 Jerry Stermer, Quinn's former chief of staff, resigned Sunday after
an ethics probe by the executive inspector general's office reported
he had used his state e-mail account for campaign purposes. The
governor dismissed the three e-mails at the heart of the probe as
errant keystrokes, but the timing of the executive inspector
general's subsequent dismissal and Quinn's handling of it have been
called into question."He was out of bounds on three e-mails out
of 38,000-some odd e-mails," Quinn said. "He did not want that
particular matter that he self-reported ... to distract from our
mission."
Executive Inspector General James Wright presented the report to
the governor's office on Aug. 12 -- and was fired the next morning.
Quinn, however, says he did not see the report until the afternoon
of Aug. 13 and insists the report had nothing to do with the
dismissal.
"We began interviewing on June 28, 2010, this year, for a
replacement for the inspector general," Quinn said.
Wright was replaced by former prosecutor Ricardo Meza, who will
take office on Sept. 7.
Wright was a holdover from the administration of former Gov. Rod
Blagojevich, who was impeached and thrown out of office in January
2009. Blagojevich last week was found guilty on one of 24 federal
corruption charges and is waiting to be retried on the remaining 23
counts. Wright's term as executive inspector general expired June
30, 2008, leaving it up to Blagojevich and then Quinn to replace
him.
Quinn also downplayed the nature of his top aide's resignation.
Reports issued by the executive inspector general -- the office that
polices the executive branch -- are not disclosed. The report,
however, became public after it was leaked to the Chicago Sun-Times,
leaving the governor to deal with the perception of a cover-up. The
governor said he would have punished Stermer, had he stayed in
office.
Quinn said he would have sent Stermer a strongly worded message
and possibly suspended him.
Stermer reported himself to Quinn and the executive inspector
general's office in the winter, after sending several e-mails about
budget numbers to campaign staff. Quinn was in a heated primary race
against Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes at the time. The report led
to a seven-month-long investigation.
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In resigning, Stermer said he hoped to spare Quinn the
embarrassment associated with the ethics complaint.
"The people of Illinois must have full confidence in the
leadership of their state, and I will not be a distraction in
achieving that goal," he said in a statement.
That may be wishful thinking on Stermer's part. Quinn said he put
the incident in the back of his mind as he awaited the report and
tried to deal with the fallout of an early prisoner release program,
budgetary deadlock and high unemployment -- three issues that are
now at the forefront of the campaign for governor. His handling of
Stermer's resignation can now be added to that list.
Republicans were quick to criticize Quinn's handling of the
ethics violation and subsequent firing. The governor has touted his
ethics credentials throughout his tough election campaign against
Republican Bloomington Sen. Bill Brady.
State Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Westmont, who narrowly lost the
Republican nomination, said Quinn should embrace transparency in the
executive inspector general's office.
"(Stermer's) resignation and the firing of the inspector
general's timing perpetuates the myth that the Quinn administration
bungles every task that they take," Dillard said. "I've always
argued for ... more transparency in the inspector general's process
-- the reports are hidden from public view."
Quinn tapped Department of Human Services head Michelle Saddler
to replace Stermer. Saddler worked with Quinn when he was state
treasurer. The governor says her economic know-how will help put
people back to work.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By BILL McMORRIS]
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