This just in… Monken in, Illinois lauded
Tuesday, Mar 1, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller
* 2:15 pm - If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again…
It took two years, but Jonathon Monken finally got approval from the Illinois Senate to be director of a state agency. But he’ll be in charge of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, not the Illinois State Police.
The West Point graduate’s nomination, sponsored by state Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, sailed through the committee Tuesday on a unanimous vote, with no questions from the committee members. It later passed 52-1 in the full Senate, making the appointment official.
“You’re going to do good in your new position,” Sen. Antonio Munoz, D-Chicago, the committee’s chariman, told Monken.
Sen. Munoz was one of those who held up Monken’s nomination for State Police Director. Nobody thought the war hero Monken was a bad guy. They just didn’t believe a non-cop should be running the ISP.
Discuss, but try to avoid petty, personal attacks. I really don’t like it when state employees do that, and I don’t have time to, um, police you this afternoon.
* Meanwhile, Illinois did well in a recent Site Selection magazine ranking. From a press release…
The state of Illinois and Chicago today were named among the top 10 locations for new and expanded corporate facilities. Illinois ranked eighth among states and Chicago first in the metropolitan areas category in the annual analysis by Site Selection magazine, one of the nation’s premiere corporate real estate and economic development publications. […]
In 2010, Illinois had 205 corporate facilities locate or expand in the state. Illinois joins Texas, Ohio, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Georgia on the list of the top ten states with the most locations and expansions. With 184 projects, the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet metro area topped the list of cities in the tier one, top ten metropolitan areas list. Illinois companies that have relocated or seen significant expansions this year include Navistar, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Ford and Groupon, among others.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 2:30 pm:
Funny, I don’t see Wisconsin, New Jersey or Indiana on that “Site Selection” list. Must be an editing error.
- Developer_still - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 2:31 pm:
I served with Monken and Grant. They were attached at the hip. Both were decent . . . I would even say Grant was really good but neither were war heros. Veterans- yes. war heros- absolutely not.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 2:32 pm:
No, that can’t be right Rich. I read here from lots of commenters that Illinois was one of the worst places for business. That Site Selection ranking must be a typo.
I mean, all those people (cough VanillaMan cough) who wrote so many spot-on analyses of the income tax hike and its negative consequences for businesses (except U-Haul), they couldn’t have been, well, dead wrong, could they?
Partisan blinders trumped by facts once again. Go figure. Cheers to Site Selection magazine for giving us some very welcome good news.
- Little Lewbowski - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 2:38 pm:
Obviously the experts at Site Selection magazine didn’t talk to Senators Lauzen, Duffy, and Murphy about how bad the business climate in Illinois is.
Why would anyone want to relocate their business to a state with an incredible transportation network, a highly educated workforce, and a Governor who goes out of his to court businesses? What are the idiots at Ford, Mitsubishi, Navistar and Boeing thinking???
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 2:59 pm:
Site Selection went further than that. Here’s the lede:
“A company that was the talk of the Super Bowl has become a gold-plated example of the new Chicago economy: brash, sassy and hip.
Groupon, which ignited a firestorm of controversy with its irreverent ads during Super Bowl XLV, is one of several Windy City companies changing the future of Internet commerce.
Collectively, these firms contributed to Chicago ranking as the No. 1 metropolitan area in the U.S. in corporate facility expansion projects in 2010.
With 184 corporate real estate deals that meet the criteria for inclusion in the Conway New Plant Database last year, the Chicago-Naperville-Joliet metropolitan statistical area clobbered the competition.”
http://www.siteselection.com/issues/2011/mar/top-metros.cfm
- MM - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 3:20 pm:
So state agency directors are interchangeable. Let’s consolidate several agencies, as Gov. Quinn wants the schools to do.
- Stones - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 3:31 pm:
It only makes sense for a Cop to head up the ISP or any Police Dept. I think many of Weis’ image issues can be attributed to his non-police background. This is not intended to be an indictment of these men but in any organization the existing rank and file are naturally going to be reluctant to follow an outsider.
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 3:39 pm:
You mean Quinn isn’t just makin’ this stuff up?
He’s been aggressively attrcting business here the last couple of years?
He’s NOT a total idiot?
Vanilla Man?
- Palatine - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 4:01 pm:
Petty wars having nothing to do with qualification’s of running the Agency derails another fine man. Yes, the Senate sent a message of who’s incharge, but Quinn will get the last laugh.
- Fan of Cap Fax - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 4:09 pm:
Congratulations, Mr. Monken on your new position and thank you for your past service.
Now go kick some butt for Illinois!
- wndycty - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 4:40 pm:
But, but, the Illinois Republicans, as well as their buddies Scott Walker, Chris Christie, Mitch Daniels and Rick Perry all told us no one wants to do business is Illinois. Those corporations who did business in Illinois obviously don’t know what they are doing (sarcasm).
- Alexander cut the knot. - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 4:52 pm:
But for Groupon, aren’t these all retentions - companies that got something in return for not leaving or in return for additional investment?
- Jake From Elwood - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 4:57 pm:
Good point Alexander. Leaving one TIF District and jumping into another does not spur the economy, nor does it help units of local government. Just another subsidy.
- K3 - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 5:07 pm:
Let me guess who the one “no”vote was in the Senate. Shane Cultra-the house’s Mr No?
- anon - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 5:09 pm:
When is Quinn going to announce rest of Directors? At the rate he’ll be out of office befor he they are announced.
- Bitterman - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 5:22 pm:
Have to admit that I was a doubter but this is an independent voice giving some credit here. Quinn’s aggressive work with the corporate community is paying off. He needs to step up for the 250,000 small employers too and not just with tax or job credits.
- JimF - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 5:32 pm:
MM “So state agency directors are interchangeable. Let’s consolidate several agencies, as Gov. Quinn wants the schools to do.”
Apparently the school bill will be heard Thursday by the Counties & Towndships committee. Bill HB 1886 will abolish every school district in the state (867) except Chicago and create one for each of the 102 counties.
- Objective Dem - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 5:39 pm:
I think as a general rule the Governor’s nominees should be confirmed. However, the legislature has a duty to at least ask a few questions and not simply rubber stamp. This is particularly true due to the fact that Monken doesn’t have any experience related to emergency management that I know.
If Monken came prepared and could answer questions about the agency and demonstrated the right maturity/leadership, I would vote to confirm. But I think it is really disappointing that our legislature didn’t ask any questions.
We saw the results of inexperience with the great job FEMA Director “Brownie” did in leading the response to Hurricane Katrina.
- Ain't No Justice - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 5:39 pm:
Rich writes ==” I really don’t like it when state employees do that, and I don’t have time to, um, police you this afternoon.”
Hey Rich, not all state employees are like that or “snipe” all the time. We are beat up enough, ok? Thanks.
- DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 5:59 pm:
They won’t even let me look at Cap Fax at work. Let along comment. I have to use my personal laptop at lunch time.
So no sniping from this state employee.
- JBilla - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 7:03 pm:
Can we get a Cap Fax forum with any of the Indiana or Wisconsin Senatorial folks? And invite anyone who wants to debate? I think it’d be cool.
Great to see Site Selection give a good shout out, I think the City is coming up.
- Park - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 8:38 pm:
Based on this being the default agency for an unqualified candidate, I presume that IEMA is one that should be on the target list for elimination. Quinn being constitutionally incapable of eliminating any government spending, this will not happen.
Maybe Monken can invade someone, maybe a nuclear power plant or something. Go get ‘em kid.
- Living In Oklahoma - Tuesday, Mar 1, 11 @ 9:13 pm:
Good to know Site Selection Magazine is the standard bearer for ranking state government and economic stability. give me a break people. meh.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 7:07 am:
@Living In Oklahoma -
Actually, Site Selection Magazine IS the standard bearer for ranking which states are the best place to do business.
They are the Wall Street Journal of site selection.
Unlike the Taxpayers Foundation and other tax groups, Site Selection looks at ALL the factors that go into deciding where to locate a business, including the most important: workforce skills, transportation infrastructure, energy and communications infrastructure.
Unlike the Chambers of Commerce and other association groups that have big PACs and lobby in Springfield, Site Selection is non-partisan.
Unlike the main stream media, which prints whatever the CEO of Jimmy John’s — an entrenched Republican — says as gospel, Site Selection Magazine is talking every day to the VPs of companies that actually make the decisions about where to build and create jobs.
- Small Town Liberal - Wednesday, Mar 2, 11 @ 7:14 am:
LiO - It’s always pathetic to see people play down good news because it doesn’t make sense to them.