Midland Daily News: McDonald Rivet censures fellow Democrat over 'shady behavior'
U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet voted Tuesday afternoon in support of a resolution to censure a fellow Democratic representative whose retirement announcement after the filing deadline left his chief of staff unopposed in the Democratic primary to replace him.
Illinois congressman Jesús “Chuy” García announced his retirement from the House in early November, citing health and family concerns. The timing of the announcement has drawn criticism, since it came after his state's Nov. 3 filing deadline for candidates and left García’s chief of staff Patty García as the only Democrat in the running to replace him.
"In mid-Michigan, we stand up for what's right, no matter what,” McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City) said in a statement. “The way Congressman García stepped aside is simply wrong. It undermines voters' voices and further diminishes Congress' credibility with the public.”
Tuesday’s vote to censure García passed 236-183-4, according to The Hill.
A fact sheet circulated by García’s office before the vote said he did not circulate petitions for any candidate other than himself in the race, and said that “anyone, at any time before the filing deadline, could have collected petitions and filed to run.”
In a speech on the House floor Monday night, García pointed to his own health, his wife’s illness and the need to look after his grandson, whom he and his wife adopted recently after the death of his daughter, as reasons behind his decision to retire.
“I hope that we can all agree on this; when a colleague chooses his family, that shouldn’t be a moment for division, it should be a moment for understanding and unity," García said.
Patty García, who is not related to the retiring congressman, denied that the maneuver was planned and said other candidates had an opportunity to file before the deadline, the Chicago Sun Times reported.
Politico reported that Jesús Garcia was the first to sign nominating petitions for Patty García.
Twenty-two other Democrats joined McDonald Rivet in censuring the Illinois congressman in a vote that proved divisive among the party.
McDonald Rivet said it is important to call out “shady behavior,” regardless of party.
"In my first year in office, one thing has become very clear: Washington is a place where insiders have been able to get special treatment over the men and women of our community who work hard every day to earn a fair shot,” McDonald Rivet said. “If we're actually going to get anything done to make things easier for working families, we need to stand up to shady behavior, no matter who does it."