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Rauner announces transition team

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* From a press release…

Governor-elect Bruce Rauner today announced Lieutenant Governor-elect Evelyn Sanguinetti as chair of his gubernatorial transition and also announced the senior leadership team.

“I am committed to assembling a diverse and talented team to drive results for our state and bring back Illinois,” Bruce Rauner said. “There is no one better prepared to help me achieve our administration’s goals than Evelyn. She has been my partner throughout this campaign and will continue that role as we prepare to take office.”

Senior Members of Transition Team

- Evelyn Sanguinetti, Chairwoman
- Mike Zolnierowicz, Transition Director
- Chip Englander, Senior Advisor
- Nancy Kimme, Transition Advisor
- Mike Schrimpf, Communications Director

“I look forward to working with the Governor-elect to build an administration that reflects our state’s diversity and is prepared to lead on Day One,” Evelyn Sanguinetti said.

The transition committee is also committed to disclosing and capping all contributions to the effort. More details about the transition will be announced in the near future.

Kimme is the only person on that committee with extensive state government experience.

…Adding… I was on the phone when I posted this so I was a bit distracted. Mike Z, Chip and Schrimpf are top notch staffers. They’ll be able to handle their roles. The object is to recruit the best and the brightest people they can to advise the candidate in the coming weeks. They should be able to do that, as long as they listen to Nancy.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:05 pm

Comments

The transition work will make interesting news for political junkies as it develops.
The question is whether Mr. Rauner will get enough team members who truly understand State government enough to hit the ground running in January? He may be underestimating how hard his transition is going to be.

Comment by SkeptiCal Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:11 pm
Nancy Kimme is a god pick, she’s seen it all before and knows how all of the pieces need to fit together. I hope they listen to her.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:12 pm
He would be well served to add 1) a member of the legislature and 2) a democrat.

Comment by Knome Sane Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:13 pm
governing is different than campaigning - needs a team suited to the job at hand.

Comment by archimedes Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:16 pm
Still can’t find an african american

he is true to form

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:17 pm
Won’t it be kind of difficult to transition with a group that hasn’t admitted they’re leaving?

Comment by N'ville Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:21 pm
A legislator besides Jack Franks. Shake it up!

Build a team of rivals. Surprise people.

It would be a show of good will.

Comment by Lessismore Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:21 pm
I think it’s a good sign that they have somebody familiar with state government on the team. It’s important to have those people involved if you want to get anything done.

Comment by Demoralized Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:22 pm
At least he found something for Evelyn to do.

Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:26 pm
=At least he found something for Evelyn to do.=

Hilarious!

Comment by Because I said so..... Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:33 pm
Maybe Rauner can build a team from the newly elected ILGOP legisla…..uh - scratch that. How about the reelected folks? What if he uses Evelyn’s contacts in Peru for some outsourcing?

If the meetings are conducted between Chicago and Lima, in Spanish - then we’ll know whose been tapped for this important task.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:42 pm
Steve Schnorf would be a tremendous addition to that group.

Comment by Harley Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:47 pm
I think he should ask Oswego Willy.

Comment by NewWestSuburbanGOP'er Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 2:51 pm
Why not the best and brightest from Illinois? Does chip and schrimpf even know Illinois ?

Comment by Illini Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:00 pm
Z & Nancy are A+ people.

Comment by Downstate GOP Faithless Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:00 pm
==Still can’t find an African American==

What about Stephanie Neely? Isn’t she talented. a super star?

Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:10 pm
IL GOP government & politics 101: listen to Nancy Kimme.

Comment by Kane County Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:12 pm
Nancy certainly knows state gov’t. She knows how to work both sides of the aisle. We need some unity. Let’s show Congress how we can put a side partisan differences, seek common ground, and address some problems. The electorate now expects this. Go Nancy!

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:13 pm
Remember. No cronies.

Comment by Tim Snopes Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:20 pm
Second or third or fourth the respect for Nancy. Good start in choosing her.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:24 pm
Everybody works for Nancy. Solid pick.

Comment by Stan Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:25 pm
If you’re going to have just one announced transition person with extensive governmental knowledge, and be an exceptional pick on its own too.. you would be very hard pressed not to have Nancy Kimme as that one person.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:29 pm
Wonder what the carhart jacket is going to do to IDOT?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:36 pm
Nancy is a great choice.

Comment by Tony Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:42 pm
I’ve read a few transition reports and worked on agency submissions. The agency submissions are basically self evaluations that are a combination of accomplishments folks want highlighted and narratives responsive to directives from the leadership of the transition team. The public process consists of “opinion leaders” assigned to category committees who meet to come up with a report generally affirming priorities of the governor-elect. I don’t take much stock in the public report.

On the other hand, the non-public transition process is where the real work takes place.

Steve Schnorf may be able to enlighten us about this part because of his senior level experience. This is the process that helps with the organization of the governor’s office and the vetting of key office and agency personnel.

As always, it’s an interesting period when leaks are reported about so-called decisions.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:49 pm
Want a good team? Find some people that retired from state government recently and put them on the team.

Comment by The Colossus of Roads Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:50 pm
Nancy Kimme is an excellent pick. She is smart and has the government knowledge and relationships across the board that is much needed in this position.

Comment by Max's Mom Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 3:51 pm
Let me guess, rich. The three people you praises are great sources for you.

Comment by jim Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:08 pm
Let me guess, rich. The three people you praised are great sources for you.

Comment by jim Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:09 pm
A question so nice you had to ask it twice?

I never reveal sources. But I do have quite a bit of respect for those folks. So, bite me.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:11 pm
=== Want a good team? Find some people that retired from state government recently and put them on the team. ===

Thoughtful idea, but don’t waste their time. They would get put on committees where a feelgood report will be generated to be put in reporters hands and then put on some library shelf.

The most helpful thing that the behind the scenes transition folks could do is direct their new appointees to seek out staff and identify existing systems and procedures. One of the things I found so frustrating during the transition from Ryan to Blago was the total disregard for institutional knowledge by the newbies. I saw the needless creation of several new systems and procedures that were duplicative of existing systems. I’m not advocating the wholesale adoption of all old systems and procedures, but changes need to be made on the basis of improving them to meet organization goals and objectives.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:15 pm
Jim - those three aren’t really “sources”. All three worked for Bruce Rauner and would know the Governor-elect better than anyone. Mike Z. was a higher-up in Senator Kirk’s election efforts and was Rodney Davis’s campaign manager in 2012. I would say he’s a pretty damn good staffer and strategist given that he’s now 3-for-3 in the last three general election cycles.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:17 pm
Thought it was a good election and glad to see the new Gov is on the right track. I’d work for Nancy or Steven S any day. Where do I send my resume too? It is a NEW DAY!

Comment by Maxine Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:22 pm
Topinka’s Chief of Staff on the transition team.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 4:35 pm
“There is no one better prepared to help me achieve our administration’s goals than Evelyn.”

If Evelyn Sanguinetti is as prepared as Bruce Rauner claims, then why did she decline WTTW’s invitation to participate in a candidate forum with Democratic counterpart Paul Vallas?

Comment by dawn Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 5:00 pm
Chip Englander is a top notch staffer? Really?
“We are kicking a– and taking names,” Englander, November 4, 2014.

Those are hardly the words of a “top notch” staffer. More like, leading with the chin. A very odd choice of words for a man whose boss got vetoproofed despite a Republicon wave nationally.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 5:11 pm
He’d be well advised to pick spokespersons, liaisons and directors who actually have Springfield experience and to avoid the mistake made by Blago in bringing in people who only knew City Hall and / or no experience in the state at all.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 5:21 pm
====I never reveal sources.=====

Perhaps we could at least know where you got Oscar so that others can find such an adorable pooch?

Comment by Abraham Froman Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 5:37 pm
Nancy is the best choice she has forgotten more than most of us !!

Comment by railrat Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 6:18 pm
Sounds like a reliance on political insiders tainted with knowledge of the streets of Springfield.

Comment by DuPage Dave Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 6:25 pm
===she has forgotten more than most of us===

Um, that’s a compliment?

lol

Just sayin…

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 6:41 pm
I like the idea of Oswego Willy working for Lt Gov Sanguinetti perhaps as her driver or possibly decorating her new office.

Comment by John Birch Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 7:21 pm
All good choices as Rich mentioned. Nancy however stands out, because of her vast knowledge of state Government. She knows the ways of Springfield and Chicago as good as anybody in this game. She will for sure in my opinion only bring forth qualified and hard working candidates to fill key positions.
Much better choice than some out of touch banker or some private sector hack!!!

Comment by Joe Maddon Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 7:44 pm
A new start..using the old guard? Expect tons on old staffers and Springfield insiders to line up at the trough.. Will anything ever change?

Comment by DuPage Worker Wednesday, Nov 5, 14 @ 9:09 pm
==A new start..using the old guard?==

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 6, 14 @ 7:56 am