As state Sen. Adeline Geo-Karis celebrated her 88th birthday on the Illinois Senate floor Wednesday, Democratic leaders unveiled an unexpected gift: a plan to rename Illinois Beach State Park near her hometown after her.
The surprise came a week after Republican primary voters rejected the veteran Zion legislator in her attempt to continue her 33-year career in the Illinois General Assembly.
Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) announced the plans during a public birthday tribute to the retiring lawmaker, saying he wanted to honor Geo-Karis “while you’re still with us, while you’re still serving in this body.”
Surrounded by several bouquets of flowers, Geo-Karis thanked lawmakers, including Republicans who backed her opponent in the recent primary.
“I just want you to know that I have no regrets,” Geo-Karis said. “I wish you all well. I wish you great health, happiness and success in your endeavors.”
Jones and Sen. Terry Link (D-Waukegan) came up with the idea for Adeline Geo-Karis State Park with other Democrats. Jones and Link approached Gov. Rod Blagojevich with the suggestion of naming a state facility for her, Link said, and Blagojevich’s office suggested the north suburban park.
Link was less gracious toward the GOP senators who contributed money to the campaign of Geo-Karis’ opponent.
Geo-Karis handled her defeat “with more grace than I would,” Link said.
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“I just feel it was a very selfish way to do what they felt they had to do,” Link said of Republicans who opposed Geo-Karis. “That’s not the way you treat somebody.”
Link, chairman of the Lake County Democrats, thinks he has a chance to take the Senate seat from Republican control. Angry Geo-Karis backers may even help, he said.
Suzanne Simpson, who defeated Geo-Karis to be the GOP nominee, said she thinks renaming the park is a good idea.
“Any accolades they can give the lady, I’m all for,” she said.
Senate GOP Leader Frank Watson (R-Greenville) agreed.
“I went to the president of the Senate and I said I thought that was a classy thing to do,” Watson said. “Sen. Geo-Karis obviously has done a lot for that area of the state, and to name a state park or facility after her is a great honor for her, but it’s very deserving too.”
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