Thursday, Jan. 30

 

More of Ryan administration's last-minute term appointees eliminated

[JAN. 30, 2003]  CHICAGO -- Continuing an effort he initiated on his first full day in office to change business as usual in state government, Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced Monday that he will remove more than two dozen people from appointments made in an invalid manner by the previous administration in its final days in office.

In addition, Blagojevich announced that he will not fill the position of small-business utility advocate, a high-paying position which he said is of questionable use. Filling the position would have cost the taxpayers nearly $100,000 per year.

The 28 employees were appointed to their positions in the same manner as 35 individuals terminated by Blagojevich on his first full day in office nearly two weeks ago. In each case, the term employees were thought to have benefited from a rule change made by the Ryan administration that would have locked the employees into four-year jobs from which they could not be removed.

The Blagojevich administration has found that the rule was changed in an invalid manner, circumvented civil service requirements and bypassed eligibility lists. The appointments are therefore null and void.

“Today, I am continuing my effort to trim every wasteful dollar from state spending to eliminate every last-minute, insider appointment made in the waning days and hours of George Ryan's administration,” Blagojevich said.

“It is part of an ongoing effort to bring real change to our government and to restore the faith and confidence of the people of Illinois in the leaders of this state,” he said.

 

All of the appointments were made since Oct. 15, after the Ryan administration's rule change -- which has now been found to have been done improperly -- went into effect.

Given the state's massive deficit, Blagojevich stressed that fiscal issues represent a key factor in the decision. The combined savings of these terminations could be more than $5 million.

Blagojevich added that the people removed from their positions Monday are welcome to resubmit applications for employment. If they choose to do so, their applications will be judged on a competitive basis against other candidates.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

“Should any of these positions prove to be essential, should any of the employees prove to be needed and capable, I encourage them to reapply for their positions through traditional channels,” he said.

One position which the governor has determined is not essential is that of small-business utility advocate. The position -- which would have paid $99,414 per year -- will therefore remain unfilled.

“At a time of an unprecedented deficit, we simply cannot fill every position in state government that some would like to fill,” he said.

Blagojevich pointed out that the position has only existed for a short period of time.

“For all but about two years of the state's entire history, Illinois has survived -- in fact, thrived -- without a small-business utility advocate. I'm sure we will continue to do quite well in the future,” he said.

The position had been scheduled to be filled beginning in March by Dolton Mayor William Shaw.

“I am not targeting an individual in this cut,” Blagojevich emphasized. “I'm targeting a system that has served itself for too long.”

In the weeks ahead, a member of Blagojevich's staff will continue to examine the list of Ryan administration appointees and the state's overall payroll to look for positions that are not essential to the taxpayers as well as instances where an unqualified person is holding a position.

The task is being carried out by the governor's special investigator for employment and personnel, noted attorney Mary Lee Leahy. She will continue to advise the governor on which positions can be eliminated and appointees removed.

“I want to be clear again -- today is only a start,” he said.

“As governor, I want to send a message that our state's revenue is not my money, it's not the insiders' money -- it's the people's money.”

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]


Blagojevich appoints additional department leaders

Appointees given task of streamlining, reforming state agencies

[JAN. 30, 2003]  CHICAGO -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich called upon the newly-named directors of three agencies whose appointments he announced Tuesday to carry out his agenda for change within the offices they will be running.

He also said that they will be assigned to help him lead a government that carries out its key functions while recognizing the need to streamline operations in a period of fiscal crisis.

“I am directing the people whom I am appointing today -- and all of those who will serve in my administration -- to help me carry out my vision for change. They will each play a role in creating a government that works for all the people of Illinois, while doing more with less,” he said.

The three appointees named by the governor on Tuesday will serve as the new directors of the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Revenue. Each of the appointees -- Gary N. Wright, Carol L. Adams and Brian A. Hamer -- brings to the new position extensive experience in their fields.

Blagojevich cited the three individuals' talents and expertise as key factors in their selections, as well as their willingness to help him change the way Springfield operates.

“In their specific roles, these three leaders will be assigned to provide key services to people and families at the community level, to ensure the safety of Illinoisans and the effective use of our power facilities, and to serve all taxpayers and help address Illinois' fiscal crisis through an efficient and fair collection of revenues,” he said.

“In a larger respect, I have also selected Gary, Carol and Brian because I am confident that they will combine their impressive backgrounds in their respective fields with a fresh approach to doing business,” he said.

 

The appointments Blagojevich announced on Tuesday are:

Gary N. Wright -- Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety (IDNS)

A resident of Springfield, Wright possesses more than three decades of experience in nuclear power safety. He possesses extensive experience in the IDNS, dating back to the earliest days of the department.

Wright currently serves as manager of the nuclear facility safety office within the IDNS. In his current role, he is responsible for administering the state's nuclear power safety programs.

Among his prior accomplishments was the key role that he played in the creation of the IDNS during the early 1980s. He assisted in drafting legislation to create the department, defining its mission and carrying out other tasks necessary to enable the IDNS to begin operations. He served as interim acting director of the department for six months in 1983.

During the 1970s, he served as chief of the division for nuclear safety within the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Wright serves on the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's task force on reactor oversight changes. As a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency training team, he also provided emergency response training to plant operators in former Soviet republics.

He earned his master's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Illinois in 1965.

Carol L. Adams -- Department of Human Services (DHS)

Adams served as the director of the Chicago Housing Authority's division of resident services and programs from 1989 to 1996. At the CHA, she eventually managed 13 separate departments with 400 full-time employees, more than 1,000 seasonal workers and a budget of $500 million. Her division was the only area within the CHA to receive the highest ratings possible from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

 

[to top of second column in this article]

Adams helped create or implement several award-winning programs while at the CHA, including programs to combat drug and alcohol abuse, conflict resolution programs for children, and after-school recreation opportunities. She also helped establish the Mental Health Roundtable / Crisis Response Team, which provided residents of public housing with important counseling in the wake of traumatic events that occurred in CHA residential units.

An experienced human services administrator credited with developing award-winning community-based initiatives, Adams has served since 2000 as the executive director of the Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern Illinois University.

In that role, she serves as the administrator of the school's south-side campus, which offers graduate and undergraduate programs and serves as focus of activity in the community. She has helped raise much-needed funds for the educational, technology and cultural programs and helped organize forums for local leaders and the interfaith community.

She also served as the director of the city's Museums and Public Schools program (1998-2000); as director of the African-American studies programs at Loyola University (1981-1988); and as director of research and planning at the Neighborhood Institute, a division of South Shore Bank (1978-1980).

Adams holds graduate degrees in sociology from three institutions, including the University of Chicago. She earned her doctorate in 1976.

 

Brian A. Hamer -- Department of Revenue

Currently the first deputy director of the City of Chicago's Department of Revenue, Hamer has played key roles in improving customer service and enhancing revenue collections. His duties also include leading the department's policy, legislative and legal matters.

From 1990 to 1997, he was chief assistant corporation counsel for the city's law department. In that capacity, he directed the city's legal effort to collect delinquent taxes, resulting in revenues of more than $100 million. He also oversaw policy for settling tax disputes and modernized the city's tax code. He previously worked at the firm of Mayer Brown and Platt.

Hamer earned his undergraduate degree from Yale, and received his law degree from Columbia University, where he was editor of the school's law review.

---

Blagojevich said that he will call upon the new directors to “spread my message of reform and service to all employees in their departments,” he said.

“Their first job is to share with all of their employees that this administration is committed to bringing about dramatic change to the state government, and we expect every employee shares our dedication to reform,” Blagojevich said.

Underscoring the new governor's commitment to reforming state government and streamlining government, Blagojevich earlier this week terminated the employment of individuals holding 28 positions that were filled in the closing weeks of the previous administration -- in addition to 35 Ryan administration appointees who were removed during Blagojevich's first week in office.

Since taking office, the new governor has taken other steps aimed at dramatically reforming state government. Last week, he called for strengthening ethics training and investigations within state government. Previously, he froze the ability of agency heads to acquire new cars or pad the state payroll and called for a review of projects funded through members' initiatives.

[Illinois Government News Network
press release]


Articles from the past week

Wednesday:

  • State of the Union address by President George W. Bush

  • Democratic response to the State of the Union address

  • Cook on 'holy ground'  (Sports)

Tuesday:

  • ESDA honors volunteers who helped in emergencies (with picture pages)

  • Voter registration closes Jan. 28  (Community)

  • Shift in snowfall impacts state soil and water conditions

Monday:

  • Cake, candles and song
    Today marks LDN's third birthday  (
    Perspectives)

  • West Lincoln-Broadwell plans addition

  • Blagojevich takes steps to employ new ethics standards in state government

Saturday:

  • 54 death cases in limbo
    Illinois Supreme Court gives lawyers 30 days to file motions

  • Collectible medallions honoring Lincoln, Grant, Reagan, Stevenson and Washington available

Friday:

  • Pickering named vice president of college relations at Lincoln College

  • C-EL may cut more teachers, all activities

  • Logan County Board committees

  • Boland promotes new law on specialty license plates

Thursday:

  • School administrators brainstorm with Mitchell in the face of state budget cuts

  • Newcomer packets distributed through real estate agencies

Back to top


 

News | Sports | Business | Rural Review | Teaching & Learning | Home and Family | Tourism | Obituaries

Community | Perspectives | Law & Courts | Leisure Time | Spiritual Life | Health & Fitness | Calendar

Letters to the Editor