DeKALB | Sen. J. Bradley Burzynski’s first words to the political science class he spoke to Tuesday weren’t dissimilar to what a student might say.

When the Illinois senator walked in a minute late for the class winded, he said, “I had forgotten about the parking problem around here.” Later he added, “A new parking garage would be a solution.”

Burzynski, a Republican from Illinois’ 35th district, which includes DeKalb County, visited students in POLS 304, American Public Opinion, to speak and hold a question-and-answer session.

Burzynski said Illinois Democrats are working on a bill that will move up the date of the Illinois primary.

“Illinois will most likely move the date of the Illinois primary to the first week of February,” Burzynski said. “They want to give Illinois U.S. Sen. Barack Obama a leg up on his presidential campaign. It will pass. I think this will happen.”

Burzynski has not yet endorsed a candidate for the 2008 presidential race.

Burzynski, one of 22 Republicans in the 59-seat state senate, described what he felt was a battle for top Democrat in the state assembly.

“They are all competing for the role of alpha male,” Burzynski said. “[Illinois Gov. Rod] Blagojevich, [Illinois House Speaker Michael] Madigan and [president of the Illinois Senate Emil] Jones.”

Burzynski, a member of the Senate minority leadership, refused to say whether he would run for the widely rumored vacancy in Illinois’ 16th Congressional district.

“Never say never,” he said. “It is shaping up to be a crowded race. I know of four republicans from Kane County who are considering a run.”

Burzynski also said it’s hard to tell when Republicans will be back in control in Illinois.

“The Republicans are in disarray right now,” he said. “We cannot win back control with the map drawn the way it is now, with the gerrymandering.”