* Bernie…
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?
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:24 am:
Good man, loyal Republican but he can work with both sides. Good choice!
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:25 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.
- Joe Schmoe - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:25 am:
Good pick. Plus he already has the Carhart.
- OneMan - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:26 am:
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
pork….
- Todd - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:33 am:
great. I think this is goign to be a good team. Hasn’t been the same since Chip, Mike and Craig left
- RNUG - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:34 am:
Good move. Proves Rauner is serious about trying to work with everyone.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:40 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.
- JoanP - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:40 am:
What, there’s not enough pork in legislation already?
(Okay, someone had to make the joke!)
- 12 inchers - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:42 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!!!!!!
- The Captain - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:45 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.
- Empty Chair - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:46 am:
He still hasn’t appointed several department heads, however.
- Secretariat - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:50 am:
Hiring good people like Jim is smart. Now.. Actually LISTENING to them is another skill.
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:51 am:
After Tuesday’s Power Point presentation, he better have a lot more bacon to get any legislators to attend his BBQs this summer.
- A guy - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:56 am:
This is a very shrewd move.
- Sine Die - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:07 am:
good choice-Jim’s well suited for this position.
- Responsa - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:10 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.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:12 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.
- flea - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:14 am:
Way to go Jimmy K.! Show them how the hog ate the cabbage.
- Cassandra - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:15 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.
- Obamas Puppy - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:20 am:
Great pick, good guy
- 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. This is a private industry practice that will serve Bruce well. Jim will be heard early and often. Don’t you worry.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 10:29 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…
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 11:11 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?
- Precinct Captain - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 11:36 am:
Gotta herd those cats.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 11:38 am:
===Who posted that?===
Glad to see your typing hasn’t suffered as your reading seems to be failing…
- walker - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 12:21 pm:
Throws a good BBQ
- Responsa - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 12:48 pm:
Eeyore–A person who perennially expects the worst; a pessimist; inspired by the woebegone donkey in children’s classic Winnie the Pooh.
- 1776 - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 1:32 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.
- steve schnorf - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 3:38 pm:
Jim is one of the really good guys. Great choice.
- Maxine - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 4:46 pm:
Congrats to you too SS.
- Sean - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 5:38 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…
- Raunerbot - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:06 pm:
Time to invest in pork bellies.
- Raunerbot - Thursday, Jan 29, 15 @ 9:14 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.