In a career at Commonwealth Edison spanning almost four decades, Fidel Marquez Jr. rose from summer intern to a top executive position that brought him into close contact with Illinois power brokers and paid far more than $1 million a year.

Marquez was deeply familiar with the technical aspects of delivering electricity, the giant power company’s business interests — and the politics swirling around the state-regulated utility.

A fall campaign season where ethics was going to be one of the campaign issues took a new turn last week with the move by House Republicans to form a committee to look into House Speaker Michael Madigan’s dealings with Commonwealth Edison.

Madigan called the move a “political stunt” and issued a lengthy, strongly worded statement highly critical of House Republican Leader Jim Durkin.

Winnebago County Board members are split on the call for Coroner Bill Hintz’s resignation after Hintz was charged Thursday with forgery, theft, conspiracy to commit theft and official misconduct.

Seven board members contacted by the Register Star said Hintz should step down immediately while four board members contend Hintz should be allowed to stay on the job pending the outcome of his criminal case.