Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton has given notice of retirement and will begin taking paid leave at the end of August.
His notice of retirement, effective Nov. 27, comes at a time when the city is leaving two of four deputy chief positions vacant in anticipation of a restructuring of the command positions in the police department.
“It’s in the best interest of the police department, and the city as a whole, for a new chief to come in and move forward with his command staff,” Benton said. “I anticipate another deputy chief retiring in the coming months. I don’t know if it’s fair for me to pick these three positions if they’re going to be there for another chief moving forward.”
Benton is only 49 but said he will become eligible for retirement when he turns 50 in November.
The pressures of the job and time away from his family were factors in his decision to retire, Benton said.
“It’s a very stressful job,” he said. “There’s a lot of pressure that most people wouldn’t realize when they aren’t in it.”
His notice of retirement came a day after a request to fill one of two vacant deputy chief positions was pulled off the agenda for a meeting in which the City Council was to vote on the matter.
City Manager David Hales said he does not want to fill the two vacancies until the city resolves a dispute with the police supervisors union that could lead to the elimination of four captain positions.
Deputy Chief of Administration Tab Jensen retired in July, and Deputy Chief of Technical Services Brian Dupuis retired earlier this year.
The deputy chief structure was created in 2014 under Benton. Also appointed at the time were Deputy Chief of Operations Al Roechner and Deputy Chief of Investigations Ed Gregory, who remain on the job.
Benton said that a number of people in key positions in the police department are reaching retirement age, and he believes it best for a new chief to be in place if those positions open up.
Although Benton’s official retirement date is Nov. 27, he will begin taking paid leave at the end of August, Hales said. Benton said he will assist in the transition, but he may no longer effectively be leading the department by September.
“The immediate task is to work on naming an interim chief,” Hales said.
Hales and Mayor Bob O’Dekirk met Thursday to begin discussing the process of hiring a new police chief. The process will have community involvement in some form, he said.
“We want a very engaged process with opportunities for the entire community to give input,” Hales said.
He called Benton “a consummate professional.”
“[Benton] has a passion for moving forward to continuously improve how law enforcement is delivered and recognizes, especially these days, how important it is to have relationships with all members of the community,” Hales said.
O’Dekirk commended Benton for his leadership during a time when police departments have come under fire in many communities.
“It’s been a very difficult time for law enforcement all over the country,” O’Dekirk said. “He’s done a good job leading the department.”
Benton emphasized community outreach in the department.
“I am very proud of the relationships that I have helped foster in our community, especially in some of our underserved communities,” Benton said.
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies presented Joliet police with an Accreditation with Excellence Award in July, the second consecutive time the department received it under Benton.
Dodge calls for consolidation, saving millions Illinois State Treasurer candidate Jim Dodge and Comptroller candidate Darlene Senger called for consolidating the offices they are seeking, the move will save taxpayers an estimated $12-$14 million per year. Dodge’s Democrat opponent challenged the savings estimate until confronted with previous interviews where he confirmed Dodge’s figures. House Speaker Mike Madigan and the Democrat leadership in Springfield has consistently refused to let consolidation come to a vote.
“I will be a tireless advocate for taxpayers as treasurer,” said Jim Dodge. “My opponent’s silence has been deafening when issues of saving taxpayers money arises.”
By: Alex Anderson It was a solid show of support yesterday Sunday, August 5th, 2018 at the Shorewood parade. Republican candidates and supporters alike took to the streets at around 12:15pm. For the first time all year, there were 4 statewide candidates and a lot of well know republican elected officials walking as a team. Republican candidate for Attorney General Erika Harold, Candidate Jim Dodge for State Treasurer, Darlene Sanger for Comptroller, and Jason Helland for Secretary of the state were all out and talking to voters.
With November right around the corner, it's only fitting that you see these guys working harder and harder! For the first time ever in Illinois, the governor's race has topped a quarter billion in spending and every day we are seeing more and more coming out. Now more than ever these candidates need to build name ID and resonate with voters if they hope to win in the November Elections.
Also in attendance was State Representative Mark Batnick, Judge Ben Braun, Candidate Alyssia Benford for State Representative, Judge Victoria Kennison, Candidate for County Clerk Laurie McPhillips and The Will County Young Republicans had a team of newly elected members out including Christian Carry Secretary, Matt Wiley Tressure and Brandon Harris Director of Communications. The Will County Young Republicans have made an effort to rebuild the team in 2018 helping reunify the Republican party in Will County as a whole!
For the first time in 6 years Will County Young Republicans host special election to revive organization
By:Alex Anderson
Cornel Darden Jr 33, of Shorewood, IL a Republican was appointed President of the Will County Young Republicans today! As the Young Republicans have not had newly appointed or elected leadership since 2012 this is a major move for the local party.
Cornel Darden, Jr has a Masters degree in information science and he has been involved with the local community for 15 years. His tenure includes time as a College professor at Kennedy-King College, South Suburban College, and Joliet Junior College.
With aspirations of growing the local party to over 100 members Mr. Darden, Jr has a task ahead of him. Along side Darden, Jr also elected was Chris Lang 27, of Joliet as Vice President, Christian Cary 22, of Bolingbrook as , Secretary, Matt Wylie 28, of Joliet, and Brandon Harris 28, of Joliet as Information Officer.
As Cornel Darden Jr and his young team moves forward they will continue to develop more and more ground. With this season's election cycle in front of this young and focused team they are sure to have a lot on their hands.
As a team this young group of individuals is headed on a mission to regain positions county wide through this election cycle with a group effort. If you or anyone you know would like to join this organization contact the Young Republicans at click here and request a meeting schedule.
Morning Spin: Trump will visit Illinois steel plant today
Gov. Bruce Rauner won’t be on hand, noting this week that he appeared in Granite City a week ago to veto legislation that would have required the city's mayor be named to a local flood-control agency. The governor appeared with Vice President Mike Pence this month, embracing the White House despite spending much of his term avoiding saying Trump’s name.
Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday needled Rauner over his decision to avoid Trump during his visit, saying “this governor seems to want to play both sides of the issue.”
But Trump will be joined by U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, a Murphysboro Republican who is locked in a competitive re-election bid against Democrat Brendan Kelly, the St. Clair County state’s attorney.
“Looking forward to joining @POTUS in Granite City to celebrate return of 800 steel jobs,” Bost tweeted. “Pres. (Ronald) Reagan came to our neck of the woods 30 years ago & we’re still talking about it in S. Illinois. Have a feeling folks heading back to work will talk about this visit 30 years from now.”
In a statement about Trump’s visit, Kelly doesn’t criticize the president by name. After all, Trump won many southern Illinois counties that comprise the 12th Congressional District where Kelly is taking on Bost.
“Our country is deeply divided right now, but we should all agree it’s a good thing to see steelworkers in Granite City getting back to work,” Kelly said in a statement. “It’s right to confront China’s cheating on steel, but disconnected trade policies like Fast Track that Mike Bost supports have done a lot of damage in Southern Illinois.”
Trump, meanwhile, appeared with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at the White House on Wednesday, when the president said “we also will resolve the steel and aluminum tariff issues, and we will resolve retaliatory tariffs.” (Monique Garcia)
What’s on tap
*Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s schedule wasn’t available.
*Gov. Bruce Rauner will tour businesses in Itasca and Machesney Park, and he’ll act on tax credit legislation in Peoria.
*Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam and Democratic challenger Sean Casten will debate on Fox 32 at 10 p.m. It will be streamed live on the station’s website and Facebook page at 6 p.m.
From the notebook
*Election security: Illinois’ entire U.S. House delegation has asked federal officials for a briefing about election security, given that the state was a “major target” of Russian hackers in the 2016 election. Read more here.
*Emanuel doesn’t engage on Wilson: Mayor Emanuel pointedly declined Wednesday to weigh in on mayoral challenger Willie Wilson’s weekend event where he passed out thousands of dollars in cash to people at a South Side church.
Asked about the Sunday event at the New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church where the Wilson campaign said he handed out nearly $40,000 in personal cash to help people with various expenses, Emanuel first made a joke: “(My wife) Amy says ‘Why don’t you do that at home here?’”
But then he stepped away from the controversy: “You don’t need me to comment on something because a picture’s worth a thousand words, it speaks for itself.”
On Wednesday, Ald. Ed Burke, 14th, introduced a resolution at the City Council meeting, calling on the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. attorney to investigate whether the money giveaway violated campaign finance laws that prohibit purchasing votes. The resolution notes repeatedly that Gov. Rauner was with Wilson at the event and that the governor contributed money to a fund Wilson set up to help people pay their property taxes.
Rauner on Monday said he gave Wilson, a friend of his, $100,000 last year and an additional $100,000 "in the last month or two" to help struggling families pay their property taxes but did not approve of Wilson handing out cash at the church. Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker said on Wednesday that Rauner is “obviously aligning himself with people that are handing money out at churches.” (John Byrne, Monique Garcia)
*Da fundraiser: Legendary former Bears head coach Mike Ditka is headlining a fundraiser for a Republican state House candidate in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.
Ditka is helping Jillian Rose Bernas at an Aug. 9 fundraiser, according to an email alert from the Chicago Young Republicans. She’s running against Democratic state Rep. Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg.
Bernas is a Schaumburg Township District Library Trustee and previously worked at the U.S. embassy in Chile, according to her campaign website.
Ditka considered entering the political fray as a Republican U.S. Senate candidate in the 2004 campaign, but ultimately did not.
*Puerto Rico trip: Democratic U.S. Reps. Luis Gutierrez of Chicago and Robin Kelly of Matteson will be in a delegation to Puerto Rico led by House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. The trip starts Thursday.
Candidates for Illinois comptroller and treasurer want to merge the offices, effectively putting one of them out of a job if they were both elected.
Darlene Senger, Republican candidate for comptroller, and Jim Dodge, a Republican looking to unseat Treasurer Michael Frerichs, say the state should merge their offices.
“Illinois is facing a budget shortfall and a politician surplus,” a joint statement from the two candidates says. “We urge the legislature to save taxpayer dollars by consolidating the offices of Treasurer and Comptroller.”
The Illinois Constitution would have to be changed to merge the offices. Senger and Dodge want to press the issue so lawmakers pass a constitutional amendment that would then be on the subsequent statewide ballot.
A spokesman for comptroller Susana Mendoza says the Republicans’ estimation of $12 million in savings isn’t accurate.
“The framers of the state constitution were familiar with the potential for corruption in having one officer in charge of receiving money, investing it and paying it out,” the spokesman, Abdon Pallasch, said. “That's because Orville Hodge embezzled $6 million in state funds in the '50's. That's $57 million in today's money – far more than the phony projected savings number.”
Senger said claims that the offices were separated to ward off corruption doesn’t make sense considering the technology that’s available to keep track of money.
“Everything’s online,” she said. “Things are now done with computers that will make sure that you’re doing things accurately.”
The Illinois state Senate voted to place the question of consolidation on the ballot in the 2014 election in 2012. Frerichs voted to put a consolidation measure on the ballot when he was a state senator. The measure never passed the House.
“We shouldn’t feel comfortable asking Illinois taxpayers to tighten their belts and hand over more of their hard-earned money when political leaders in Springfield aren’t willing to do the same thing,” Senger said.
A spokesman from Frerichs' office says the treasurer still supports evaluating the proposal but still has yet to see an explanation for the savings Senger and Dodge say are possible."In 2015, we reached out to the Comptroller Munger’s office to discuss such an evaluation," said Greg Rivara. "There was no response."
Illinois is one of only a handful of states to have both a comptroller and a treasurer as elected officials, Senger said. Many states have a “chief financial officer” position within the governor’s office. Mendoza has publicly clashed with Gov. Bruce Rauner over managing of Illinois’ debt, successfully pushing for multiple transparency measures that the governor’s office opposed.
(PS) Late Thursday evening former Joliet City Councilman Jim McFarland was found guilty of DUI charges. McFarland resigned from his elected seat as city councilman in 2016. After 3 1/2 hours of deliberations the jury reached a unanimous verdict of " Guilty".
As of Thursday evening it was stated by the Will County States Attorney that this now makes DUI number two for McFarland. The first DUI was not in Will County but this charge may massively effect McFarland's driving and criminal record.
The Will County States Attorneys spokesman Chuck Pelkie stated that due to this being McFarland's second DUI he would not be eligible for court supervision. McFarland faces up to 240 hours of community service, 5 days in jail, fines and his licence will be revoked for 1 year at the end of which he will have to appeal to the secretary of states board to re en state his licence.
(PS) Hours after Republican State Senator Sam McCann announces his run for office, Governor Bruce Rauner's campaign is back with the same old song and dance. Having spent less than 30 seconds on running a sort google search, I stumbled upon a Rauner camp ad as seen below.
Already off to a bad start. Successfully utilizing the same tactics against Republican Jeanie Ives, Rauners campaign is hoping the same disgraceful stye will work again. However, looking at the math he is clearly failing. With McCann in the race, Rauner needs to be fully focused on a positive swing for his run instead of yet again trying to associate other candidates to Mike Madigan and the Chicago Democratic machine. The likelihood that Madigan is helping a Republican candidate run as a 3rd party opponent is slim to none. Madigan has shown again and again in election year that his sole focus is State Representative's elected. As that, is what keeps him in power. With Republican Governor Rauner already in a tough spot with his Republican base there would be no need for Madigan to dabble in Republican politics. Rauner has been taking hits from his own party since the primary election ended. The chairman of the Illinois Republican National Hispanic Assembly resigned her position after the shortly after the results. "I cannot in good conscience support Bruce Rauner," Yvonne Sencial Bolton of Will County said in her resignation letter. With mummers of concern about Rauners core values already, compounded by a 48.6% of his own base voting for Jeanie Ives, Rauner has the potential loss of half of his own republican voting base to compensate for. That number is not even including those voters who do not come out until the general election. The current direction of Rauners campaign could mean ruin for Rauner himself.
Illinois state Sen. Sam McCann, R-Plainview, announced early Thursday that he plans run as a third-party candidate for governor of Illinois, with this new announcement we will see more issues for Republican Governor Bruce Rauner.
Rauner is widely viewed as an underdog in the race for the state's highest office against billionaire J.B. Pritzker. McCann's campaign with the Conservative Party stands to draw votes away from Rauner, who had alienated a lot of his conservative base. Rauner barely defeated state Rep. Jeanne Ives in the Republican primary this March.
"When I announced I was not going to run for Senate, I said the Republican Party under Rauner was unrecognizable to me," McCann said in a statement. "Rauner has smeared the reputations of proven conservatives and abandoned the principles that millions of Illinois' working families hold dear: economic liberty, traditional values, and law and order."
This will be a new venture surly causing a huge shake up in our Illinois gubernatorial race this coming fall.
The United Nations Security Council has failed to approve a Russian-drafted resolution on Saturday that would have condemned "the aggression against the Syrian Arab Republic by the U.S. and its allies in violation of international law and the U.N. Charter."
U.S., British and French forces railed Syria with more than 110 missiles on early Saturday morning, in response to a chemical attack that killed more than 60 people last week, in the largest intervention by Western powers against Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Putin said the U.S. actions in Syria made the humanitarian catastrophe worse and caused pain for civilians and the government.
"Russia in the most serious way condemns the attack on Syria where Russian military servicemen help the legitimate government to fight terrorism," Putin said.
The question being whispered across the world tonight is did world war three just start? Well the answer at this point is no one knows. With the US and allies bombing Syria this evening it will surely cause a stir leading to more sanctions and possibly even more military action in the west. But realistically this could be a world war three hit or miss. As Russia and other allies of Syria have warned the US and allies to stand down they must now somehow in a show of strength make a move.
As president trump and allies are finishing up a round of air strikes, Syrian officials as well as Russian official must now figure out exactly how to react to the situation at hand. Less than 20 hours ago Russia warned the United States that an airstrike could spark war and now the move has been made on our part to move forward with an air strike. In the coming hours we will see where this military conflict leads the United States and Russia who are once again on cold war terms. In a statement, Antoly Antonov said, "We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences.
"All responsibility for them rests with Washington, London and Paris. Insulting the President of Russia is unacceptable and inadmissible," Antonov added.
We will see in coming days exactly what is in store for future relations between the US and Russia.
(PS) As of 2 hours ago the United States, France and the UK officially began dropping bombs on Syria. "A combined operation with the armed forces of France and the United Kingdom is now underway," President Trump said in an address to the nation. This coming just days after Syria was accused of using chemical weapons on its citizens for the 50th time in the last 7 years of the nations civil war. President Bashar al-Assad of Syria along with Russia pointed the chemical attack at British military in the last 72 hrs accusing the British of causing the initial chemical attack. The US and allies stated earlier in the week that they in fact had evidence proving the attack was linked to Bashar and his regime. Three targets were listed as the Pentagon spoke on Friday evening.
A chemical weapons storage facility west of Homs
A chemical weapons equipment storage and an important command post, also near Homs
A scientific research facility in Damascus, allegedly connected to the production chemical and biological weapons
The US Secretary of Defense James Mattis told reporters there were no reports of losses in the operation. This report coming in the last few hours. The US and allies now await response from Syria and or its allies North Korea and Russia. With multiple verbal warnings back and fourth we will move forward to see what is coming in the following days.
It’s proper that House Speaker Michael Madigan acknowledges his failure to be a leader in the fight against sexual harassment and bullying in Illinois government and politics. It’s also stunning, given his clenched grip on power and his reluctance to take responsibility for the state of this state. We can’t remember the last time Madigan publicly displayed such humility.
“Everyone has a right to work without fear of harassment, abuse or retaliation. We haven’t done enough. I take responsibility,” he told his Democratic Party minions.
What comes next?
Whenever a leader in crisis pledges to “do better,” that promise comes with an implicit plea for support: Please, trust me to fix this problem. Or have I squandered my credibility?
Assessing Madigan’s vulnerability is difficult because he’s such a dominant figure. This is his 48th year in the General Assembly, his 34th year as speaker, his 20th year as chair of the Illinois Democratic Party. How many times has he even faced a serious challenge to his authority? A long line of governors from both major parties thought about taking him on, and a few made meager attempts. Then they caved. The current governor, Republican Bruce Rauner, is the first ever to mount a sustained resistance to Madigan.
Now we are witnessing a political uprising against Madigan by a force he cannot ignore and may not outmaneuver: Female Democratic politicians — at first disappointingly, almost deafeningly quiet — have begun telling Madigan his promises to change the culture in Illinois aren’t enough. State Rep. Kelly Cassidy of Chicago wants an independent investigation of Madigan's organizations to “rip the Band-Aid off” mistreatment. So does state Sen. Melinda Bush of Grayslake. Other Democrats, some in the thick of the primary campaign, are chiming in. Candidate for governor Chris Kennedy wants Madigan to resign as party chairman. So does Marie Newman, running for Congress against Madigan ally Rep. Dan Lipinski.
Madigan invited this fragging. He has no credibility on this issue. When the #MeToo anti-harassment movement gripped Illinois in the fall, he pushed the General Assembly to pass legislation meant to curb predatory behavior in government. It was an act. At the same time he was promoting respect, safety and equality, he learned that one of his political aides, Kevin Quinn, allegedly had been harassing a campaign worker. Yet instead of firing Quinn, Madigan asked his lawyer to investigate and sat on the findings — until the Tribune was about to report on the matter. Then he fired Quinn.
Days later, Madigan cut ties with a second confidante, identified in news reports as lobbyist and high-ranking Madigan campaign staffer Shaw Decremer. Madigan chose to describe the deposed aide as a “volunteer,” as if Decremer were some anonymous figure distributing leaflets on the Southwest Side.
Madigan won’t give up control without a fight. He appeared to acquiesce Monday to calls for an independent investigation, but then said his own designated outside attorney would “assist.” That's not independent. And it fools no one.
Don’t look to Madigan to be an agent of change. His obsession is power politics. If only we’d also heard him say he must “do better” to balance the state budget, to solve the public pension crisis he helped create, to help employers and make Illinois a magnet for jobs.
No, Madigan is an effective advocate only for his own interests. We’ve called repeatedly for him and his Springfield partner, Chicago Democrat and Senate President John Cullerton, to step out of leadership. Like former Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, they should make way for fresh talent.
It’s on other Illinois Democrats — his caucus members, other officeholders but also voters — to force Madigan's hand. At minimum here must be an independent investigation of his legislative offices and political operations to detail precisely how he handled allegations of harassment and bullying. Beyond that, Democrats have to decide whether, for the good and reputation of their party and the legislature, Madigan should shed some of his titles.
Short of that thorough investigation by an expert with zero ties to the Illinois political class, though, the results will be tainted and the message clear: In Illinois, the powerful are free to protect their own.
A number of Florida politicians are facing public pressure to act after 17 students were killed during a deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland last week — blowback that advocates hope could bring about some type of reform in the gun-friendly state.
What that reform would look like and whether it would have an effect on the 2018 midterm election remains to be seen.
On Tuesday, Florida House Republicans rejected a procedural move that would have allowed debate of a Democratic bill that would have banned military-style, semi-automatic rifles and high capacity magazines in the state. State lawmakers made the move under the watchful gaze of students who survived the Feb. 14 massacre and who were watching from the gallery breaking down in tears as the vote came down.
Colin Hackley/Reuters
Tyra Hemans, a senior from Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School, holds a photo of her friend Joaquin Oliver, who died during last week's mass shooting on campus, as she speaks with the Florida Senate, in Tallahassee, Fla., Feb. 21, 2018.more +
“There are a lot of people who own guns and believe in the right to own guns in Florida,” Beth Rosenson, a political science professor, at the University of Florida told ABC News. She described a culture in a state where “many people own a gun, many people hunt.”
But there is an expectation that the state legislature will do something to respond to the public pressure, she said.
“The legislature will respond in some way so Members can say they’ll do something,” she said. “They’re not that stupid. They realize they have to do something. They can’t do nothing.”
One option would be for state lawmakers to raise the legal age to buy a gun to 21. But it’s unlikely lawmakers would go as far as to ban assault weapons as some advocates have proposed, political science experts say.
Two statewide races could be affected by what happens in Tallahassee over the next few weeks.
In the state’s gubernatorial race, some candidates appear to be treading carefully in the wake of the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla.
On Thursday, less than 24 hours after the shooting, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, a Republican running for governor, postponed a hearing on a bill that would have allowed his department to make conceal carry permitting easier for applicants. Although, the original legislation focused mostly on oyster harvesting, on page 87 of the 98-page bill was a provision that would have allowed the department to automatically approve conceal carry permit applications if not approved within 90 days.
Putnam, in July, tweeted he was a "proud NRA sellout" in response to an opinion piece from a Florida columnist with the headline "Adam Putnam sells out to the NRA."
A notable no vote in Tuesday’s House session to not hear a bill on banning assault rifles was Republican Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who is expected to announce he is running for governor when the state legislature session ends.
On the Democratic side, two days after the shooting former Congresswoman and Democratic candidate for governor Gwen Graham called for outgoing GOP Gov. Rick Scott to immediately suspend permitting and sales of AR-15s and all assault weapons.
All three of Graham’s Democratic opponents followed suit calling for a ban on assault rifles.
One of her rivals, former Miami Beach Mayor Phil Levine, released a television ad about the issue, marking one of the first times Democrats have made gun control a central issue in a Florida election.
The issue could be a particularly thorny one for Scott to negotiate.
He is term-limited out of the governor’s mansion and is said to be considering a challenge to Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Scott told reporters Tuesday afternoon – after he held a 90-minute roundtable with law enforcement, education and mental health leaders — that “everything is on the table” when it comes to proposals on new gun restrictions.
Scott's office highlights his signing of legislation to prioritize adding school resource officers and legislation that added millions to counterterrorism and intelligence efforts. He also has proposed increasing the Safe Schools fund by an extra $14 million in 2015-2016 and an additional $10 million every subsequent year, according to John Tupps, Scott's communications director.
Wilfredo Lee/AP
Florida Gov. Rick Scott gestures as he speaks during a news conference near Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., where a former student is killed at least 17 people on Feb. 14, 2018.more +
Sen. Marco Rubio has also faced criticism in the wake of the deadly shooting at a high school in his home state. An activist group, Avaaz, posted a trio of mobile billboards in Miami last week asking why there's no congressional movement on gun control, according to the Miami Herald.
“How come, Marco Rubio?” one of the billboards read.
Rubio office did not respond to ABC News' request for comment.
Nelson's office pointed out that he is a cosponsor of legislation in the Senate to ban the sale of assault weapons.
Both lawmakers traveled to the region after last week's shooting.
"Rubio's in a position where he doesn’t have to worry about re-election for a few years so it's less important what he thinks and says, at least politically speaking, as compared to Nelson who's going to be on the ballot in November and who's going to be presumably facing the current Gov. Rick Scott," said Michael Binder, an associate professor of political science at the University of North Florida.
There will also be national players involved in the Florida races.
During the 2016 election cycle, the NRA spent $54 million in the presidential and congressional races, nearly $20 million of which went to attacking Hillary Clinton while more than $11 million was spent in Donald Trump’s favor.
Adding her voice to the fight is former congresswoman and mass shooting survivor Gabby Giffords, who called out Scott over what she sees as his inaction on gun violence and ties to the NRA by rolling out a “six-figure ad buy” to air a TV commercial targeting the governor.
Meanwhile, as the lawmakers mull their positions in some cases and level criticism at the other side in others, the survivors of gun violence are determined to make themselves heard.
Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School swarmed the state Capitol building this week to demand tougher gun laws. They are scheduled to have been 40 and 60 meetings on Wednesday, including with state Attorney General Pam Bondi, Senate President Joe Negron and with Corcoran, the state house speaker.
Time is not on their side to see legislation get passed and end up on Scott’s desk. The state legislature ends its session on March 9, which gives lawmakers two and a half weeks to pass something. And there is no carry-over of legislation to the next session.
Colin Hackley/Reuters
Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School leave the Tucker Civic Center where they slept and prepare to speak with Florida state legislators, following last week's mass shooting on their campus, in Tallahassee, Fla.more +
Then there are concerns from lawmakers about the electoral consequences of their actions.
Most voters don’t vote on a gun control as a single issue, political experts say.
And, in other states, lawmakers have seen fallout from voting for stricter gun control laws. In Colorado, two Democratic state senators lost in a 2013 special election after providing crucial support for a package of state gun laws in the wake of the Aurora theater shooting.
The political push for gun policy reform in Florida could also play out in races across the country as students join their Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School brethren. Several hundred students from Washington D.C. area schools walked out of their schools on Wednesday afternoon and converged on Capitol Hill to protest the lack of action on gun reform.
They held signs and chanted and, like the Parkland survivors, eloquently spoke about the need for more gun safety laws as they marched down the National Mall toward the White House.
Other students, including some from Parkland, Fla., are at the White House this afternoon to meet with Trump, Vice President Pence and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.
“This afternoon the President will host a conversation on how to improve school safety. He will hear from students, parents and educators who have directly experienced these horrific tragedies. In attendance will be students from Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School; representatives from Sandy Hook Promise and Rachel’s Challenge; local students, parents, and teachers,” according to a White House statement.
Meanwhile, George Clooney and other celebrities said they will attend the March 24 "March for Our Lives" in Washington D.C. in honor of the Florida victims which could bring more attention to the issue.
Experts question whether the attention will be enough to hasten reform and whether the public pressure will have impact on election day?
“Could this be the event that galvanizes people? Maybe. Looking back on history there’s a very steep mountain that has to be climbed here by proponents for gun control,” Michael McDonald, a political science professor and an expert in voting at the University of Florida, told ABC News.
“It takes something special for an event to be persistent in the public consciousness. And it’s difficult sometimes to know what that event is going to be.”
He noted that “these transformative events are rare and far between” but “if we’re still talking about this in six months we know we’ve gone through a transformative event.”
ABC News' MaryAlice Parks, Meghan Keneally, Ali Rogin, Alexander Mallin and Soo Rin Kim contributed to this report.
