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* From the Illinois Republican Party…
Yesterday, despite having very little experience in sports and over the strong objections of several board members, Governor Quinn’s campaign manager, Lou Bertuca, was given a six-figure job to run the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.
Today, the Illinois Finance Authority is preparing to give Quinn crony, Chris Meister, an extension on his contract running the agency. Meister is also a close friend of Jack Lavin.
The Illinois Finance Authority is filled with Quinn pals. The Chairman, William Brandt, is a Quinn friend and donor who gave Paul Vallas a six-figure job so he could run for Lt. Governor.
“It is shameful that Governor Quinn would prefer his legacy be one of giving insider deals and jobs to cronies and friends rather than holding his head high and exiting government in a responsible fashion.” – ILGOP Chairman Tim Schneider
I was sent the IFA’s agenda yesterday and forwarded it to the Rauner transition to let them know I was working on this story.
* Chairman Brandt called me last night in response to my request for comment. He pointed to the state statute…
From nominations received from the Governor, the members of the Authority shall appoint an Executive Director who shall be a person knowledgeable in the areas of financial markets and instruments, to hold office for a one-year term. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority and shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management
Brandt said Director Meister’s term expires this month. The Authority can’t implement the bond sales the board approves without an executive director, Brandt said. They’re doing about $788 million in bond approvals at today’s meeting alone.
So, the ILGOP press release may be just a false alarm.
*** UPDATE *** Chairman Brandt just called to say that Meister agreed today at the board meeting that if and when the incoming governor or member of the governor’s administration requests Meister’s departure, he would do so immediately.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:08 am
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I am sure Rauner knows many individuals knowledgeable in financial markets and instruments. Chairman Brandt ought to ask him for a candidate to be considered by the board. Brandt is a smart guy who will do the right thing.
Comment by x-pol Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:13 am
===So, the ILGOP press release may be just a false alarm.===
Leave out the words “a” and “alarm”, and you nailed it Rich.
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:18 am
Meister can’t continue to serve without a contract? C’mon Rich. Or they can’t wait to “implement” the bond sale until January 13? Please. These holdover appointees deserve no sympathy. They knew the game when they took the job. Holding onto a policy making position despite the results of an election is a spit in the eye of Illinois voters.
Comment by phocion Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:18 am
I wonder what sort of boondoggles and mischief that $788 million will fund. BTW, who repays the bond debt? Is it all from specific revenues from special taxing districts and user fees, or do any tax dollars come from Springfield to sweeten the pot?
Comment by Arizona Bob Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:18 am
Oh, and when “this month” does Meister’s contract expire? The 31st? He could “implement” the bond sale before then.
Comment by phocion Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:20 am
**Chairman Brandt ought to ask him for a candidate to be considered by the board.**
Why? Rauner isn’t the governor yet.
Sorry, but electeds are elected for 2 or 4 years, not 10 weeks less than 2 or 4 years. If they need to hire someone right now, then Quinn and his allies on the board have every right to hire someone, despite Rauner’s objections.
Comment by AlabamaShake Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:20 am
Yep Bob, every single bit of money that goes out the door from a government agency is corrupt and for completely unnecessary things. Couldn’t possible be any legitimate reason whatsoever for government funding. It’s all a ploy to line somebody’s pockets.
Dope.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:24 am
AS - “Why?” Perhaps Brandt would like to stay on too.
Comment by x-pol Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:27 am
phocion, Meister probably can’t be paid without a contract on file with the Comptroller. Wouldn’t have to be a 12 month contract. And it’s really not feasible to move a bond sale of that size up on such short notice.
Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:30 am
Piling on by ILGOP.
Meister and Brandt are highly-skilled in financial markets and business, and have been doing fine jobs. Brandt has Rauner-level experience in the private sector, in some senses. This one doesn’t bother me. To make a change now would be for entirely political reasons, not the opposite.
Rauner will get his chance with other IFA board members who come up for renewal/replacement.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:31 am
Isn’t excelling as a “staff assistant” at IDOT the most important experience someone can get when moving up the rungs under Quinn?
Comment by Very Fed Up Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:51 am
Meister does a good job. He won’t have any problems finding a gig in the private sector.
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 11:54 am
You know, I am just sitting here getting crankier and crankier. It’s not like Meister is some schmo being shoehorned into this role with seconds to spare before the Governor’s term ends.
Meister was appointed to this role five years ago, after serving as the agency’s general counsel and deputy director. And he voluntarily took a lower salary than his predecessor, to reflect the dismal economic climate and the strains on the state’s budget. (Respect)
He is an attorney with a degree from U of I law school. He clerked for Mary Ann McMorrow and worked in private practice at Holland and Knight.
And I can’t imagine that he is eager to put his considerable talents to work in the Rauner Administration for any length of time.
Illinois GOP, I really try hard to be civil and promote bipartisan solutions to this state’s serious problems. But when you do stuff like this — yuck. I don’t want to be in the same zip code as you guys.
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:06 pm
The Governor is the Governor until there’s a new Governor. It appears with the update an amicable accommodation has been made and the business of the state can move forward. A hiccup at best. The Sports Authority move may have caused over-tweaking on this one. Seems like a good time for a chat about any other loose ends.
Serious people can deal with these things. Pat Quinn is still “on duty” until he isn’t. We’re on the holiday schedule, but the trains are still running.
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:10 pm
“despite having very little experience in sports and over the strong objections of several board members”
Very little experience in sports… Have you seen this guy’s fantasy football numbers?? He’s off the charts!!
Comment by Exbricklayer Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:12 pm
Meister is good. they would be lucky if he decided to stay on if Rauner asked him to continue.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:15 pm
Meister is a good administrator but he’s one of Jack Lavin’s people and they will all have to go.
Comment by cassiopeia Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:42 pm
The Rauner transition team is much more sure handed and focused with public statements, than the ILGOP. The latter should take a Holiday break, until we have a new governor.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:43 pm
Meister goes way back to Netsch and more. Lavin did not create him.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:44 pm
===Meister is a good administrator but he’s one of Jack Lavin’s people and they will all have to go.===
Isn’t that just the other side of the “patronage” coin, and equally destructive to good government?
How about keep the best, let the rest go, and forget the “guilty by association” standard?
Just dreamin’
Comment by walker Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 12:49 pm
Gotta love the Quinn apologists and the Meister defenders here; same silly inside baseball stuff spewed in defense of the Bertuca appointment yesterday. I swear this space is the only place that refuses to see Illinois as it is.
Comment by Georg Sande Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 1:38 pm
What exactly does this board do and what powers do they have?
Comment by Springfield guy Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 1:50 pm
@George Sande, I don’t know Bertuca. but I do know Meister, and not from this work. he’s a good guy. sorry, but friendship gives knowledge.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 2:11 pm
Lou is an absolutely wonderful guy but he is 30 and has only worked for Quinn. Maybe he can ask his father for advice from his NFL days. Maybe he can even fix the Bears.
Comment by Fan of Illinois Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 2:32 pm
Does anyone else smell “Fumigation II”?
Comment by Cowboy Dan Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 2:59 pm
Chris Meister is solid and a stand-up guy. He’ll honor his promise to go when and if asked, although Rauner would be wise to hang onto to Meister for a while to make sure the bond sale goes smoothly and to use the time to carefully consider potential replacement candidates. Meister is a steady hand leading the agency and it’ll take Rauner some time to find a decent replacement.
Everybody wins this way.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 3:36 pm
Georg, you have no idea what you’re talking about.
“This space is the only place that refuses to see Illinois as it is.”
Balderdash. This blog draws people who love this state and who care desperately about its future. We see its problems — kind of hard to miss, especially on days like this anniversary — but we also are committed to finding smart solutions to those problems.
You don’t have to be a Quinn “apologist” to respect Chris Meister. And the ILGOP should find better things to do than taking cheap shots.
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 3:38 pm
@Soccermom, You’re either unintentionally very funny or the point was lost on you. But do continue on in the echo chamber as I’m sure your commitment to finding smart solutions will soon pay dividends to us all. Oh, wonderful use of “balderdash”, btw. No, really.
Comment by Georg Sande Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 4:01 pm
Georg, there’s a difference between somebody missing the point and somebody pointing out that a point is just flat out wrong. Or did you miss that point?
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 4:14 pm
==The Governor is the Governor until there’s a new Governor.==
There really isn’t much more to be said than this. Time to get over this stuff and move forward. I’m pretty sure that, while irritated, this is way down low on the list of things Rauner is worried about.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 4:17 pm
=== Demoralized - Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 4:17 pm:
==The Governor is the Governor until there’s a new Governor.==
There really isn’t much more to be said than this. Time to get over this stuff and move forward. I’m pretty sure that, while irritated, this is way down low on the list of things Rauner is worried about.===
Amen Demo. Having Meister at the switch is not going to keep anyone awake all night. He’s a capable professional. I have a feeling he’ll be on for a while.
The Bertuca thing is just a simple-minded argument to me. He’s plenty good enough to do the job. He’s a nice guy with a strong working relationship with plenty of folks. Arguably, he’s about to leave one of the most difficult and frustrating jobs in the State of Illinois. That board isn’t short on braniacs. He’ll have guidance in any area he falls short in.
Way too much ado…
Comment by A guy... Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 4:50 pm
Our new Governor would be very lucky if he were able to convince Meister to stay. Not only has he done at great job at IFA,he is also one of the most ethical and honest folks in our state - or any other state.
Comment by Meg Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 5:08 pm
Georg Sande: I will take you at your word. And I am not in any way joking.
If you do see the realities of Illinois more clearly, and support Gov-elect Rauner’s mission of fixing the state, then you will also likely be recommending that Rauner keep Meister in this job. If Rauner were fully informed, he would ask him to stay on, at least for some months. Simple as that.
Either way, Meister will leave immediately if the Governor wants him to go.
Not the same as the ISFA situation at all.
If, on the other hand, your solution is to “throw them all out”, please simply admit that you are acting without specific knowledge.
The difference between this blog and others, (besides being substantially bi-partisan), is the depth of specific knowledge among the commenters here. Your calling it an “echo chamber” shows that you don’t read it very carefully.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 9:17 pm
Walker - nice work.
Comment by Soccermom Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 9:34 pm
Expect incessant smearing of people on their way out, so Rauner’s team can replace them with his political picks and somehow call it “reform.”
Comment by Oo Tuesday, Dec 9, 14 @ 9:51 pm
You’d have to be blind not to smell the echo in here, Walker.
Comment by Yobagoya Wednesday, Dec 10, 14 @ 1:40 am
You forgot that the authority ran for years with an interim director (Rendleman) and afterwards ran with more interim director(s) including Meister as an co-director.
Since when did they NEED a director to sell bonds? and they don’t even sell bonds, all they do is express the states tax-exemption (at the highest fee levels in the nation).
Comment by YabbaTolls Tuesday, Dec 16, 14 @ 1:02 pm