chicago vanquish challenger illinois house speaker michael madigan file federal lawsuit monday longtime democratic leader accuse use dirty tactics beat march primary election chicago democrat jason gonzales accuse madigan defame crowd primary phony candidates dilute opposition gonzalez name 45-year incumbent speaker political fund top aide two opponents among others 39-count lawsuit allege scheme swing four-way race speaker favor madigan engage dirty illegal fraudulent tactics gonzales finish second bid topple madigan 27 percent vote say telephone interview madigan receive slightly 65 percent madigan say statement lawsuit file u.s. district court chicago without merit voters district soundly re-nominated base strong record service give 65 percent vote emphatically reject jason gonzales know trust say madigan illinois longest-serving officeholder represent chicago southwest side since 1971. neither grasiela rodriguez joe barboza two candidates name gonzales lawsuit could reach comment gonzales accuse madigan falsely call felon television commercials political mailers base several arrest criminal convictions 1991 1994 include use steal credit card 18-year-old gonzales allege madigan improperly publicize criminal record make public former democratic governor pat quinn grant pardon expunge gonzales criminal record january 2015 madigan defamatory statement one harm gonzales reputation extent low gonzales eye community deter community associate lawsuit allege direct proximate result forego act and/or omissions madigan gonzales suffer injuries personal pecuniary nature include emotional distress damage reputation punishment despite grant full pardon lawsuit say gonzales also accuse madigan aid dilute hispanic vote legislative district 70 percent latino plant two opponents hispanic surnames ballot neither candidates collectively receive nearly percent vote actively campaign gonzales case handle tony peraica former republican member cook county board find democratic lawyer wiling take case gonzalez tell reuters everybody scar madigan ex-rival sue illinois house speaker 'dirty election tactics