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"We looked for highly qualified
individuals with mature judgment and impeccable integrity. We found
those unique qualities in Ellen Craig and Reverend John Cusick,"
said Gov. Blagojevich.
Rev. Cusick, ordained a priest for the
Archdiocese of Chicago in 1970, is the director of young adult
ministry for the archdiocese. He is responsible for the church's
outreach to women and men in their 20s and 30s, married and single.
The ministry office and his residence are at the Old St. Patrick's
Church in downtown Chicago.
Ellen Craig, from Chicago, is a
telecommunications and utility consultant with significant
experience in regulatory law, public policy and management in the
private and public sectors. She currently serves as senior adviser
to The Brattle Group, an economic and regulatory consultancy. She
previously held positions as director of regulatory affairs for CoreComm Communications and
as vice president of regulatory affairs for USN Communications. She also served as chairman and commissioner to
the Illinois Commerce Commission, 1989-1994; deputy chief of staff
to Gov. James Thompson, 1987-1989; and as law and policy adviser to
Gov. Thompson, 1978-1989.
The Executive Ethics Commission, a
component of sweeping ethics reform, was signed into law by Gov.
Blagojevich last December. The monumental ethics reform package
provides more definitive rules regarding what constitutes improper
use of state time and resources, improves ethics training and
reporting procedures, and establishes strong enforcement mechanisms
to ensure ethics rules are followed. The nine-member commission will
review and determine appropriate action in cases brought forward by
the executive inspectors general and represented by the attorney
general.
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this article]
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The governor appoints five members to
the commission; and the attorney general, secretary of state, state
treasurer and comptroller each appoint one member. Appointments
require confirmation by the Illinois Senate. Commission members
cannot be state government employees. They receive the same
part-time salary rate as members of the Illinois State Board of
Elections.
With six members appointed to the
commission, a quorum is in place and work can begin. Members of the
Executive Ethics Commission are:
- Ellen Craig, appointed by the
governor
- Scott Turow, appointed by the
governor
- John Cusick, appointed by the
governor
- Maria Kuzas, appointed by
Secretary of State Jesse White
- James Faught, appointed by
Comptroller Dan Hynes
- Frederick Hess, appointed by
Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka
Three positions are currently vacant.
[News release from the
governor's office]
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