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* The media reaction to Jack Lavin’s elevation to chief of staff has been wholly predictable. Tribune…
Quinn raised eyebrows when he first brought Lavin into his administration following the arrest and impeachment of Blagojevich due to Lavin’s ties with convicted fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
Lavin served as Blagojevich’s director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity after Rezko recommended him for the post. Lavin once worked as the chief financial officer for Rezko’s food-related business, and took more than $12,000 in donations from Rezko’s firm while considering a run for elected office in 2001.
Despite those connections, Quinn spokeswoman Ashley Cross said Lavin has the governor’s “full confidence.” Lavin previously worked for Quinn in the state treasurer’s office.
AP…
Lavin, who has known Quinn for years and worked for him when Quinn was state treasurer, used to run the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity under Blagojevich. Lavin also has ties to convicted Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko.” Rezko had recommended Lavin for the DCEO job and Lavin previously worked as a financial officer for a Rezko company.
* The Blagojevich and Rezko stuff is just left to hang out there without any real explanation. Zorn did much the same thing yesterday.
But, here’s how I look at this, and have since Quinn first elevated Lavin after Quinn became governor. Lavin worked for Rezko and Blagojevich and came through clean. He wasn’t dragged into either man’s trial. As far as I know, he’s never been the target of any probe. He went to work for Rezko when there were no concerns about the man’s criminality. Quinn actually recommended him for that job. He took over DCEO when tons of Democrats flocked to the first Democratic governor in 26 years. If there was a place to get in trouble working for Rod, it was DCEO, and he didn’t.
* My real problem here is that Gov. Quinn replaced Jerry Stermer with Michelle Saddler in August. At the time, Quinn was still having trouble with women and minority voters. Now that the election is over, Saddler goes back to running DHS and the white male is promoted. Also, because of the expected media reaction over Rezko/Blagojevich, Quinn probably couldn’t have appointed Lavin to the spot during the campaign. Saddler is a decent person, but I can’t help but feel that she was used.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:45 am
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It is my understanding that Michelle could have remained COS but she asked to return to DHS. Those that know her, know her heart is with Human Service issues.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:53 am
For what it is worth, Saddler really wanted to go back to DHS. That doesn’t mean there is not the possiblity she was used, but it is not as though she is being pushed out of the Chief of Staff job.
Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 11:54 am
I heard she had to be convinced to take COS. She really wanted to stay at Human Services. Now she is going back.
Comment by Niles Township Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:02 pm
Rich, it is nice of you to think about whether women and minorities are being promoted! maybe a running tally of this is in order for Quinn and others.
Comment by amalia Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:07 pm
I know the previous comments to be true. The DHS job was her real passion. This was her preference.
Comment by Selena Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:07 pm
Rich, Did anyone really vote for or against Quinn because of his Chief of Staff?
Comment by UISer Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:13 pm
A lot of prominent political and business types, GOP and Dem alike, played ball with Rezko and Blago for a long time before the federales were on them. Many continued to do so after it was clear they were in the feds crosshairs.’
For Lavin, guilt by association isn’t fair, but his resume is what it is and it’s just standard J-101 to include it.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:15 pm
Well Rich, once again your analysis of this is spot on, but you spun out at the end. Remember, if there is one thing that i never saw from my experience in state government is that I never saw a 4d3/exempt position that someone or somebody’s someone didn’t want. All of Gov. Quinn’s inner circle top staffers are loyal to him, he know’s and so do they. I mean really, did she take a bullet by being his COS? No. It’s not like what Clayton Harris did when he took the job from Rod. He was on a career countdown, not upswing. Quinn won the election, and real or perceived, she was his top staffer when this happened, her value goes up, not down. If she was used, many of us would only be so lucky. Jack is the natural choice for COS because he is the operational bridge between past practice and present expectations. He has truly vanquished his enemies/detractors/competitors within and out of the Governor’s office. The true test of his moxie/legacy/operational skills will be his selection of the best minority top staffers to help fulfill Quinn’s vision for Illinois. The current bunch of minority agency directors and many others didn’t lift a finger for Quinn during the campaign, and even helped Brady covertly. Let’s see how he deals with them before we judge.
Comment by friend of a friend Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:28 pm
Both Jack and Michelle are strong, dedicated professionals with a public service orientation above and beyond ego, which is what we want to see in Illinois government.
I would assume the conversation about this change in roles began with Michelle being interested in a more hands-on role at DHS. She does not lose prestige in this move and Jack has a sound record which stands on its own well above Blago & Rezko, who simply disappointed everyone.
Michelle and Jack can be proud of themselves, their spirit of public service, and the integrity of their work. They each could be in the private sector earning way more, but they choose to be on duty when Illinois and the Governor needs them.
Comment by Statewide Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:36 pm
Dont you think the real reason the promotion happened now is because the election is over and therefor not a campaign issue?
I mean, as all insiders know, Lavin has been in line for the CoS position from the beginning, but it was not possible because either 1.) too close to the Blago indictmen and 2.) could be a story during the election.
Lavin is a great guy and Quinn needs to clone him so he has more people like him. I am sure Lavin would never create a “Canoe Czar” or release prisoners during an election year.
Comment by Wonder Man Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:36 pm
I agree with how wordslinger put it. If anything Lavin was pretty much put in the closet and not given very many tools and funding at DCEO. Not everyone associated with Blago should be tainted. They should be scrutinized more than someone coming from the outside but just working for the previous democratic governor shouldn’t be the litmus test.
Comment by Been There Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:37 pm
Saddler’s passion may be with DHS but Quinn used her…she knows she was used and we know she was used but isn’t that Quinn’s history….He surrounds himself with white men, plain and simple
Comment by Streeterville Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:38 pm
===it’s just standard J-101 to include it. ===
It would also, then, be standard to include that he’s never actually done anything wrong.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:38 pm
==and the white male is promotoed==
Dan Quayle is back? What is he doing on our side of the state line?
I agree that the appointment of Saddler during the campaign seems cynical. The sad thing is that two years ago, a cynical move by PQ would have disappointed me, but my expectations are a lot lower nowadays.
Comment by Pat Robertson Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:39 pm
Rich,
With Lavin as the COS, let’s hope that he begins to bring on some senior staff, i.e. DCOS, Directors, etc., that are reflective of the State of Illinois. This administration has to remember that it was the minorities and labor that were loyal to the Democratic Party and that put Quinn over the hump. The State has an abysmal record when it comes to ensuring that minorities are hired within State government, 3% of the State’s workforce is Latino and 8-9% are African Americans. COS Lavin has an opportunity to raise the bar and put some minorities in Quinn’s administration that are in key positions of power.
Comment by Tell it like it is... Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 12:44 pm
Quinn has created the appearance that he will dispose of someone, even someone excellent, in a heartbeat, if there is any political reason to do so. This compounds the problem that he seems to have trouble sticking to his principles, and ends up making everyone mad instead of just his authentic opponents.
It just so happens he has managed to disrespect quite a few minorities along the way. Art Turner, Michael Randle and Jorge Montes come to mind - very different situations, but same pattern. This pattern has made a lot of progressives question his progressive heart and it has weakened Quinn as a leader.
Comment by U.S.S. Wonk Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 1:31 pm
The story on Lavin’s background will fade…but could have been announced closer to Christmas.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 2:37 pm
Rich think Quinn will get around to forcing the 2 African American U of I trustees that refused to resign out now that the election is over. Its not cynical to believe race plays a role in Quinn’s decisions when it obviously does just ask the U of I trustees that had to resign.
Comment by Fed up Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 2:47 pm
I doubt that naming Saddler Chief of Staff during the campaign had any outcome on the election.
I certainly don’t think she was picked because of her gender and race. I think she was picked because next to Lavin, she was most qualified.
And it sounds like she not only knew it was temporary, but insisted it be temporary.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 3:21 pm
The issue about Michelle Saddler isn’t helped by Quinn’s sudden about-face on the Put Illinois to Work program. All election cycle long he was the governor with a heart who couldn’t bear the thought of taking away jobs from the thousands of low-income minorities helped by the program. As everyone knows it was the minorities who helped Quinn over the hump on November 2nd. Of course they probably didn’t know about his troubling tendency to renege on practically everything he says. I guess they know now.
@Tell It Like It Is
So exactly how many minorities did Lavin surround himself with as head of DCEO in decision-making capacities helping him to run the agency? If none, why think that he will all of sudden will do this now if his history suggest otherwise? Ditto Quinn? Quinn had a minority in a highly visible real position of power in his administration as COS, but then gave it to a white guy when he no longer needed the minority in that highly visible position of power and the coast was clear.
I am not sure why so many on here think this was all just a big coincidence or are trying to side-step the issue by talking about both Jack and Michelle are nice and good people. FWIW, I don’t think Lavin or Quinn are racist, but I do think that the issue raised here about why Michelle Saddler was chosen and then unchosen is legitimate one worthy of inspection.
Comment by BF Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:15 pm
Sorry forgot to write in my previous post: for Quinn to have not known that Put Illinois to Work was a sinking ship certainly by mid-October is too hard to believe.
Comment by BF Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 4:25 pm
Diversity is NOT one of Quinn’s strong suits and for the life of me I don’t see why African American legislators don’t hold him accountable. Just take a look at what people of color have in terms of agency positions. Blago did a much better job on diversity.
Blacks have the largest caucus and if they ever get together with the Latino caucus - they could shut that puppy down!
Comment by I'm just sayin Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 5:00 pm
I personally could care less about the minority issue. I don’t subscribe to the idea that you MUST have a certain representation of minorities. If I am the Governor (and this is strictly a professional and not a political point of view) I would hire people I felt comfortable with and who I felt would do a good job. If they happened to be women, black, latino, etc., good. If not then that is OK also.
Now, as for the current appointment. The problem I have with the recent staff changes in the Governor’s office is that it clearly leads one to think that his actions prior to the election were mere pandering. I don’t know how you can even try to deny it. Jerry Stermer left (and I thought that was way overblown), but is hired back after the election. He names Michelle Sadler as his COS - a good choice. But now, after the election he goes with Lavin. Obviously he used Sadler for the African American support. This all makes me so sick. How can a man who for years was so straight he squeeked turn into such a slime bag (I don’t mean that personally, necessarily, as I think he is probably truly a good person). Does the Illinois Governor’s office carry a curse with it that demands who become corrupt and untoward?? I really have to wonder.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 5:29 pm
=== Obviously he used Sadler for the African American support. ===
Really?? How is that “obvious”? Its only obvious if you assume Saddler didn’t get the job based on her merits.
Until someone provides evidence to the contrary, I’m going to ignore the conspiracies and assume the most obvious and simple explanation is accurate:
Quinn wanted Lavin as his Chief-of-Staff, but knew that Republicans would run REZKO ads if he appointed him before Nov. 2nd, so he went with the next-most-qualified candidate: Michelle Saddler.
BTW, this is the kind of demotion we should all hope for: Saddler is running the state’s largest agency, and one with a history of problems. Choosing her to run it is a testament to Quinn’s faith in her abilities.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 5:41 pm
Excellent comment Demoralized. You summed it up, now that Sadler is back let’s see if she can clean up DDD.
Comment by Ain't No Justice Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 5:43 pm
YDD:
I said Saddler was a good choice. And, you made my point when you said he avoided appointing Lavin b/c of the Rezko issue. He got to use her to pander and then he appointed Lavin after he won. There is only one word for that - slimey. You need to take your partisan hat off every once in a while and see a situation for what it is. There is no other way to see this situation than the way I have described it. If you can’t see that then you are being purposely blind.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Dec 14, 10 @ 9:29 pm
Saddler and Lavin are both close to the Governor and outstanding professionals. Saddler was the best choice as she is capable and the Governor has complete trust in her. (Before an election, I am sure there would have been cheapshots against Lavin as there are now. There were also a lot of stimulus and capital bill work coming to a head at that time.) As for Saddler, everyone who knows her also knows she was being a good soldier. She wanted to stay at DHS but stepped up to serve a Boss who trusted her during a difficult time. If she’s not upset about going back to her dream job, others should not make this more than it is. Saddler was never picked because she was black. The Governor trusts her and knew she would do a great job in a tough time. She did just that.
Comment by anon Wednesday, Dec 15, 10 @ 4:35 pm