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Question of the day

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Illinois

* From a press release…

Governor Pat Quinn [yesterday] announced that Mica Matsoff will join the Governor’s Office as the new director of communications. She will work closely with the Governor and senior-level staff as the Quinn Administration begins a new term of office. […]

As director of communications, Matsoff will be a key advisor to Governor Quinn, planning and overseeing the execution of the administration’s internal and external communications. She will work closely with senior members of the Governor’s staff and cabinet as they develop policies that impact the people of Illinois. […]

Previously Matsoff worked as the director of communications at Quinn for Illinois where she managed all press operations. She also served as the director of public relations for Chicago 2016, Chicago’s Olympic and Paralympic Games bid. She returns to state government after previously working as a spokesperson for the Departments of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and Employment Security. Prior to that, she spent several years at the public relations firm Edelman.

Matsoff replaces Ashley Cross, who is moving over to Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice as its new chief of staff.

* The Question: Advice for Mica?

Snark is OK, but try not to be mean. Thanks.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 5:51 am

Comments

Don’t ever be the subject of one of Rich’s Questions of the Day.

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 7:27 am
Congrats Mica! Dont let other in the administration who dont have communication expertise try to tell you what to do. The Quinn administration is known for having a very “loose” org chart. Its been described to me as a commune more than a professional office. Experts in their respective area need to stick to their area and not encroach on other people’s.

Comment by Wonder Man Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 8:32 am
Steve Martin offers the best advice you can give your boss when it comes to speaking…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JLbAePwoHQ

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 8:59 am
Memorize this phrase:

“I think what the governor was trying to say was…”

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 9:21 am
Answer your phone/e-mails better than you did durign the campaign.

Comment by Samwise Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 9:37 am
Can we take a moment to thank Ashley Cross? She got a battlefield promotion, jumped into the fray at a particularly difficult moment and served with grace and diligence. Good luck at DJJ!

Comment by soccermom Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 9:52 am
“Get three envelopes…”

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 10:33 am
I worked with mica years ago and I know she’ll make a great addition over there. She’s great at bringing structure to environments that need it, and from what’s been written, that’s the case here. Congrats mica!

Comment by prpro Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 10:34 am
Get the governor to require agency directors and senior staff to communicate with their staff that really do Illinois’work. As an Illinois employee I never know what those people are thinking or if they are thinking at all!

Comment by Bman Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 10:39 am
1. NO policy change by the Governor or a Director should be implemented before its reviewed by communications and you have a plan to communicate that change.

2. Every day your communications team should be focused on the message that state government is working. The more boring and mundane, the better.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 10:43 am
Don’t let CapFax commentors dictate your communications strategy.

Comment by Mom's basement Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 10:50 am
Duck

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 10:54 am
Good luck to you. Really! I mean “good luck” to you.

Comment by Pilgrim Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 11:11 am
Bman - But if they communicate with you they might actually find out that there are problems out there, and they don’t want to hear about problems. And if they actuall DISCUSS those problems then they have some sort of obligation to either solve them or make the Governor’s office aware of the problems. And that isn’t good cause it brings down that whole things are good coffee clatch atmosphere. That whole upper level management group is the filter that keeps bad vibes away and what better way than nor talking about it. Been that way for years.

Comment by Irish Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 11:54 am
Whatever happens you can always blame Blago or just blame Illinois for the troubles

Comment by Publius Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 12:18 pm
Don’t worry too much about scripting things like a State of the State speech…

Comment by writer Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 12:26 pm
Don’t ever, ever call Madigan a republican.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 12:29 pm
Understand that the campaign is one thing, and the job of government is quite another, and by law they are separate. I’m not sure that this would be clear to an ex-Edelman person, based on Edelman’s past work with Blago.

Comment by Gregor Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 12:38 pm
We all know that well paying jobs are hard to find these days. But, Mica, are you absolutely positively sure this is a position you’re going to want to have showing on your resume a decade from now?

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 1:22 pm
Your job is nowhere near as difficult as that same position was a few months ago and furthermore your job is a walk in the park compared to the one for the previous holder of your boss’ position. In other words, don’t worry about it. While it is a fun topic this isn’t worth a question of the day. You’ll be fine, Mica.

Comment by Easy Answer Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 2:15 pm
Meanwhile Rich you really need a caption contest for some of these photos with Pelosi and Boehner exchanging the gavel today. Hilarious.

Comment by Easy Answer Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 2:17 pm
I have to say that Governor Quinn is losing a really tremendous staff member in Ashley. She handles the job with integrity and also will be hard to replace.

Comment by JZJL23 Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 2:49 pm
Make sure your office responds to Rich Miller’s requests for information. All other outlets can be ignored since they get their info from CapitolFax anyway.

Comment by Siriusly Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 2:56 pm
I worked with Mica. Great pick. Good luck!

Comment by jonbtuba Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 3:01 pm
Rehearse three responses to each situation and be prepared to transition at a moments notice as in “At present he is undecided but was for it before he was against it…..” and do so with a smile and humble sincerity.

Might even learn to walk backward when leaving a room and bowing at the same time, repeating “I’ll get back to you on that.”.

Comment by Justice Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 3:12 pm
Congratulations. return all press contacts as quickly as you can with as complex an answer as you can.

Comment by amalia Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 4:25 pm
Just tell the Governor to please clear every statement with you before he speaks. Good luck!

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 4:31 pm
Good luck with controlling Governor “loose lips”!!!

Comment by Wow Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 4:35 pm
Mica is great, but she struggles with the simple things like checking emails and replying to voicemails. That was a big problem for the Quinn campaign, lack of quick response, she will get eaten alive if she operates the same way stateside.

Comment by Ducky Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 5:14 pm
I don’t know Mica but I feel for Ashley Cross and the DJJ disaster she has to deal with. Piece of advice clean house and start over.

Comment by DJJ Worker Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 5:33 pm
Claim kin with Mr. John Mica of Florida, the new House T&I chair, and hope for the best with Illinois’ share of the federal transportation budget.

Comment by Angry Chicagoan Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 6:54 pm
Good luck, Mica. You will be a great addition.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Jan 5, 11 @ 7:04 pm