* Kelly Kraft, who was the governor’s budget spokesperson, then elevated to deputy budget director, then moved up to Gov. Pat Quinn’s press secretary this past July has applied to be the executive director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. The position has been vacant for a year.
Trouble is, Mayor Rahm Emanuel doesn’t like the idea at all…
The Quinn administration contended Monday that Kraft’s “extensive experience” with bonds and budget policy make her “well-equipped to manage (the agency) in a way that is fiscally prudent.” Further, spokeswoman Brooke Anderson said, Kraft’s marketing experience would be an advantage in promoting the ballpark, which in turn would “draw in more revenue for the state.”
Emanuel remains unconvinced.
“Mayor Emanuel has appointed three financial titans — Norm Bobbins, Jim Reynolds and Richard Price — to the ISFA board to ensure the Chicago taxpayers are being protected, and he believes the executive director position should be filled by someone with the proven experience of managing large organizations to find cost savings and efficiencies,” his office said in a statement when asked to react to the possibility of Kraft as the agency’s new executive director.
Bobbins is the retired former LaSalle Bank Corp. chairman, president and chief executive officer. Reynolds is chairman and CEO at Loop Capital. Price, whom Emanuel appointed last week, is chairman and CEO of Mesirow Financial. [….]
By trying to install a top aide at the sports agency, Quinn may be attempting to keep closer tabs on the [Wrigley Field renovation] issue [contemplated by Emanuel].
Quinn has a habit of appointing his friends to positions instead of looking outside his circle. I’ve asked this question before, but when was the last time Quinn did a national search to fill a major position? Ever?
That’s not to say that Kraft wouldn’t do a good job. I don’t have any problems with her. I’m pretty sure she’d be fine. But would she do the best job?
*** UPDATE *** From the governor’s office…
Governor Quinn believes an honest, well-qualified, hard-working woman with strong marketing skills and proven experience implementing budgets and reducing the operational costs of state government is just what the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority needs.
Kelly Kraft has extensive experience with bonds and budget policy from her three+ years working in the Office of Management and Budget, as well as having served as Assistant Budget Director - she would be well-equipped to manage ISFA in a way that is fiscally prudent. Kelly also has strong marketing experience and has developed key relationships in the business and media communities, which would help promote the stadium for other opportunities to draw in more revenue for the state.
More Background about Kelly Kraft
As Director of Communications, Kraft plans and oversees the execution of the administration’s internal and external communications, manages staff, and helps to develop policies that impact the people of Illinois and move the state forward.
Kraft has served as Assistant Budget Director, helping to guide Illinois’ Budgeting for Results, pension reforms, Medicaid restructuring initiatives as well as helping to reduce the state’s discretionary spending to 2008 levels. She had broad experience in government affairs and strategic planning. She has also managed complex subjects like debt issuance, financial reporting, contract negotiations, and budget policy. Prior to her career in public service, Kraft was an award winning and Emmy nominated journalist. She worked as a news anchor, reporter, producer and editor in major television markets such as Las Vegas, Buffalo, San Diego and Chicago. Kraft has also hosted and narrated the award-winning PBS documentaries “Kids in Peril” for law enforcement agencies and students in criminal justice programs. Kraft earned her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana where she studied Journalism and Political Science. She also studied at Thames Valley University in England. She grew up in Peru, Illinois in La Salle County.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:18 am:
Last night your team’s eliminated from the playoffs.
Today you wake up to this news on your stadium.
Wow! That’s gotta hurt.
- Aaron - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:19 am:
To turn the tables, is there any evidence that Emanuel’s appointments are capable of the oversight and policy direction necessary to direct the executive director? Are they to be lap dogs of Emanuel or independent overseers of the ISFA and its mission?
Would Kraft do the best job as executive director? Maybe, maybe not. But what exactly is the job of the executive director? To simply manage the staff and projects of ISFA? To be a leader on the financial aspects of the ISFA? To be a development dreamer? How one views the mission of ISFA and how one views the duties of the board of directors and the executive director is critical to who one sees as qualified (or not) for the executive director job.
- Been There - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:19 am:
===I’ve asked this question before, but when was the last time Quinn did a national search to fill a major position? Ever?===
Didn’t he run into trouble with the guy from Ohio that he picked to run the prisons? Or was he from here originally?
Also, if she gets this job she couldn’t defend her championship in the celebrity harness race at the state fair which would give you a leg up.
- Reality Check - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:20 am:
Dan Walker’s patronage boss strikes again.
- Irish - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:21 am:
Chicago Mayor appoints big banking firms execs who he might owe favors, plus they are financial people who do know the ropes fiscally.
Governor Quinn says wait a minute I got people I owe too, and I am the Governor. So I should get to put the top person in so I have control over this. Let’s make the will of the sports fan the law of the land!
Two patronage giants duking it out. My money is on Rahm.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:21 am:
“Mayor Emanuel has appointed three financial titans…”
Titans, as in mythical immortal deities?
Someone’s still mesmerized by big money, even after September 2008. Give me a break.
- MrJM - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:21 am:
Talking Head 1: “Now let’s look at Rahm’s crew a little.”
Talking Head 2: “They’re a colorful bunch. They’ve been dubbed ‘The Three Musketeers’… Heh heh heh…”
Talking Head 1: “And we laugh legitimately. There’s a banker… a different kind of banker… and a financier.”
(Apologies to The Simpsons’ “Deep Space Homer” — MrJM)
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:23 am:
(Whisper) I wanna be Pat’s friend …
Governor, there ar 14 million or so Illinoisans … nearly 320 million Americans … and Kelly Kraft (No offence Kelly, you just happen to be the example here … sorry.) is the BEST qualified,even without looking ANYWHERE to fill this position?
While very specifically towards her, Ms. Kraft may be fully qualified, … Rahm, who has chosen more than a few out-of-towners for positions, called out your inner circle, not Kelly Kraft … this is a shot at your Crew and their being appointed to positions at whims.
(Whisper) I wanna be Pat’s friend …
- Tops - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:26 am:
Quinn conducted national searches to fill major cabinet posts including most recently IDVA and IDPH.
- ANON - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:34 am:
Quinn’s idea of a national search is walking into Jack Lavin’s office and asking him if anyone they know lives in another state.
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:37 am:
Political back scratching on a big (Rahm) and less(Pat) big scale…nothing new here. Some of the folks Pat appoints are loyal, young, and smart. Some are just young and want a job. Pat was an outsider when he assumed the Governorship. This is both good and bad in my opinion.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:43 am:
=== Quinn has a habit of appointing his friends to positions instead of looking outside his circle. ===
Substitute “Rahm” for “Quinn” and “donors” for “friends.”
Just as you mean nothing personal against Kraft, I mean nothing personal by asking what qualifies Penny Pritzker to serve as a board member of the Chicago Public Schools, or her husband to serve as President of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners.
- Empty Chair - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:54 am:
Sorry, ANON, not true. Tops’ examples are great, actually. Erica Borggren was a speechwriter for Gen. Petraeus and was stationed abroad, so technically that was an international search. Also, LaMar Hasbrouck came from New York.
Also, since when is promoting people you trust a bad thing. If they know the Governor well and can carry out his vision without constantly having to check in with the Gov’s office, wouldn’t that be a good thing? Are those on here just calling out patronage because they don’t like the Gov.?
And where’s the criticism for Rahm? Reynolds, Bobins and Price raised a ton of money for Rahm, and each gave his committee at least $1,000. But because they’re “titans” it’s ok?
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 10:55 am:
Who cares what Emanuel thinks? It’s not his call.
- CircularFiringSquad - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:04 am:
Kelly would be a spot on choice to run this little club. Think of the exercise it would afford J.E. Jones Jr.
BTW din’t PQ go national before tabbing Mike Jones to run our lottery?
- OneMan - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:06 am:
I think we saw this in action when he picked his first state police chief…
- heet101 - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:07 am:
=====”he believes the executive director position should be filled by someone with the proven experience of managing large organizations to find cost savings and efficiencies,” ====
Since when are those qualities so sought after by Emanuel? Rahm’s wish list of requirements for the job read like Mitt Romney’s resume. I thought that finding efficiencies and creating profit where it did not previously exist disqualified you from even claiming to be a good and faithful human being, let alone managing anything having to do with government.
- Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:09 am:
Pat Quinn is against insider cronyism unless he is on the inside and they are his cronies.
- JakeCP - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:17 am:
Quinn and Emanuel both are trying to put their friends in the Exec. Position. For some reason I don’t think Quinn makes the best choices…….I say abolish the ISFA altogether.
- Sue - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:20 am:
when you have a mediocre Governor what would you expect but mediocre appointments
- rahm's friend - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:21 am:
ISFA has assets totaling about $400 million. Does the Governor really think that Kelly Kraft has the financial knowledge and skill to provide useful oversight? What is the largest budget she has ever managed? What formal financial training does she have?
Does this mean that the Governor doesn’t think $400 million is a lot of money? Or does he think that the taxpayers should reward his latest crony with a $180,000 annual salary, without any regard to whether she has the chops to do the job?
- rahm's friend - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:29 am:
YDD — Penny Pritzker holds a BA in Economics from Harvard College and a JD/MBA from Stanford University. She served on the board of the Annenberg Challenge. Her foundation has funded a number of educational initiatives.
Those seem like some decent qualifications to serve on the Board of Education.
- Shore - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:32 am:
Thames Valley University-which I have never heard of before and I used to live over there-no longer exists. They might want to update.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_West_London
- OneMan - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:33 am:
In terms of search vs. pal, not surprisingly to me it seems to be dictated on if the job is cool/not cool and hard not as hard…
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:38 am:
Personally I’d rather a long-time public servant and Illinoisan get appointed to this stuff than the banking exec crowd that Rahm is handing the city over to.
And as for the national search stuff… can anyone say that’s automatically a good thing after what Rahm came up with for the CPS top position?
- Quinn's friend - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:39 am:
Rahm’s friend, the state of IL budget is over $33 billion in GRF. That’s a lot of money too. If she was Assistant Budget Director, I’d say she had a hand in managing at least some of that, right?
- Been There - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:40 am:
===ISFA has assets totaling about $400 million.===
Considering that most of that $400 mil is the stadium and improvements itself there isn’t a whole lot to actually managed. Except for the sky box ISFA has, as the tenant, the Sox control the structure.
The payroll was less than a million a year back when the ED was making $175,000 so my guess is most of the time running the authority is paying the bonds, managing the cash and running some of the extra functions that rent the park (which are not many).
It might have a larger role if the authority gets involved with the Cubs but not that big of deal in my mind.
- Fed up - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:49 am:
Having her name attached to Quinn and budget are enough to convince me that she is not the right person for the job.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:49 am:
===Prior to her career in public service, Kraft was an award winning and Emmy nominated journalist. She worked as a news anchor, reporter, producer and editor in major television markets such as Las Vegas, Buffalo, San Diego and Chicago. Kraft has also hosted and narrated the award-winning PBS documentaries “Kids in Peril” for law enforcement agencies and students in criminal justice programs.===
No offense to Ms. Kraft, this ain’t her fault, this is the Guv’s Office Fault, but WHY go through the expanded resume that has no relation to being the ED for the Sports Authority. Narrating stuff is not helping Ms. Kraft’s cause, and its not her fault … trotting out the “everything someone has done since they were 18″ makes it seem as they HAVE to justify, with a resume heavy in Media for a Money Heavy job.
I feel bad for Ms. Kraft. Quinn’s Office, something to consider - less is more. Even in a resume.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 11:59 am:
Quinn promised to be a transparent governor.
Looks pretty transparent to me.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 12:08 pm:
- Michelle Flaherty -
My eyes Bled … that was ridiculously sharp.
Well. Played.
Things missing in Kelly Kraft’s Resume response from Gov. Quinn’s Office:
Safety Patrol and Class Play in Junior High School.
All Clubs and Sports participation in Senoir High School.
Sorority Offices held and philanthropic particiations, along with Summer Jobs during College.
GEEZ! Guv’s Office … THINK!
Less is More, unless More ADDS to More.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 12:13 pm:
–…(Emanuel) believes the executive director position should be filled by someone with the proven experience of managing large organizations to find cost savings and efficiencies,”–
The ISFA appears to have a staff of four, including a Director of Finance who manages the bonds (with assistance, I’m sure of those Titans of Finance). The Sox run the ballpark.
Having a bigfoot like Big Jim running the ISFA all those years didn’t keep taxpayers from giving away the store to Reinsdorf with the biggest sweetheart deal in sports stadiums.
http://www.isfauthority.com/content/?section=477§ion2=503&page=503
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20111026/NEWS02/111029790/reinsdorfs-sweet-deal-at-u-s-cellular-field-gets-even-sweeter
- walkinfool - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 12:16 pm:
I think Rahm and Pat share the right view of the respective roles —
The board should provide oversight, financial acumen, and strategic judgement.
Very experienced senior financial execs do make good board members, but their necessary political independence must be assured.
The executive director is a senior operating manager, who needs excellent tactical, cost, and people management skills, and can also be a positive marketeer and spokesperson.
I’ve heard good things about Kraft, from some smart people. She has a lot of the needed skills, but might be light on the detailed operations management experience.
These jobs just aren’t that hard, that we need to go outside of Illinois. We have many hundreds of individuals with world-class talents and credentials. The trick so to get more of them to step forward for the common good, for less pay, and more criticism.
- rahm's friend - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 12:18 pm:
Quinn’s friend - Here are some easy questions: Over what budgets did Kelly Kraft have direct oversight and control? How many direct reports did she have? What was her role in debt issuance? Did John Sinsheimer report to her? If she managed Budgeting for Results for OMB, why isn’t her name on the report?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 12:20 pm:
@Rahm’s Friend -
A career in education or an academic expertise in education are decent qualifications to serve on the Board of the Chicago Public Schools.
The Chicago Public Education Fund (No longer Annenberg) raised $2 million in 2010 and spent nearly $1 million on compensation for its top staff, including a $350,000 salary for their CEO. Granted, most of that money came from the Fund’s board (they claim 80 percent on their website, their 990 says 57 percent). But I don’t think that’s the way we want to see CPS run, is it?
Again, I personally admire Pritzker for a lot of things. But other than being uber-wealthy and politically connected, its hard to see what made her the most qualified candidate to serve on the CPS board.
And not too get too far afield, but this is why Chicago needs to go back to having a school board (and a park district board) that is elected. Like every other school board and park board in the state.
- rahm's friend - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 12:28 pm:
YDD — I was referring to the Annenberg Challenge, which Penny Pritzker was involved with. I don’t see that she’s involved with the current incarnation.
The question of election vs. appointment — eh, I don’t know where I come down on that one. In principle I agree with you. Then I look at Cook County’s elected judiciary and go, hmmm….
- Irish - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 12:28 pm:
The Governor’s office added. “And Ms. Kraft has played an important role in keeping the Governor on top of important issues, giving him the accurate numbers he uses in his press releases.”
- Rusty618 - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 12:28 pm:
Kelly Kraft doesn’t seem to keep a job very long, does she?
- walkinfool - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 12:36 pm:
@Wordslinger: Thanks for the info; the job’s even easier operationally than I thought.
@Irish: OMG
- Krusty - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 12:37 pm:
She was in the budget office for 3 years. Getting promoted is a sign of your bosses having confidence in you, no?
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 1:18 pm:
getting out of gomb after getting in is an achievement in of itself…
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 2:00 pm:
@Rahms friend:
Pritzker was chair of CPEF on their 2010 tax returns, where I pulled the data.
CPEF board includes Mr Rauner, Crowns, Griffins, and Zells.
- rahm's friend - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 2:07 pm:
YDD — I do not argue with facts.
- DuPage Dave - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 2:11 pm:
During the furlough days in 2010 Kelly Kraft told me I had to step up to the plate and be a team player. Then in 2011 she got a 48 percent raise from Quinn for taking on additional duties. Now he’s looking to bump her salary even further. The question is- what do you have to do to get on that team?
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 2:18 pm:
Check who PQ picked to chair this thing or see CFS’ hilarious post above and that should tell you a lot about his expectations for this Authority.
- Loop Lady - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 2:19 pm:
DD: Be young, have no family, work like a dog, follow orders, you get the idea…
- Empty Chair - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 2:41 pm:
It’s amazing that Quinn gets a bad wrap for wasting money on staff, yet everyone talks about how tight knit his team is. Counter intuitive? His team is lean and mean and the work really, really hard. Loop Lady is absolutely right.
In that vein, why is this not on the blog today: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-09-28/news/ct-met-chicago-budget-ig-0928-20120928_1_burglar-alarms-budget-cuts-revenue-options
Rahm Emanuel has a PR Staff of 39? Budget - $4 million.
Quinn’s press team is something like 5-6 people isn’t it? How many does Toni have? Where are you on this RM?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 2:44 pm:
On a side note, it seems strange that Rahm would pick a fight with Quinn at the Sports Authority at the same time he’s arguing he needs Quinn’s help addressing Chicago’s pension shortfall.
Odd strategy.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 2:44 pm:
===Quinn’s press team is something like 5-6 people isn’t it?===
LOLOLOL.
C’mon, man.
You ever heard of state agencies? They all have spokespeople.
- Rudy - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 2:50 pm:
Maybe her everyday presence as press secretary has worn thin on the Governor? He has his own ideas about media. This appointment keeps her on the team while establishing distance. Her experience might be needed for the next election.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 2:56 pm:
===He has his own ideas about media.===
So true. If she does leave her replacement would be the third press secretary in four months.
- rahm's friend - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 3:21 pm:
Empty Chair, I’m not sure Loop Lady meant all of that as a compliment. Because look who it excludes — anybody over 35 and anybody who doesn’t blindly follow orders.
A friend of mine, who used to work as a high-level staffer in a governor’s office, said the mark of a great staffer is that they would honestly quit if the Governor insists on doing something really stupid. (And the Governor has to value good people enough to walk away from the ledge rather than lose a trusted advisor.)
Not to mention — even in the Governor’s office, there’s way more than five or six press people.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 3:29 pm:
===Because look who it excludes — anybody over 35===
Ummm.
Nope.
Not gonna say it.
Wouldn’t be prudent.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 3:41 pm:
What’s going on Rahm’s Little Buddy? Such protests. Are you guys starting to figure out that governor trumps mayor in this state?
- Anonymice - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 3:58 pm:
==His team is lean and mean and the work really, really hard.==
If you mean his PR team, fine. The PR machine is the only thing associated with Quinn that actually does anything. When it comes to actually running state government, nothing gets done.
- rahm's friend - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 4:01 pm:
Word — we’ll see on this one.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 4:16 pm:
Just so I’m clear: is Rahm lobbying for Vaught to get the job?
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 4:19 pm:
“===Quinn’s press team is something like 5-6 people isn’t it?===
LOLOLOL.
C’mon, man.
You ever heard of state agencies? They all have spokespeople.”
Rich - To further bolster you point, these spokespeople are all CMS employees under the direction of a person dedicated to ensuring the governor’s interests are protected.
- rahm's friend - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 4:39 pm:
YDD — If you’re going to be funny, there’s no point in continuing this conversation.
- Small Town Liberal - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 4:47 pm:
- Not gonna say it. -
LOL
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 5:06 pm:
“wouldn’t be prudent”
Words to live by, Rich.
- Anonymous45 - Tuesday, Oct 2, 12 @ 7:55 pm:
Great posts everyone, what a cast of characters on this blog! LOL!
- jerry 101 - Wednesday, Oct 3, 12 @ 9:57 am:
Norm Bobbins is also deeply connected politically. He’s a former CPS Board Member. Rahm kicked him and his fellow Board members for Penny’s gang. So, one could pretty easily say that his appointment to ISFA is a bit of compensation for losing his seat on CPS’s Board.
James Reynolds isn’t just a Rahm flack, he’s a Pat Quinn flack. Pat Quinn appointed him to the Governor’s Economic Recovery Commission.
Pot, meet kettle.