* Gov. Bruce Rauner’s chief of staff Mike Z is an old pal of mine. Some folks don’t like his boss much, and maybe they don’t care for others in that crew [cough!*Goldberg*cough!], but pretty much everybody has a soft spot for Z. So we can’t pass up this chance now that he’s made Crain’s Chicago Business’ esteemed 40 under 40…

       

56 Comments - Michelle Flaherty - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 11:44 am: Does anyone in that administration own a tie? - very old soil - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 11:47 am: A young Rich Miller? - downstate commissioner - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 11:47 am: Looks like a nice guy; how did he hook up with Rauner (who isn’t)? - The Captain - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 11:49 am: Nice jacket. I guess the props department from My Blue Heaven was having a sale. - A guy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 11:49 am: Sometimes true quality comes if you start at the back end of the alphabet. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 11:51 am: His beard has more clout than most lobbyists under the Dome. He doesn’t wear a tie, because he is always winning. He waits for you to try to spell his name to outflank out. His work ethic includes a day off consisting of working only 15 hours that day. His haircut is simple, so he has more time to defeat you. He can make Goldberg write something pleasant without saying a word. He’d tweet his own last name if Twitter added more characters in a single tweet. He’s working so long, he forgot to there was a Crain’s and a “40 under 40″ list to be on He is “Z”, a “40 under 40″… and deservedly so. Congratulations. OW - Get a Job!! - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 11:53 am: This is my face when Rep Lang calls And This is the face when Rep Sandack calls - DuPage - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 11:53 am: He could fly like an eagle except he is working for a turkey. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 11:55 am: “Leave the tie, take the Cannoli” - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:04 pm: “…’Toughskins’… not just for kids… at Sears…” - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:06 pm: “Well I guess the move I’m best known for is ‘blue steel’ and then there’s ‘ferarri’ and ‘la tigra’.” #Z-lander - too obvious - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:09 pm: I should be back in Springfield busy with my boss not presenting a balanced budget, but this is fun! - JFM - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:09 pm: Is this from a Just For Men photo shoot? - Skeptic - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:14 pm: “Does anyone in that administration own a tie?” Ties clash with Carharts. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:18 pm: “You call THAT… a beard?” - Chris Kaergard. - cdog - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:18 pm: Congrats! That said, the opposing facial expressions do beg …… Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde! Ha! - Precinct Captain - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:29 pm: The eyes of a self-inflicted budget crisis - Georg Sande - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:32 pm: Get a Job!! +1 - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:48 pm: “You’re not gonna like the way he governs, I guarantee it” - DuPage Don - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:52 pm: Zolnierowicz is top notch! - Captain Illini - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 12:55 pm: His beard is thick, yet his chest bare…he can will hair to grow with his mind… His suits are made from the finest silk woven from worms he cultivated… His work day makes him navigate Chatty Kathy’s, Harley riding billionaires and rich men’s climate change - Goldbergs - practice for the next Olympic downhill… He’s the most interesting man in Springfield, and when he drinks, his left elbow resembles Lincoln’s nose - worn from those rubbing and waiting for greatness… …”When I’m at the Capital, I’m always close to the Fax…Stay with Rich Miller my friends!” - Shark Sandwich - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:03 pm: “Do you know if the hotel is pager friendly?” - Wow - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:03 pm: Classy man. R.G. Could learn from him - Gruntled University Employee - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:04 pm: Isn’t that the dude from Home Improvement and Family Feud? - Geneseo Gent - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:05 pm: I had lunch with him and I was happy I did. He is a real nice guy that I would invite over for dinner if he were in town. As long as he didn’t bring his boss along! - SAP - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:05 pm: Trying to catch up to Kaergard. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:06 pm: “Sir, if you could, put the gold chains under your shirt or take them off… “ - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:07 pm: Goldberg go away now were was I - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:09 pm: “Do you know how hard it is to find slacks to match this coat?” - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:09 pm: Dr Carson’s conjoined twins operation - IllinoisBoi - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:11 pm: Not-so-Silent Bob. - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:11 pm: “Lance, if you tweet these pictures… “ - lake county democrat - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:14 pm: All eyes on me when I walk in No question that this boy’s a ten Don’t hate me cause I’m beautiful Don’t hate me cause I’m beautiful - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:16 pm: - IllinoisBoi - I thought of Kevin Smith too… “I guess we can shoot this from the waist up, no one needs to know he’s wearing shorts…” - John A Logan - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:21 pm: The readers of Cap Fax needs to take up a collection to buy ties for the Rauner administration. - Stu - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:21 pm: - Gruntled University Employee - My thoughts exactly. “I don’t think so, Tim” https://youtu.be/3d5zhv2TDag - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:28 pm: “Okay, turn your head on more of a slant…this is looking really good…k, hold still right there. Now, just imagine you’re weightless, in the middle of the ocean, surrounded by tiny little seahorses.” - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:35 pm: “Don’t tell the governor, but you’re a much better model… and your lines… striking… “ - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:36 pm: I’m under forty just like my bosses poll numbers - pool boy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:40 pm: Smoking jacket-$200,just for men-$30,working for a jackwagon-priceless. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:42 pm: Zoolander three - Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:43 pm: “It’s not my age, it’s the miles I’ve logged… ” - Fake “Z” - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:53 pm: ===R.G. Could learn from him === LOL Who do you think gives Richard those orders? - Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:58 pm: ==Mike Z is an old pal of mine== I’m still trying to figure out if it’s a compliment or an insult to be featured in a caption contest on Capitol Fax. - Austin Blvd - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 1:58 pm: Mike Z. makes Business 40 under 40. In other news, Moody’s warns Illinois it is moving closer to junk status. Rauner congratulates Z for helpin’ run IL like business. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 2:14 pm: ==I’m still trying to figure out if it’s a compliment or an insult== I believe the correct answer to that query is “yes” - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 2:23 pm: Mike Z and his conscious - Rich Miller - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 2:44 pm: Left: Beginning of dinner with Miller (who has written more bad stuff about his boss). Right: End of dinner with Miller (notice the smile and tilting body). - A guy - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 2:48 pm: Left: Oh God, Miller’s here. Right: Oh good, Oscar’s here. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 2:48 pm: Freshman year book picture,and drama class photo - illini - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 3:06 pm: I guess that 26 years ago my beard was only starting to show a few unruly grey hairs. Detected a few in this picture. Just wait though until you get as old as me! Congrats on the recognition, but now how can we get through to your boss. - Politix - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 3:18 pm: “Does anyone in that administration own a tie?” Seriously…or button a jacket properly…or put a matching outfit together. Sheesh. - Way Way Down Here - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 3:18 pm: And I’m too sexy for your party Too sexy for your party No way I’m disco dancing - Molasses - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 3:30 pm: Hmmmm. Is he really such a great guy if he takes a job working for Rauner? - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 3:32 pm: I part my hair to the right and lean to the right too - Anonymous - Wednesday, Nov 25, 15 @ 4:03 pm: “Just promise me this won’t end up on Facebook.” Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.