(Ill. state) Senate majority leader dead of colon cancer

[icymist]

http://www.sj-r.com/Sections/News/Stories/23629.asp

Senate majority leader dead of colon cancer
Carlinville Democrat once chaired state party

By BERNARD SCHOENBURG
POLITICAL WRITER

Illinois Senate Majority Leader Vince Demuzio, a coal miner's son who grew up to a respected leader for Illinois Democrats and downstate, died Tuesday at his Carlinville home.

Demuzio, who would have turned 63 on May 7, had colon cancer and had undergone surgery in August.

As majority leader, he was second in command to Senate President Emil Jones and had served in the Senate longer than any other current member. He was first elected in 1974 and was sworn in for his first term in January 1975.

"Vince Demuzio was my most trusted, loyal friend," Jones said in a statement. "He was my colleague, my ally, my kindred spirit. As Senate majority leader, he led by example. That example was always about the people he served."

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