayoral Election

One of the most charismatic figures in Illinois politics announced his retirement suddenly on Thursday afternoon. Rickey Hendon will step down after 18 years in the state legislature.

Hendon, the state senator from the 5th District, representing Chicago's South Side, appears to be retiring out of frustration with the results of Chicago's mayoral election on Tuesday. Carol Moseley Braun, the "consensus" black candidate, came in a disappointing fourth place, while Rahm Emanuel won strong support from the black community.

"Tuesday was a Black political disaster! I can't take it anymore," Hendon said via text message, according to NBC Chicago.

Among legislative circles, Hendon was known as "Hollywood" for his outspoken and colorful nature. Characteristically, he made the news during the November election cycle for describing Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady as an "idiotic, racist, sexist, homophobic person."

He also gave one of the most impassioned defenses of gay rights during the Illinois legislature's debate of a law allowing civil unions, which ultimately passed. "It's just fairness, y'all. That's all," Hendon said.

The senator was himself briefly a candidate for Chicago mayor after the retirement of Richard M. Daley. Describing the grass-roots candidacy he planned to mount, Hendon said, "I'm like the black Sarah Palin." But he withdrew from the contest and instead decided to lend his support to a single consensus candidate. African-American community leaders settled on Braun, but a poorly-run campaign and some high-profile gaffes cost her much of the black vote.

Federal subpoenas from August of last year implicated associates of Hendon in an investigation of misappropriated grant funds, but after a recent conversation with Hendon, Rich Miller of the Capitol Fax said "he appeared wholly unconcerned" about the investigation.

In a resignation letter to Senate President John Cullerton, Hendon wrote, "As much as I have enjoyed working with you and all of my fellow Senators I have decided to call it a day and retire from this wonderful institution."

Comments

[wakeup804]

09:47 AM on 02/26/2011

A disaster because people voted for who they thought to be the best candidate...........people should not be allowed to be career politicians........thinking it is your right to hold public office does strange things to people.........term limits for every elected office.

[eddudley]

09:15 AM on 02/26/2011

That's what happens when a leader leads for too long (18 years)! Peole start thinking they've had enough of and it's time for change. Of course, any outgoing political figure has to blame it on someone else. We have accepted just about anyone in politics to represent us. I personally like to see someone with better writing skills, speaking dialect, and overall knowledge than myself in there but I understand that politicians are supposed to be a mirror of society. A flashy dresser and a sharp tounge does not make a great leader.

[Dionita]

10:28 AM on 02/25/2011

It’s called DEMOCRACY. Just like Aretha told Fantasia, “Get over it.” Black people can vote for which ever LEADER they want to vote for whatever that person’s ethnicity. Leading is what Mr. Hendon did for 18 years. So if he wants to quit now rather than stay and continue to fight for the people who elected HIM so many times, then, “So be it."

[wakeup804]

09:50 AM on 02/26/2011

Only a fool votes for a candidate, any candidate because they look like them........voting should not be a popularity contest........you hopefully vote for the candidate with the most sense......one who will work for your interests...however, judging by the people we see getting elected to office as of late, SOME people don't get that.......

[Darjmar]

09:41 AM on 02/25/2011

If CMB had come in at a position any higher than 4th, THAT would have been a disappointment.

[mamala4]

09:31 AM on 02/25/2011

People should vote for people...not whites only voting for whites, or Asians voting for Asians...intelligent people vote for people based on qualifications...

[Aldyth]

08:10 AM on 02/25/2011

Are people only supposed to vote for candidates of their own racial or ethnic group? I didn't know that.

To think that I voted for Barack Obama instead of McCain.

[Hallywood]

07:36 AM on 02/25/2011

I AM SO GLAD RICKY IS GONE!!! HE WAS NEVER FOR TRANSIT, MORE LIES AND GARBAGE!!!! WHEREVER U GO TAKE CAROL,WITH YOU, SHE IS A DIS GRASS, EVEN TO HER RACE, SHE WAS IN IT FOR HERSELF NOT THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO, I BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH, EMANUEL WILL BRING POSITIVE CHANGE TO CHICAGO!!! WE THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN , AND EMANUEL IS THE MAN WITH A PLAN,

[Aldyth]

08:07 AM on 02/25/2011

No need to shout, we hear you.

[JQP 1970]

10:12 AM on 02/25/2011

Calm down. Have some dip.

[Morena]

07:02 AM on 02/25/2011

I'm not familiar with this guy, but he seems like a character:

"He also gave one of the most impassioned defenses of gay rights during the Illinois legislature's debate of a law allowing civil unions, which ultimately passed. "It's just fairness, y'all. That's all," Hendon said."

"Hendon said, "I'm like the black Sarah Palin."

[greenie 61]

12:11 PM on 02/26/2011

yeah, I don't get that, does he actually think that would make him more endearing to us?

[Howard53545]

06:46 AM on 02/25/2011

Bye Hollywood, maybe your home boy Obama will give you a gig, but I forgot, you punched him out.

[Howard53545]

06:40 AM on 02/25/2011

Blacks voting for a Zionist, now that is a disaster!

[mamala4]

09:30 AM on 02/25/2011

How do you spell your name? B.ig.ot

[builderman55]

04:38 AM on 02/25/2011

It is actually heartening that Black Americans feel confident enough in the ability of White politicians to support them when they are seen as the best candidate. Obama could not have been elected without millions of White votes, why not the other way around. It is a sign of progress, especially when someone ru s as poor of a campaign as Braun did...

[Morena]

06:53 AM on 02/25/2011

"It is actually heartening that black Americans feel confident enough in the ability of White politician­s..."

You can't be serious! What's so new about that scenario? Black Americans have been doing this since they could vote. Countless white politicians couldn't win countless elections without the black American vote.

[Morena]

06:57 AM on 02/25/2011

I forgot to add the revers scenario, is what's new. And rare even so.

[RobJames]

03:56 AM on 02/25/2011

He is the black Sarah Palin. He quit midterm.

[ShadowLurker]

03:51 AM on 02/25/2011

If African-American citizens of our great city vote for someone who happens to be NOT African-American, this is a 'disaster'?

How about 'freedom'?

When I voted for Senator and President Obama, I did so as a white man. Was this any different? I believed in the man, not his skin color.

[AllowMeToObserve]

02:05 AM on 02/25/2011

Showboating. He's not going anywhere.

[donbrown]

01:37 AM on 02/25/2011

As an outsider, I would recommend to the black community in Chicago that before they settle on a "consensus candidate" they make sure that candidate is the best and brightest they have.

I don't know who decided Ms. Braun was their "best and brightest", but obvious they were dead wrong. If you believe that the black community should rally around a candidate ONLY because he/she shares your ethnicity that is also a dead end.

I would recommend that next time you rally around a candidate with impeccable credentials, brains, integrity, honesty, and the ability to get things done in a way that doesn't alienate.

Mr. Obama's doing other things. Find another one.

[mamala4]

09:33 AM on 02/25/2011

You are so right...CMB was my senator for 6 years and at best, she was an embarrassment and incompetent...she had as much chance winning the mayoral race in here Chicago as Sarah Palin has at winning the WH...NONE!

[msdarrla]

01:33 PM on 02/25/2011

As you can see by the election returns - No One in this city settled for a consensus Black candidate, except for the group that picked her (CMB). And we did rally around a candidate with all the attributes you refer to in your post...Rahm Emanuel.

From an insider - Chicago born & raised.