* Gov. Pritzker named Jaime Martinez to this post just a couple of weeks ago. Rep. Chapa LaVia was named Assistant House Majority Leader about a month ago…
Governor JB Pritzker announced a new appointment to lead the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, nominating Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia to head the agency.
“The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs has faced numerous challenges, and it’s a priority for my administration to ensure that our veterans are treated with dignity and get the care and opportunities they deserve,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Representative Chapa LaVia is a steadfast advocate and effective change-maker, and I appreciate her willingness to continue to serve.”
“As a veteran, I’m honored to step up and serve all the men and women who have served our nation,” said Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia. “Illinois has much work to do to live up to our responsibilities to our veterans, and I am deeply committed to making Illinois the best state in the nation to be a veteran.”
Lieutenant Colonel (R) Jaime E. Martinez, the executive director of Illinois Joining Forces, asked the administration to remove his name from consideration to serve as the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.
“I appreciate Jaime Martinez’s dedicated and honorable service to our nation and to Illinois over many years and know that he will remain a champion for veterans and their families,” said Gov. Pritzker.
“I have asked Governor Pritzker to remove me from consideration for director at this time and want to personally thank him for his confidence in my leadership abilities and experience,” said Colonel Martinez. “This decision has not been made in haste, for those who know me I have always strived to serve my country and my state without recourse and will continue to follow that mission. I applaud the Governor for his leadership and for prioritizing the quality of life and safety of all Veterans and their families in Illinois.”
- OneMan - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 2:51 pm:
Confident she will do a good job, kind of surprised she would leave the assistant leader position for this.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 2:53 pm:
Here’s my full thought…
Chapa LaVia won’t do this job half way.
- Dan Johnson - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 2:55 pm:
Another big loss for the legislature and a gain for the Administration. She’ll be missed.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 2:56 pm:
===big loss for the legislature===
I half-heartedly agree.
- Duopoly - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 3:17 pm:
=I have asked Governor Pritzker to remove me from consideration for director at this time=
To spend more time with your family?
- Lincoln Lad - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 3:21 pm:
Hardly any appointments, and one of the few appointments being replaced. Chapa LaVia is a good choice… but odd it didn’t start that way.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 3:24 pm:
===is a good choice… but odd it didn’t start that way.===
They wanted a full vetting, not just a half.
- Centennial - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 3:26 pm:
Odd timing. Also odd (given how focused the Administration is on diversity) that her previous statements on the floor wouldn’t give them pause.
But maybe it’s water under the proverbial bridge…
- Fax Machine - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 3:34 pm:
I believe this makes Representative Arroyo the Senior member of the House Latino Caucus, having a month of seniority over Reps Crespo & Hernandez.
Or is it month-and-a-half?
- NIU Grad - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 3:43 pm:
I have a feeling this won’t end well…
- SAP - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 3:47 pm:
Smart move by the Governor. Just hope he wasn’t too clever by half.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 3:48 pm:
It’s a good career move. With the coming legislative re-mapping, who knows what her constituency might be if she only had half her old district.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 3:50 pm:
I’m half-minded to give a full “well done” to these measures comments.
Top shelf work.
- Reserved - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 3:51 pm:
For what it’s worth, just about anyone would have second thoughts about taking a job where the prior position holder is under criminal investigation.
Speaking of which, what’s going on with the new AG and the Quincy criminal investigation?
- Flyer - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 3:53 pm:
Good appointment for the Veterans. She is very influential with the House members a well respected among Senate members.
- Been There - Friday, Feb 15, 19 @ 4:06 pm:
Was her leadership position one that was elected by the Latino caucus?