*** UPDATED x1 *** Claps stepping down
Friday, Jun 17, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From an internal IDHR e-mail…
Dear Colleagues:
I have had the profound privilege and honor to serve as Director of the Illinois Department of Human Rights for over thirteen years. It is, I readily admit, bittersweet, as I announce today that I will be leaving IDHR on June 30th.
Working together we have had many, many achievements in those thirteen years. I have been most heartened by the depth of kindness and support you have all shown me as Director–and I hope that you have felt the same in return. I have said it dozens of times in the past—I am deeply proud of your collective work, professionalism and ability to help people—people who come to our Agency for assistance when they need it the most.
I hope that you will continue to support the next Director, who will be announced later this afternoon, as the new Director undertakes this important role. I can think of no one better suited for this job and to lead the agency that I, honestly, very much love.
I wish you all the very best—and please know my kind thoughts and prayers are with each of you!
Sincerely,
Rocco Claps
Claps was a Quinn holdover, but I’m told this was a mutual decision. No ill will.
*** UPDATE *** Claps just confirmed that he’s heading to Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
- Qui Tam - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 11:16 am:
Claps left a history of investigative problems at IDHR. Good riddance.
I can only hope he doesn’t get replace by somebody worse.
- Agricola - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 11:29 am:
Now that’s a classy way to bow out. Godspeed, Rocco.
- steward - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 11:30 am:
I’ve heard from many current and former dhr workers that Rocco was personally a nice and good person. But I’ve also heard of some real personnel screw ups that occurred on his watch by his subordinates. Moral is in the gutter over there and the human rights investigator 1 title is a revolving door.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 11:35 am:
Claps was a Blago holdover. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
- GloriaF - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 11:52 am:
Rocco was a fantastic Director. You will be greatly missed…..Best of luck to you…
- Anonymous - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 12:00 pm:
Rocco Claps. What else does he do?
(I’m booing myself for that one - such a juvenile)
- Tom - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
Congrats, Rocco. Great guy, great job.
- ExCMS - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 12:15 pm:
The current IDHR chief legal counsel was forced on Claps by the Administration. She left each of her previous agencies (idot, cdb, and CMS) under less than favorable circumstances. One IDHR employee tells me that she’s created similar havoc at her current posting and made Claps decide to move on.
- Ghost - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 12:59 pm:
He was a good guy.
- A guy - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:03 pm:
===- Ghost - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 12:59 pm:
He was a good guy.===
He’s stepping down, not stepping off.
- Democrat Grrrl - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:33 pm:
Claps is one of the best. He will be missed. Best of luck to him in whatever he does next.
- Not It - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:37 pm:
Not just a Quinn/Blago holdover, but a Madigan staffer.
- Rasselas - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 1:55 pm:
ExCMS - who is the current general counsel? Googled it, but couldn’t find anything.
- Anon221 - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 2:56 pm:
Our loss, H’s gain. Do good works Mr. Claps:)
- NIU Grad - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 3:43 pm:
Rasselas - current CLC is Ngozi Okorafor
- surgevoter - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 4:14 pm:
Rocco Claps is one of the best. He helped get every human rights bill passed over the past 13 years. He’s the real deal! Will be missed.
- Amalia - Friday, Jun 17, 16 @ 4:53 pm:
of course he is heading to Hillary’s campaign! a great place to be.