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 Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday named Jonathon Monken director of the
state's Emergency Management Agency. Monken faced a likely ouster
Wednesday in a vote expected in the Illinois Senate.
"I salute and thank Jon Monken for his service to the Illinois State
Police, which he has led with honor and distinction -- most recently
during a major winter storm," Quinn said in a statement. "His strong
leadership on the battlefield and in keeping Illinoisans safe makes
him perfectly suited for preparing our state for disasters and
helping us recover from their aftermath."
In 2009, Quinn named then-29-year-old Monken the ISP's acting
director. His nomination to the job was never confirmed by state
senators, a requirement for permanent appointment.
Some lawmakers and law enforcers said in the past that Monken lacked
the experience for the state's top-cop job. The Army veteran had no
previous law enforcement experience and had studied marketing,
military history and computer science.
But state Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, a former Lee County sheriff,
said he thinks highly of Monken.
"I certainly think he's a fine young man. I think he's very
honorably served his state and country in the military," said Bivins,
a member of the Senate Executive Appointments Committee. "I'm in
somewhat agreement with the governor. This should have been dealt
with a long time ago. I think it was time to do it in the last
session. And waiting until the eleventh hour here -- you know, a day
or two before confirmation here in committee hearing for his
appointment. I think this could have been dealt with a long time
ago."
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Monken will need to be confirmed by the Senate for his new job as
leader of the IEMA, said Grant Klinzman, a spokesman from the
governor's office.
Patrick Keen is stepping in as ISP's acting director, the governor's
office said. Keen, an ISP veteran of more than 25 years, was deputy
director of the department's Division of Administration.
IEMA is the department that prepares for and responds to natural
disasters or acts of terrorism. Joseph Klinger, the previous acting
director, is stepping down to be the agency's assistant director.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By MARY J. CRISTOBAL]
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