Rauner announces transition team
Wednesday, Nov 5, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From a press release…
Governor-elect Bruce Rauner today announced Lieutenant Governor-elect Evelyn Sanguinetti as chair of his gubernatorial transition and also announced the senior leadership team.
“I am committed to assembling a diverse and talented team to drive results for our state and bring back Illinois,” Bruce Rauner said. “There is no one better prepared to help me achieve our administration’s goals than Evelyn. She has been my partner throughout this campaign and will continue that role as we prepare to take office.”
Senior Members of Transition Team
- Evelyn Sanguinetti, Chairwoman
- Mike Zolnierowicz, Transition Director
- Chip Englander, Senior Advisor
- Nancy Kimme, Transition Advisor
- Mike Schrimpf, Communications Director
“I look forward to working with the Governor-elect to build an administration that reflects our state’s diversity and is prepared to lead on Day One,” Evelyn Sanguinetti said.
The transition committee is also committed to disclosing and capping all contributions to the effort. More details about the transition will be announced in the near future.
Kimme is the only person on that committee with extensive state government experience.
…Adding… I was on the phone when I posted this so I was a bit distracted. Mike Z, Chip and Schrimpf are top notch staffers. They’ll be able to handle their roles. The object is to recruit the best and the brightest people they can to advise the candidate in the coming weeks. They should be able to do that, as long as they listen to Nancy.
- SkeptiCal - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:11 pm:
The transition work will make interesting news for political junkies as it develops.
The question is whether Mr. Rauner will get enough team members who truly understand State government enough to hit the ground running in January? He may be underestimating how hard his transition is going to be.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:12 pm:
Nancy Kimme is a god pick, she’s seen it all before and knows how all of the pieces need to fit together. I hope they listen to her.
- Knome Sane - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:13 pm:
He would be well served to add 1) a member of the legislature and 2) a democrat.
- archimedes - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:16 pm:
governing is different than campaigning - needs a team suited to the job at hand.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:17 pm:
Still can’t find an african american
he is true to form
- N'ville - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:21 pm:
Won’t it be kind of difficult to transition with a group that hasn’t admitted they’re leaving?
- Lessismore - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:21 pm:
A legislator besides Jack Franks. Shake it up!
Build a team of rivals. Surprise people.
It would be a show of good will.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:22 pm:
I think it’s a good sign that they have somebody familiar with state government on the team. It’s important to have those people involved if you want to get anything done.
- NewWestSuburbanGOP'er - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:26 pm:
At least he found something for Evelyn to do.
- Because I said so..... - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:33 pm:
=At least he found something for Evelyn to do.=
Hilarious!
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:42 pm:
Maybe Rauner can build a team from the newly elected ILGOP legisla…..uh - scratch that. How about the reelected folks? What if he uses Evelyn’s contacts in Peru for some outsourcing?
If the meetings are conducted between Chicago and Lima, in Spanish - then we’ll know whose been tapped for this important task.
- Harley - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:47 pm:
Steve Schnorf would be a tremendous addition to that group.
- NewWestSuburbanGOP'er - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:51 pm:
I think he should ask Oswego Willy.
- Illini - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:00 pm:
Why not the best and brightest from Illinois? Does chip and schrimpf even know Illinois ?
- Downstate GOP Faithless - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:00 pm:
Z & Nancy are A+ people.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:10 pm:
==Still can’t find an African American==
What about Stephanie Neely? Isn’t she talented. a super star?
- Kane County - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:12 pm:
IL GOP government & politics 101: listen to Nancy Kimme.
- Anon - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:13 pm:
Nancy certainly knows state gov’t. She knows how to work both sides of the aisle. We need some unity. Let’s show Congress how we can put a side partisan differences, seek common ground, and address some problems. The electorate now expects this. Go Nancy!
- Tim Snopes - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:20 pm:
Remember. No cronies.
- Ron Burgundy - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:24 pm:
Second or third or fourth the respect for Nancy. Good start in choosing her.
- Stan - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:25 pm:
Everybody works for Nancy. Solid pick.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:29 pm:
If you’re going to have just one announced transition person with extensive governmental knowledge, and be an exceptional pick on its own too.. you would be very hard pressed not to have Nancy Kimme as that one person.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:36 pm:
Wonder what the carhart jacket is going to do to IDOT?
- Tony - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:42 pm:
Nancy is a great choice.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:49 pm:
I’ve read a few transition reports and worked on agency submissions. The agency submissions are basically self evaluations that are a combination of accomplishments folks want highlighted and narratives responsive to directives from the leadership of the transition team. The public process consists of “opinion leaders” assigned to category committees who meet to come up with a report generally affirming priorities of the governor-elect. I don’t take much stock in the public report.
On the other hand, the non-public transition process is where the real work takes place.
Steve Schnorf may be able to enlighten us about this part because of his senior level experience. This is the process that helps with the organization of the governor’s office and the vetting of key office and agency personnel.
As always, it’s an interesting period when leaks are reported about so-called decisions.
- The Colossus of Roads - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:50 pm:
Want a good team? Find some people that retired from state government recently and put them on the team.
- Max's Mom - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:51 pm:
Nancy Kimme is an excellent pick. She is smart and has the government knowledge and relationships across the board that is much needed in this position.
- jim - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:08 pm:
Let me guess, rich. The three people you praises are great sources for you.
- jim - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:09 pm:
Let me guess, rich. The three people you praised are great sources for you.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:11 pm:
A question so nice you had to ask it twice?
I never reveal sources. But I do have quite a bit of respect for those folks. So, bite me.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:15 pm:
=== Want a good team? Find some people that retired from state government recently and put them on the team. ===
Thoughtful idea, but don’t waste their time. They would get put on committees where a feelgood report will be generated to be put in reporters hands and then put on some library shelf.
The most helpful thing that the behind the scenes transition folks could do is direct their new appointees to seek out staff and identify existing systems and procedures. One of the things I found so frustrating during the transition from Ryan to Blago was the total disregard for institutional knowledge by the newbies. I saw the needless creation of several new systems and procedures that were duplicative of existing systems. I’m not advocating the wholesale adoption of all old systems and procedures, but changes need to be made on the basis of improving them to meet organization goals and objectives.
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:17 pm:
Jim - those three aren’t really “sources”. All three worked for Bruce Rauner and would know the Governor-elect better than anyone. Mike Z. was a higher-up in Senator Kirk’s election efforts and was Rodney Davis’s campaign manager in 2012. I would say he’s a pretty damn good staffer and strategist given that he’s now 3-for-3 in the last three general election cycles.
- Maxine - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:22 pm:
Thought it was a good election and glad to see the new Gov is on the right track. I’d work for Nancy or Steven S any day. Where do I send my resume too? It is a NEW DAY!
- anon - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:35 pm:
Topinka’s Chief of Staff on the transition team.
- dawn - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 5:00 pm:
“There is no one better prepared to help me achieve our administration’s goals than Evelyn.”
If Evelyn Sanguinetti is as prepared as Bruce Rauner claims, then why did she decline WTTW’s invitation to participate in a candidate forum with Democratic counterpart Paul Vallas?
- low level - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 5:11 pm:
Chip Englander is a top notch staffer? Really?
“We are kicking a– and taking names,” Englander, November 4, 2014.
Those are hardly the words of a “top notch” staffer. More like, leading with the chin. A very odd choice of words for a man whose boss got vetoproofed despite a Republicon wave nationally.
- low level - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 5:21 pm:
He’d be well advised to pick spokespersons, liaisons and directors who actually have Springfield experience and to avoid the mistake made by Blago in bringing in people who only knew City Hall and / or no experience in the state at all.
- Abraham Froman - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 5:37 pm:
====I never reveal sources.=====
Perhaps we could at least know where you got Oscar so that others can find such an adorable pooch?
- railrat - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 6:18 pm:
Nancy is the best choice she has forgotten more than most of us !!
- DuPage Dave - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 6:25 pm:
Sounds like a reliance on political insiders tainted with knowledge of the streets of Springfield.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 6:41 pm:
===she has forgotten more than most of us===
Um, that’s a compliment?
lol
Just sayin…
- John Birch - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 7:21 pm:
I like the idea of Oswego Willy working for Lt Gov Sanguinetti perhaps as her driver or possibly decorating her new office.
- Joe Maddon - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 7:44 pm:
All good choices as Rich mentioned. Nancy however stands out, because of her vast knowledge of state Government. She knows the ways of Springfield and Chicago as good as anybody in this game. She will for sure in my opinion only bring forth qualified and hard working candidates to fill key positions.
Much better choice than some out of touch banker or some private sector hack!!!
- DuPage Worker - Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 9:09 pm:
A new start..using the old guard? Expect tons on old staffers and Springfield insiders to line up at the trough.. Will anything ever change?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 7:56 am:
==A new start..using the old guard?==