32 Comments - Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:31 pm: I stand by this, every word. My comment from the link Rich provided; ===It’s absolutely critical, like fundamentally critical, that Pritzker has one or a few that will tell him “no”, why it’s “no”, and also give the other side, politically and governmentally, to his governing. Needs wonks, needs political types, and needs people who first, last, always are looking out for the state, the people, and the governor. This ain’t Pollyanna, this is called actual governing. My sincere hope is that Pritzker, and those who he trusts, and loves, and love him back enough to push back… my hope is that a professional Administration is formed, with solid old hands, new fresh faces with original ideas, and apolitical wonks… and Pritzker listens, assesses, and governs with the state, and her people, first on his mind. If Pritzker wins, I hope for his Administration. Oswego Willy=== Every. Single. Word. - Retired Educator - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:33 pm: I think you were right. The Chief needs some experience with the inner working of State Government. That being said, a fresh face with fresh ideas can be good. Experience leads to understanding and that would be a welcome change. - potato - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:34 pm: Rich, kudos to you for keeping an open mind about this and sharing your line of thinking with your readers. In my opinion, more than anything, Pritzker will need a person who isn’t a “yes” man/woman and who is humble enough to know he/she doesn’t really know what they are walking into. The person must realize the best thing they can do is shut up and listen - really listen - for the next few weeks and put together a team of people who want to work together. They need to function as a team. Inevitably, there will be people vying for their own political power so they can make a name for themselves. Those people need to be put in line immediately. - Arsenal - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:36 pm: I thought of Mike Z when you wrote that, too, but I also thought that running a U.S. Senator’s office was “close enough”. Collens seems like another thing entirely. - Ok - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:38 pm: This is helpful advice for Rauner in his second term… … - Arsenal - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:39 pm: ==The Chief needs some experience with the inner working of State Government. That being said, a fresh face with fresh ideas can be good. == Thing is, the next Governor of Illinois, whoever that is, is going to hire a bunch of people, so no one job needs to check all the boxes. But CoS seems kind of ideal for the “make the trains run on time/know where the bodies are buried” role. - Team Warwick - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:46 pm: What really matters in Executive Office is you must be coachable. Every spot on the team. You must ask questions before making policy initiatives or rendering decisions. Find out the pros and cons of something before you step in it. Are you coachable? Any of you? - RNUG - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:47 pm: It doesn’t have to be the Chief of Staff, but someone on the team needs to have enough political experience to be able to identify the players and their individual agendas … which may not match their stated agendas. Government experience at a fairly high level, either legislative or administrative, helps. - Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:53 pm: Whether or not they have state government experience, a good chief of staff will have the power of abstract thought, and know his or her own weaknesses in the job. I remember once, a thick-headed political type telling me, “I am almost always the smartest guy in the room, and when I’m not, I’ll tell you.” He didn’t last too long, because he really knew almost nothing, and he didn’t know that he knew almost nothing. But he did give me a new philosophy, “I assume I am always the dumbest guy in the room, and when I’m proven wrong, I won’t say a word about it.” - Streamwood Retiree - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:54 pm: The last thing we need is someone who wants to run the state like a business. Illinois is not a business. it’s a government and needs to be run like a government. A tech or business type doesn’t understand that. And please God, I hope JB doesn’t have a Twitter account like Trump. - illini - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:55 pm: We have learned some painful lessons these past 4 years. I hope and pray that we do not have to live through these painful times yet again. Thank you, Rich, for your cogent and pointed comments. Our next Governor needs to pay attention to your advice. - 47th Ward - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:55 pm: === What the next governor (whoever it is) needs in a chief is someone he can totally trust to always look out for his and the state’s best interests. People are going to be coming at him from all directions with their own agendas, and with their hands or their swords (or both) out. So that chief will have to remind him that Illinoisans put him in that job for a reason and sometimes that means saying “No” to an ally and also means finding a way to get to “Yes” with others.=== Yep. Often times, telling the Governor “no” is the hardest thing to do but also the most necessary. It takes tact, trust and truth-telling. The Governor works for the whole state, and the Chief needs to constantly steer everything toward that North Star. If everybody isn’t pulling in the same direction, the administration will be rudderless, adrift and most likely headed for the shoals. The seas are rough and unpredictable and the Captain needs a reliable helmsman (or helmswoman). - Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 12:57 pm: I’m probably more interested in the “kitchen cabinet” types. While not necessarily involved in the day to day, the influence, politically, and the raw politics to governing, their advice and counsel could be, doesn’t mean it will by any measure, a signal to how things could shake out. Pritzker is going from a 200 or so campaign staff to dozens of agencies, hundreds of folks he and his administration may take responsibility for to move his agenda. Then there are the thousands of state workers. But, let’s get to the manageable, and the pinnacle… how to shape an Administration, and my thoughts above, and the kitchen cabinet, they will speak to a lot of it. I keep in mind, if Pritzker wins, I want him to succeed, that means Illinois succeeds, and helping Pritzker succeed should be a goal, even well within partisan divisions. - Ducky LaMoore - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:05 pm: ===I keep in mind, if Pritzker wins, I want him to succeed, that means Illinois succeeds, and helping Pritzker succeed should be a goal, even well within partisan divisions.=== That’s a darn rare sentiment these days. - Anonymous - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:06 pm: Wonder how Bruce feels when he reads stuff that clarifies the cliche about “measuring the drapes”. He may not like it, but I do. - NIU Grad - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:06 pm: Another element I’m curious about: If Democrats lose some seats nationally, including some governor’s mansions, might we be seeing some top agency people brought in from elsewhere? Then again, we did recently experiment with bringing a former Governor of Hawaii in… - Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:07 pm: ===That’s a darn rare sentiment these days.=== Thanks. After 4 years of Raunerism, I need a state government, at all levels to work, and work together. Two years without a budget, we need to make up for that and then some. Raunerites left in the GA better realize… they need to show results not roadblocks, to get into the discussion. - Gallactic Cupcake - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:11 pm: State government experience for a COS should not be a prerequisite. That said, if the applicant doesnt have it then other demonstrable skills (like the aforementioned ones in the post) need to be present. On the flip side, lots of COS’s with state government experience have failed. And not just cause the G didnt listen. - Generic Drone - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:16 pm: I also want a Governor who will listen to opposing ideas and one who is willing to go against party if that is in the states best interest. A little give and take so to speak. A Governor with an open mind. Ya know. Just the opposite we have had the last 4 years. - Soccermom - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:16 pm: I don’t really agree, Rich. When governors bring in those people they “trust most,” that easily translates into “the chief voice in the echo chamber.” I think we need somebody who understands how government — specifically, Illinois state government – works. I don’t know how someone from outside could possibly be effective if they don’t know the players without a scorecard. (Although I do think it’s also critically important to have people from other states in key positions, so we have at least the possibility of moving beyond parochial solutions. It will be interesting to see who is in put in charge, and how long it takes to form a cabinet. That should give us a clear idea of how professional and effective this new administration will be. - Rich Miller - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:23 pm: ===if they don’t know the players without a scorecard=== I see your point, but people without lots of state experience can still know many of the players. - Huh? - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:30 pm: “range of abilities and a bond of trust.” Would add the following: Respect others, particularly those who are needed to pass the legislation needed to achieve the agenda. Honesty. We have seen the last 4 years that the lack of honesty has eroded what little goodwill could have been grown. Don’t take everything personally. Differences of opinion are to be expected. Achieve the do able. To use a worn cliche, half a loaf is better than none. Be polite, responsive and credible. - Political Animal - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:31 pm: Mike Z was a horrible chief of staff and directly responsible for Rauner’s complete failure of a legislative salary. His pet, Goldberg, was just as bad. The only reason Rasmussen didn’t work out is because Rauner was too stubborn and ignorant to heed good advice. - Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:33 pm: Rich +1 Also, imho, Pritzker should utilize Stratton in her Lt Gov roll in a similar role as Gov Thompson used LG Ryan. LG Ryan had been Speaker and Thompson smartly made the most of this legislative experience and the relationships and goodwill he brought to the Governor’s office. Similarly, Pritzker should ask LG Stratton to work out of the Governor’s Office in the Capitol when the GA is in session and to spend time with her former colleagues. Rauner, Quinn, Blago - all struggled with GA relations, all lacked a former legislator as LG. Play your players. - Political Animal - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:35 pm: Legislative strategy*, not salary. Autocorrect to my fat fingers on iPhone. - Oswego Willy - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:35 pm: ===Mike Z was a horrible chief of staff and directly responsible for Rauner’s complete failure of a legislative salary. His pet, Goldberg, was just as bad. The only reason Rasmussen didn’t work out is because Rauner was too stubborn and ignorant to heed good advice.=== … and yet, it was when Rauner cleaned house of the Superstars, hired the BTIA(tm), by every measure of polling and public scrutiny, including press scrutiny, Rauner, as a white male, was far worse off with the IPI running the store. - JoanP - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:41 pm: = except the governor didn’t listen nearly enough= You can have the best, most highly qualified COS, but if you don’t listen, it doesn’t matter. - walker - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 1:50 pm: Scott Fawell’s plus 1 - Shytown - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:04 pm: Well said - DuPage Dave - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 2:47 pm: Since Rauner could never count votes, I don’t think it mattered much who his chief of staff was. - Honeybear - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 3:27 pm: Sorry to bring the same dish, my Navy experience, for a third time. This casserole has crispy onions on top. Salty Chiefs paired with Ensigns. Check But here’s the new bit. To “fight the ship” think about the elements the Navy needs Good order and discipline across all ranks Achieved in Goverment by solid labor management relationships. Work with the unions. Firm but fair. Rauners sociopathic relationship to Labor damaged this severely. Repair it and keep it as a priority. It will keep things good with the folks below deck. Clear cut authority, chain of command and the communications lines to match it. Openness and transparency With officers, follow wardroom etiquette ( google it) Praise in public criticize in private Never ever disparage or dishonor your ship. Saying some against our Illinois is gonna get you in a scrum. Rauner, my God. Can you see the Captain of the real USS Illinois saying his submarine was structurally wrong and was not as good as the USS Indiana? A real XO with clear cut duties. Rauner never really used or empowered anyone. He was a tyrant. The Captain cannot fight the ship alone. Officers-never surprise the command. Always be transparent open and forthcoming. Go Read the Naval Officers Guide. Go watch YouTube videos about life aboard a carrier. Study how they interact and discipline. How they communicate. Look these folks have to work in an environment were lives are on the line…..just like government. Fair winds and following seas JB Oh and when COB OW, Word and others say something Love of God, listen and factor it in. And when Rich posts something Well……you best treat it as the best headsup you’re ever gonna get. - Arthur Andersen - Friday, Nov 2, 18 @ 3:43 pm: Thoughtful post, Rich. I recalled later that the late Art Quern did not have a lot of government experience, but was a great Chief for Thompson. In that instance, there were others in the front office who had that experience like Paula Wolff and the team was very strong as a result. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.