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The case of Timothy Walker

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Illinois

Timothy Walker was brought into the Department of Employment Security to replace Georgia Brahos as human resources director after Brahos was deemed “unqualified.” Walker was sponsored by Laborers’ Union leader Ed Smith. But Walker apparently tried to run things the right way and immediately ran into trouble, according to the Tribune.

Numerous e-mails corroborate Walker’s account and support the conclusion that he ultimately lost his job over his refusal to favor “connected” candidates, according to a Sept. 9, 2004, report by Zaldwaynaka “Z.” Scott, who served as Blagojevich’s first executive inspector general under a law he championed. […]

The inspector general found that the director hired to run the Employment Services Department by Blagojevich wasn’t given the authority to bring in experienced human resources professionals to make personnel decisions.

“Instead, those who sought to bring a sense of professionalism to the operation were viewed as obstructionist and replaced in their positions with those who would `play ball,’” Scott said. […]

The report said Walker immediately ran into stiff resistance from two subordinates, George Rada and Surami “Sudi” Garcia, who “consistently pressured” Walker to hire their friends and candidates from Cini’s office, the investigation found. […]

But Walker said political clout trumped qualifications, and his attempts to promote people or make new hires were constantly obstructed.

And the three people who gave Walker the most trouble about hiring politically connected people, George Rada, Elizabeth Nicholson and Surami “Sudi” Garcia, all avoided being fired, as the Inspector General had recommended. They even avoided discipline.

Walker was fired on an apparently trumped up charge. He was eventually awarded unemployment compensation after the state ruled that his actions were not misconduct. But that didn’t stop the governor’s office from labeling him as a disgruntled former employee with an axe to grind.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 6:32 am

Comments

What you don’t understand is that, as our Governor explained, all this is a good thing:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich insisted Tuesday that continued findings of wrongdoing within his administration are “a good thing” because they are being made by an inspector general he appointed to help him clean up state government.

And then our Governor takes responsibility:

Some of the violators have been fired, others have had their cases referred to the U.S. attorney’s office for criminal investigation and others have been disciplined according to the inspector general’s recommendations, Blagojevich said.

All this is from the Belleville News Democrat, http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/state/14968367.htm

Oh, the [edited my moderator] on this guy . . . or is it the Blags on this guy?

Comment by the Other Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 8:13 am
Deleted “Walkergate,” why is it you guys always respond to whistle-blowers with character assassination? How about responding to the allegations at hand?

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 8:18 am
If the state ruled that he wasn’t fired for wrongdoing, then that means his employer didn’t make the case. That was the time to do it, not here under a cloak of anonymity. Go away.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 8:22 am
Rich a lot of these guys are going to do just like Blago.Kicking and screaming all the way out the door.

Comment by DOWNSTATE Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 8:34 am
The Tribune needs to post the full Inspector General report on their website. Looks like we now know why Z Scott really left her IG job so soon after appointment.

Apparently Blago’s talking heads are suggesting we are supposed to believe that Joe Cini was not really an unethical crook, but really just an untrained buffoon. I doubt the IG report will support that spin.

Comment by BigBob Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 8:46 am
No word from Quinn on this administration’s treatment of veteran job seekers?

Comment by Bubo Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 8:52 am
It’s interesting that the new administration would have apparently focused its tom-foolery on IDES. That agency receives 100 percent of its administrative funding from the federal government. For anyone to be engaged in the types of activites the Tribune story documents is simply inviting a federal investigation and some pretty heavy penalties. For anyone to try to use IDES as a patronage dump site is just plain stupid.

Comment by Common Sense in Illinois Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 8:57 am
This isn’t going to be a huge deal in Chicago, where successful applicants for city positions have had to have political sponsors since the beginning of time and likely still do. Chicago voters, even the wealthy lakefront libs, believe that’s the way it’s done.

Blago is an old time Chicago Machine politician when it comes to personnel issues, nothing surprising there.

JBT might be able to get some traction on this issue in the suburbs though. But we need to see more of her. The suburbs are her only hope. Blago still has the city locked down vote-wise.
And JBT won’t have an easy time even in some suburbs, such as ultraliberal Evanston and Oak Park, where the voters would vote for an indicted Blago over a Republican. They got no shame.

Comment by Cassandra Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 9:07 am
Rich,

You should consider the flip side of your 8:22 comment. The state did not have make the case for firing or seriously discplining Garcia or Rada. For instance, Garcia was fired and the case of Garcia went to the Civil Service Commission where they ruled in her favor. This indicates that she was proven innocent and shouldn’t be subject to the media attack.

As disclosed, the state fired several people due to the report because the evidence supported this action. This indicates to me that the system is working.

In regard to Z, it is critical to remember that she is a prosecuter by background and this attitude was reflected in her approach.

Comment by Objective Dem Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 9:46 am
I had the pleasure of working with Tim while he was at Mitsubishi. He was always a man of character and class.

Comment by 4% Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 10:04 am
The more this stuff comes out, the more the current admin looks like the personification of Dilbert in full glory. Appointees rising to their own level of incompetence. These kind of repeated SNAFUs would not be tolerated by most other employers. State gov is a huge organization and you have to have people who know how to make that organization work, not frat boys putting together some kewl lines on their resume. Maybe they pass around the pointy wig so they all get to wear it.

Comment by zatoichi Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 10:07 am
“OD,” I would refer you to Patrick Fitzgerald’s letter.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 10:20 am
Too bad for Republicans that their own nominee does 100% political hiring in her own state office.

Both Blago and Topinka have operated the same way on hiring and pay-to-play. It’s hardly news.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 11:42 am
1. “Endemic” hiring fraud in up to 15 agencies is NOT a “few bad apples” rooted out by our ever-diligent Governor. Nor is it a holdover from the Ryan Administration, as the new people are doing it, not old ones.

Blago’s excuses and spin are absolute horse manure. The boys down at 219 South Dearborn must be rolling on the floor with laughter over Blago’s attempt to pull the wool over the public’s eyes.

2. The ringleader appears (so far) to be Joe Cini. Who is “Bad Apple” Joe? Try a longtime friend, close political confidant, and fundraiser for Blagojevich. He acted right from the Governor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.
The idea that he was running round on his own doing all this is ridiculous. Blago is in this, and in this DEEP.

Comment by Bubs Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 12:17 pm
In regard to Z, it is critical to remember that she is a prosecuter by background and this attitude was reflected in her approach.

If Z’s report was “welcome news”, how come the admin didn’t publicize it or act on it when it was completed in 2004…but only when it became a public investigative issue for LM and PF? It sounds more like spin on something they’d rather not have come out at all.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 12:44 pm
Wonder if, Illinois Tollwayâ€™s Executive Director Brian McPartlin and I.D.O.T Secretary Timothy Martin sphincter muscles are seizing up yet?

Comment by Plainfield Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 2:05 pm
Has anyone heard if the hiring and promotions are being frozen at State agencies (particularly IDOT?) They were a few positions that were interview for a while back and there has been no word on who got the positions?

Comment by state worker #1 Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 6:03 pm
enÂ·demÂ·ic (n-dmk)
adj.

Prevalent in or restricted to a particular region, community, or group of people. Used of a disease.
Enzootic.

Ashur Odishoo
Candidate
State Representative - 11th District

Comment by Ashur Odishoo Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 6:10 pm
I know that at my agency people were interviewed for front line union attorney positions for my agency where staffing levels are bast scary, and jobs were offered to competent people pursuant to the Contract. Even though my agency is funded by dedicated funding - no GR funds- I have heard the governor’s office then said the positions couldn’t be filled. Maybe they need to leave the dedicated funding to raid it for GR again.

Comment by state worker #2 Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 7:49 pm
That should have been past scary. For instance one real estate investigator for the State for close to two years. I believe there are now two.

Comment by state worker #2 Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 7:51 pm
Maybe the jobs at IDOT that were interviewed were not filled to cover for the jobs that were filled - and not interviewed for. It is a pleasure to think Martin might have acid reflux!

Comment by Cat Wednesday, Jul 5, 06 @ 10:59 pm