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Rauner hires experienced hand as legislative director

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Illinois

Jim Kaitschuk, who has been executive director of the Illinois Pork Producers, is the new legislative director for Gov. Bruce Rauner.

“I think we can certainly appreciate the challenges that this great state faces,” Kaitschuk said in a news release from the agricultural group he has been with since 2003. […]

Kaitschuk, Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said, has spent more than 20 years in and around state government, including as House liaison in the governor’s office and legislative liaison for agencies including the Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

“Jim’s experience working with the legislature from both the government and private sector perspective provides him with a good balance and knowledge,” Trover said. “He has strong relationships with agencies and legislators from both sides of the aisle.”

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:22 am

Comments

Good man, loyal Republican but he can work with both sides. Good choice!

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:24 am
Jim will do a great job. He is exactly what Rauner needs in that position. His work as a legislative liaison makes him well prepared for the job. Good pick.

Comment by Give Me A Break Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:25 am
Good pick. Plus he already has the Carhart.

Comment by Joe Schmoe Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:25 am
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
pork….

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:26 am
great. I think this is goign to be a good team. Hasn’t been the same since Chip, Mike and Craig left

Comment by Todd Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:33 am
Good move. Proves Rauner is serious about trying to work with everyone.

Comment by RNUG Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:34 am
Looks real good.

If they let him do his thing, and don’t undercut him with saying one thing and having Jim face the music for mixed signals, it will be more than good.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:40 am
What, there’s not enough pork in legislation already?

(Okay, someone had to make the joke!)

Comment by JoanP Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:40 am
Great move. Jim is solid legislative guy - marginal LF in softball! 2 1/2 suffered under the last 2 Governors. Thankfully Jim knows how to fix the problems and train the liaisions. Laura Roche and Bob are great hires as well!!!!!!

Comment by 12 inchers Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:42 am
I don’t know him, I don’t even know of him I don’t think but on paper this is exactly the type of person they need more of.

Comment by The Captain Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:45 am
He still hasn’t appointed several department heads, however.

Comment by Empty Chair Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:46 am
Hiring good people like Jim is smart. Now.. Actually LISTENING to them is another skill.

Comment by Secretariat Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:50 am
After Tuesday’s Power Point presentation, he better have a lot more bacon to get any legislators to attend his BBQs this summer.

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:51 am
This is a very shrewd move.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:56 am
good choice-Jim’s well suited for this position.

Comment by Sine Die Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:07 am
Excellent choice. Not only does Jim Kaitschuk have the experience to be good in this role, but the choice of someone many of them know or know of via his work with ag issues, sends a second strong message to downstate voters that Gov. Rauner actually is aware they exist.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:10 am
===Hiring good people like Jim is smart. Now.. Actually LISTENING to them is another skill.===

Well said.

Rauner can’t go out as he has to Decatur and U of C and say all he has and expect giving the Democratic majorities mixed messages and leave Jim hanging on honestly dealing with Dem staff to get needed votes from the members on the Dem side of the aisle.

That is the challenge.

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:12 am
Way to go Jimmy K.! Show them how the hog ate the cabbage.

Comment by flea Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:14 am
Yes, what about the DCFS chief job? The previous director supposedly left at the beginning of this week, I believe. Did she stay on after all. Or does DCFS have its nth “temporary director”. DCFS was a priority, I thought, especially given the recent residential treatment scandal.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:15 am
Great pick, good guy

Comment by Obamas Puppy Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:20 am
A guy like Jim wouldn’t take the job if he didn’t think he’d be listened to. To suggest otherwise is goofy. In fact Jim is precisely the kind of guy you hire when you need someone who you can trust to give it to you straight. This is a private industry practice that will serve Bruce well. Jim will be heard early and often. Don’t you worry.

Comment by A guy Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:25 am
===A guy like Jim wouldn’t take the job if he didn’t think he’d be listened to. To suggest otherwise is goofy. In fact Jim is precisely the kind of guy you hire when you need someone who you can trust to give it to you straight.===

- A Guy -, the road is littered with hires that were brought on to be heard, but no one listened to them.

Rauner has been the king of mixed messages.

Keep reminding me why I can’t be sold on Rauner because of Rauner’s fan base…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:29 am
- A Guy -, the road is littered with hires that were brought on to be heard, but no one listened to them.

Who posted that?

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 11:11 am
Gotta herd those cats.

Comment by Precinct Captain Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 11:36 am
===Who posted that?===

Glad to see your typing hasn’t suffered as your reading seems to be failing…

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 11:38 am
Throws a good BBQ

Comment by walker Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 12:21 pm
Eeyore–A person who perennially expects the worst; a pessimist; inspired by the woebegone donkey in children’s classic Winnie the Pooh.

Comment by Responsa Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 12:48 pm
Great hire. Jim is a smart and thoughtful guy. I just hope his replacement can run the Pork Patio at the State Fairgrounds as well.

Comment by 1776 Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 1:32 pm
Jim is one of the really good guys. Great choice.

Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 3:38 pm
Congrats to you too SS.

Comment by Maxine Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 4:46 pm
Hopefully this legislative director can start by looking at the law that allows all the counties to dump their delinquent youth on DCFS! The counties are cleaning out there detention centers and overburdening DCFS…

Comment by Sean Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 5:38 pm
Time to invest in pork bellies.

Comment by Raunerbot Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:06 pm
Don’t know anything about the man, but obviously many here do…I will trust in your honest appraisal of the man’s abilities. So far so good with his appointments. Competence, and genuine leadership, is what Illinoisans who supported Bruce Rauner are hoping he provides. No more incompetent, corrupt political hacks, and wannabe’s.

Changing of the status-quo mindset will be hard for many in Springfield to adjust to but time will tell.

Comment by Raunerbot Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:14 pm