More vacancy problems on another state board
Thursday, Apr 7, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune…
In an election year where Gov. J.B. Pritzker is routinely trying to fend off claims he hasn’t done enough to address crime or support law enforcement, the Democratic governor now is waging that battle on a pair of often-overlooked state boards.
Two boards that deal with the politically charged issues of crime and law enforcement — the Prisoner Review Board and the Illinois State Police Merit Board — are facing vacancy problems. […]
Now more questions have arisen as the seven-member merit board — which handles Illinois State Police hiring, firing, promotions and discipline — was recently left with three vacancies, meaning the board has the bare-minimum four members needed to act. And of those four, according to the board’s attorney and state records, only one has received Senate confirmation.
The merit board situation hasn’t reached the level of conflict seen between Pritzker and some Senate Democrats over the Prisoner Review Board. But the development comes as the merit board is still reeling from the agency’s former financial officer, a Pritzker 2018 campaign volunteer, being indicted on charges she padded her state paychecks with thousands of dollars in extra overtime.
This administration has had more issues with appointments than necessary. It’s kinda weird. Go read the rest.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 8:44 am:
I believe the last time they discussed appointments and positions within the administration they claimed that the majority of their applicant pool was unqualified. Hopefully they’ve done something to address that pool since then.
- Stacey - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 9:02 am:
Pardon my ignorance but are individuals invited to apply to these boards or does the Governor simply make appointments based on recommendations?
- I-72 Blues - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 9:13 am:
Don’t forget the guv yanked of McClain’s Quincy guys off the Prisoner Review Board which is also contributing to the issue.
- I-72 Blues - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 9:20 am:
*one of…pardon the typo.
- Sonny - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 9:28 am:
Funny when they have so many important political experts on their team.
- Nobody Sent - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 9:59 am:
Funny that no one thought it was a problem to appoint the recently retired head of the IL AFL-CIO to the ICC, which oversees utility construction work?
- Back to the Future - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:02 am:
This has got to be Rauner’s fault.
After 3 and a half years Team Pritzker is still having problems with the “governing thing” because of that Bruce guy.
- Lucky Pierre - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:07 am:
JB is always saying there is more work to be done.
We are certain to see tons of ads about all the work that is being done.
- Derek Smalls - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:44 am:
Stacey, anyone can apply to any state board or commission, see https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/bac/Pages/NominateForm.aspx
Nevertheless, the Governor is not constrained to select among those that apply, they can appoint anyone they want as long as they meet any statutorily required qualifications and/or are not barred from serving because of statutory limitations on membership.
- Back to the Future - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:55 am:
Bet team Pritzker misses Speaker Madigan in times like these.
It was so much easier when they could just call the Speaker’s Office to see who to appoint.
This “governing” stuff can be a lot of work. S/
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 10:58 am:
===It was so much easier when they could just call the Speaker’s Office to see who to appoint.===
… and yet, those in reality see Pritzker and his Crew shunned, often, the “Madigan” thoughts to “many” things, otherwise there wouldn’t have been the tension from those like McClain.
But, your take is more fun.
- Back to the Future - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 12:12 pm:
Fun is allowed on Capitol Fax along with
good music.
Makes the place more like home.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 12:56 pm:
===Nevertheless, the Governor is not constrained to select among those that apply, they can appoint anyone they want as long as they meet any statutorily required qualifications and/or are not barred from serving because of statutory limitations on membership. ===
It also does not appear that the Governor has publicly posted a list of board vacancies they are actively seeking to fill or done much to solicit applications to specific board vacancies from the public at large. If they don’t have candidates for those board vacancies I would be interested to see what process they’re going through to try to recruit people to those board vacancies. I’m not aware of much that would be considered a broad effort since the transition, and apparently the Administration felt that almost everyone who expressed interest through that process was not qualified which also begs the question which of the Governor’s staff was responsible for making that determination based off of which qualifications.
Most reasonable people need at least something resembling an ask before they would put the time and effort into applying for an appointment or at least need to know whether or not there is a vacancy. Especially in Illinois where which has not exactly been inclusive to people just showing up because they’re interested in helping since they are the famed “Nobody that nobody sent.”
- Galway Bay - Thursday, Apr 7, 22 @ 3:39 pm:
As we all know a full term is 48 months. JB is just about 39 full months in. Time to own it. Boards Commissions and Agencies are a function of that office. To continually fumble that duty is a joke.