State rep. chose Caribbean cruise over impeachment vote

For one of the most important votes in the state's legislative history, Rep. Ken Dunkin was on a Caribbean cruise with his family.

Dunkin, one of the few legislators who has found common ground with Gov. Blagojevich, said the trip was planned before he knew of the vote to impeach the governor.

That vote went against Blagojevich Friday by a 114-1 margin. Dunkin said he would have voted to impeach Blagojevich, even though the Chicago Democrat has said he had a "working relationship that was positive," with the governor and previously called the impeachment process a "witch hunt."

"Just because other members had issues with him, doesn't mean that I share those particular issues or those particular nuances," said Dunkin, who arrived back from his trip late Sunday night.

Dunkin said he would have voted for impeachment because state government had to "come back to some sort of normalcy in its function. It was too chaotic, even for me."