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Mary Morrissey appointed Chief Operating Officer at DPI
Thursday, Jun 14, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller Posted by Barton Lorimor * A top political adviser in Lisa Madigan’s organization has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Democratic Party of Illinois. Mary Morrissey, who was most recently deputy chief of staff in the Office of the Attorney General but had also served in high-level positions in Lisa Madigan’s political operation, started earlier this week, spokesman Steve Brown confirmed. As a direct report to the Executive Director, Morrissey will oversee the organization’s day-to-day operations. The Executive Director post has been vacant since Tim Mapes’s sudden resignation, and a search committee has been appointed to find a permanent replacement. Mary Ann Ahern initially reported Morrissey’s hiring along with a quote from an anonymous “source who worked for both Michael Madigan and Lisa Madigan.” The source called the executive director search committee’s work “an exercise in futility” in the wake of the Morrissey hire. Brown said there was a need for someone to perform those duties given the active campaigns for statewide and legislative offices. He said Speaker Madigan was involved in the selection and hiring process, and that Morrissey brings a lot of experience to the post. He said he was unaware if Morrissey is a candidate for Executive Director.
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- Perrid - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 4:52 pm:
If she’s just filling in temporarily then this is basically nothing. If she does get selected as the next ED then that is very significant, at least in my mind.
- Just Me - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 4:54 pm:
Nothing to see here. Move along.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 4:56 pm:
Hello, Search Committee, you just got played.
- illini - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 5:04 pm:
@ArthurAndersen - I have been talking with my state central committeewoman all afternoon about the appointment of Kasper and the process she is involved in to fill this position. I have not had a chance to get her reaction to this turn of events.
But I think you are absolutely correct - they got played.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 5:12 pm:
Ok. There’s an appointment.
Now let’s see if there is any fallout, or any public rumbling.
That’s where this is, no need to force it farther.
“Watch what does happen”
- Because I Said So.... - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 5:27 pm:
Mary is a solid hire.
- The Noid - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 5:46 pm:
Mary is a true professional and highly respected. She’s do an excellent job.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 6:07 pm:
Mary Morrissey is a solid, seasoned political pro. She won’t be an apparatchik for anyone. It’s a good hire.
- Wow - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 7:27 pm:
The Speaker wants to maintain control of DPI because controlling the purse strings means keeping a grip on Springfield. This hire was under the radar to either cut a deal and have Morrissey in the role as E.D., or have her there in any capacity and remain loyal to him. There’s no intention of changing the fundamental way business has been done.
As for Morrissey, I wish folks could truly understand the ins and outs of the Speaker’s operation. Certain staff (not everyone) tend to feel that the Speaker’s power translates to them, and they have the ability to intimidate others. I’ve encountered it — from Morrissey.
- walker - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 7:27 pm:
Highly competent COO. This provides the freedom to name a more public, more symbolic Exec Dir.
- Halfway retired - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 7:46 pm:
Professional and organized. Good choice.
- Tom - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 8:16 pm:
Morrissey is solid. She knows Illinois, campaigns and issues. The search committee is still looking for and ED. Time for everyone to settle down. Madigan is still party chair. Just because you want him out doesn’t mean he’s leaving. He wins, she wins. Enough said.
- Just Me - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 8:58 pm:
Madigan couldn’t find anyone from outside the Madigan world? He reached as far as his step-daughter to find someone?
- Wow - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 9:39 pm:
It’s not necessarily about the Speaker being in or out as the head of DPI, people can agree or disagree on that, but with the fix being in here, it’s clear the culture isn’t changing anytime soon.
- Unreal - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 9:45 pm:
So what is the point of the search commmittee again? This is a smack in the face to brave women like Sherri Garrett that step forward to denounce the culture created by people like Tim Mapes and Mary Morrissey. Hard to believe that anything will change when you continue to empower people that place loyalty above everything else.
- Unreal - Thursday, Jun 14, 18 @ 10:10 pm:
So what is the point of the selection committee? It’s clear that regardless of who they pick as ED, the fix is in. This is a smack in the face to brave women such as Sherri Garrett that risk it all to denounce a culture of harassment and intimidation created by people like Tim Mapes and Mary Morrissey that value loyalty above everything else.
- Rabid - Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 3:01 am:
GOP culture is the benchmark of society
- low level - Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 6:59 am:
Very solid appointment. I’m certain that Raunerites would love it if it was some clueless, incompetent fool such as they have gone through the last 3 years. Mary is tough and will act accordingly.
- I Call BS - Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 7:04 am:
@Unreal
Get real. Mary Morrissey didn’t create any such culture. Stop stirring “stuff”. You’re just trying to make something from nothing.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 7:09 am:
Perception to the public is pretty clear: All in the Madigan Family. Why bother then with pretenses of search committees?
- Wow - Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 7:29 am:
Same old, same old…
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-speaker-madigan-patronage-met-20140105-story.html
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20101215/BLOGS02/312159989/ag-madigan-puts-top-political-aide-on-government-payroll
- Suburbanon - Friday, Jun 15, 18 @ 8:13 am:
Mary has run local, district and statewide campaigns with a firm and fair hand. She has the knowledge and experience needed in the position. If the Rauner people hoped to milk this for some advantage, Mary will make sure that won’t happen. Better yet, her style is very different from Mapes. There will be a culture change, but without losing any political ground to Rauner and his inexperienced staff.