Another vacation interrupter: The “clout list”
Wednesday, May 17, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Two points about the hiring list uncovered by the Sun-Times. Gov. Blagojevich’s office kept a clout list of hundreds of state employees recommended by lobbyists, lawmakers and major fund-raisers — despite the governor’s repeated statements that politics doesn’t influence state hiring. There’s no indication whether any of these jobs were covered under civil service rules. If they weren’t covered, then the governor can fill those posts just about any way he wishes. The second point is much more interesting and comes from a list provided by the Associated Press of some of those who were on the governor’s hiring list and who recommended them for their jobs. Dawn DeFraties, personnel, Central Management Services, “J Gianulis” Yes, that Dawn DeFraties and, apparently, that John Gianulis. The governor’s office claimed last week that DeFraties, the former personnel director at CMS, allowed “special” job applications to be filed for people with clout and then gave those people a leg up in getting a state job. But now we find out that DeFraties was apparently put in her job by one of the governor’s top patronage officials, John Gianulis. Last week, the guv’s people made it sound like DeFraties was doing all this on her own, without any referrals from others. The still-secret Inspector General’s report, however, claimed that one of those “special” job applications was faxed to DeFraties from Gianulis’ Rock Island County Democratic headquarters. Gianulis has denied that ever happened. So, we have John Gianulis, the deputy director of the governor’s office of Intergovernmental Affairs/Personnel recommending that Dawn DeFraties be appointed hiring czar at the Department of Central Management Services. Then DeFraties somehow goes off on her own and makes a bunch of illegal political hires? Highly unlikely.
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Vacation interruption: Something doesn’t add up
Saturday, May 13, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote in the Capitol Fax about how Dawn DeFraties was moved out as CMS personnel chief and over to another agency (Healthcare & Family Services) under strange circumstances. According to several sources, CMS personnel office files were searched by the Office of the Executive Inspector General and at least one computer was seized in late March. Shortly after that happened, Defraties’ husband retired from the Springfield Fire Department and was almost immediately appointed Deputy State Fire Marshall. In October of last year, DeFraties was appointed acting State Fire Marshall. The rumor was at the time that this was all designed to keep Dawn quiet. But that’s doubtful now. Yesterday, the governor’s office threw together a last-minute press conference to get out in front of this new story by the Sun-Times. The state alleges that DeFraties, a former deputy director in the state’s personnel bureau, and Casey, her assistant, allowed “special applications” of people with political sponsors to have “an advantage over other applicants for state jobs.” The special applicants could fax — rather than mail — job documents, thereby putting them ahead in line, the state’s complaint alleges. […] But then there’s this: The inspector general’s notes, copies of which were obtained by the Sun-Times, raise questions about four applicants who were applying for jobs covered under the state’s Rutan consent decree, which bans politics as a factor in the hiring of most state jobs. There’s more. Attorney Carl Draper said DeFraties and Casey wanted to develop a computerized system for grading applicants so that evaluations of training and experience were evenhanded for everyone. After my story appeared last year, the State Journal-Register did a follow up and asked the CMS director about the personnel changes. When asked whether Casey and DeFraties had left CMS by their own choice, then CMS director Michael Rumman said, “Largely so.” Yeah, right. Oh, and then there’s this: Quinlan said the state has hired a private law firm, Schiff Hardin, at $295 an hour to continue the probe, investigating the 28 cases in which special and favorable treatment was allegedly given and exploring whether any such activities are still ongoing in state government. Quinlan said the state needed to hire the law firm because state law prevents the inspector general’s office from expanding the scope of its investigation. George Ryan did essentially the same thing when the feds started nosing around the secretary of state’s office. His parallel investigation helped him keep tabs on what the G was up to. Read all four stories, because there’s lots more… And wait for the real fireworks. One more thing. It probably doesn’t help the governor’s cause that his staff would be so disingenuous about why they did that quickie press conference yesterday. [Ottenhof] said the announcement was made Friday because Civil Service hearings for DeFraties and Casey are coming up soon. Bull.
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