Blagojevich names new deputy director for Governor's Office of Management and Budget         

Ginger Ostro to lead budget process during second term

(Text copied from file provided by the Illinois Office of Communication and Information)

[JAN. 19, 2007]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich has named Ginger Ostro to serve as his director for the Governor's Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) effective immediately. Ostro, who has served as GOMB's Deputy Director, as well as its Education and Juvenile Justice Director, brings nearly two decades of experience in state government and public policy to the position.

"I am pleased to appoint Ginger Ostro as my new budget director. She has a passion for issues that impact the quality of life for families throughout our state, as well as a passion for finding ways to get those important things done. She played a key role in numerous policy and budget issues during my first term, including the creation of a juvenile justice department that focuses solely on the needs of young people in the state correctional system, as well as Preschool for All, which has expanded preschool to 35,000 more kids throughout the state. It will be hard to fill John Filan's shoes, but she brings the same commitment and tenacity to the job that he did during my first term," said Governor Blagojevich.

Ostro brings 20 years of experience in public policy and state government to this position. Ostro officially joined the Blagojevich administration in July 2003 after serving on his budget transition team and his first budget while on loan from Chicago Metropolis 2020, a leading public policy think tank that focuses on quality of life issues in the Chicago Metropolitan area.

Prior to Metropolis 2020, where she served as budget director as well as program director for its Justice/Violence Initiative, she was the budget director for Governors State University under its President, Paula Wolff, whom Ostro worked closely with while she served briefly in the office of Governor James Thompson. Ostro also worked for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services as its Chief of Litigation Management and for the Department of Public Aid (now Healthcare and Family Services), where she helped implement the reorganization and management of its social service programs.

"I'm honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Governor's budget director. I've had the privilege to work on his behalf in finding ways to expand healthcare and education funding to the people of this state, while working with so many dedicated individuals in the budget office, governor's office, our state agencies and legislature in doing so. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, and I look forward to getting down to it right away," said Ostro.

Ostro was born and raised in the Chicago area and received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago and a Master's degree in Public Policy from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

[News release from the governor's office]