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Long list of appointments by Gov. Rauner

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* I’m going to leave comments opened late today so people have a chance to discuss these appointments. Click here to read it and I’ll compile a list in a few.

…Adding… Here they are, with a handful of notations…

* Randall Blankenhorn - Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation (CMAP Director, noted foe of Illiana and proponent of increasing state funding share for IDOT’s District 1, which includes the Chicago area)

* Donald Tracy - Member and Chair of the Illinois’ Gaming Board (This one could get the most press since he was a Rauner supporter and replaces a chairman who is popular with political reporters and editorial boards)

* Thomas Dunn - Member of the Illinois Gaming Board (Former Democratic state Senator, former Will County judge)

* James Joseph - Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency

* Michael Mannion - Director, Division of Banking of the Illinois Department of Professional and Financial Regulation (Former VP of Gvt. Relations for Blue Cross, former GOP staffer)

* Jay Stewart - Acting Secretary of the lllinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation

* Shari Reiches - Member of the Illinois State Board of Investment (Principal at Rappaport Reiches Capital Management)

* Marc Levine - Member of the Illinois State Board of Investment (Ties to the Illinois Policy Institute, failed GOP candidate against Sen. Daniel Biss in 2012)

* Mark Cozzi - Member of the Illinois State Board of Investment (Rauner supporter on LGBT issues, Managing Partner, Lincoln Park Capital Group, served on Rauner’s transition team)

* Leo Schmitz - Director of the lllinois State Police

* Lula Ford - Member of the Illinois Board of Education (Another Rauner supporter, kicked off the ICC by Gov. Quinn)

* Eligio Pimentel - Member of the illinois Board of Education

* Craig Lindvahl - Member of the Illinois Board of Education

* Roberta Parks - Member of the Illinois Board of Education

…Adding More… Here’s the press release…

Name: James Joseph
Position: Director – Illinois Emergency Management Agency

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected James Joseph, 33, as the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. Joseph will also serve as the Illinois Homeland Security Adviser. He brings nearly 15 years of experience in both the private and public sector to the position.

Since 2010, Joseph has worked for DuPage County in various roles within the Emergency Management Department. Currently, he is the Director and oversees three county departments, and is responsible for the Emergency Operations Center. For nearly two years, he served as Chief of the Security Division. He also was an Emergency Management Coordinator, where he managed county-wide emergencies and disasters.

Joseph also founded his own private security company called Center for Security Intelligence. He provided services in security operations, workplace violence prevention and emergency management. Clients included the Lake County Government, the 19th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois and numerous businesses in the private sector.

Prior to owning his own business, Joseph worked at HSBC – North America as its Vice President of Security and Fraud Risk. He created and implemented security protocols for corporate offices, data centers and field offices. He also created security awareness strategies for the 70,000 employees of HSBC based in North America.

Joseph also holds a number of volunteer positions as a resident of Carol Stream. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners. He also is the Chairman Pro-Tem of the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Joseph earned his bachelor’s degree in law enforcement from Oakton College. He also holds various certifications from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Experience:
· DuPage County – Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
o Director (2013-Present)
o Chief of Security Division (2011-2013)
o Emergency Management Coordinator (2010-2011)
· The Center for Security Intelligence, Owner/Consultant (2009-2010)
· HSBC – North America, Vice President – Security & Fraud Risk (2003-2008)
· Glenbrook Security Services, Account Manager, HSBC – North America (1999-2003)

Volunteer Service:
· Carol Stream Board of Police and Fire Commissioners, Chairman
· Carol Stream Planning Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals, Chairman Pro-Tem

Personal Information:
· Age: 33
· Hometown: Carol Stream

Board of Investment

Name: Mark Cozzi
Position: Member – State Board of Investment

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Mark Cozzi to the Illinois State Board of Investment. Cozzi brings more than 25 years of private investment experience to the position.

Currently, Cozzi is the managing partner and founder of Lincoln Park Capital Group, and he provides consulting and advisory services to a wide-range of companies. He founded the company in 2008 and worked there until 2011. He rejoined the firm in 2014.

From 2011 to 2014, he was the senior managing director of the Electrum group, which is a private investment firm focused on the mining sector. He managed the company’s portfolio of investments.

Before Lincoln Park Capital Group, Cozzi was the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Leor Exploration and Production. In that role, he took a $22 million investment and transformed it into a $2.2 billion dollar equity stake in just three years for a 100 percent return on investment. He grew the company from two employees and $15 million in assets to 30 employees and $300 million in assets.

Cozzi holds an MBA from Northwestern University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in business administration.

Name: Marc Levine
Position: Member – State Board of Investment

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Marc Levine, 51, to the State Board of Investment. Levine brings more than 25 years of investment and business experience to the position.

Most recently, Levine was the co-founder and managing partner of Chicago Asset Funding, LLC. He worked at this boutique investment banking and asset management firm for eight years until 2012. Levine was able to use the company’s unique structure to successfully invest during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.

Levine has a wide range of experience from companies and banks in Illinois, California and Florida, where he oversaw financial transactions at a number of levels. He also served on the Board of Directors of General Motors, Navistar, and other technology startups and communication companies.

Levine is a certified public accountant, and earned his degree in accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He also has an MBA from Northwestern University.

Name: Shari Reiches
Position: Member – State Board of Investment

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Shari Reiches, 52, to the Illinois State Board of Investment. Reiches has more than 30 years of experience in finance and capital management.

Reiches is currently a member, manager and principal of Rappaport Reiches Capital Management, which assists families and non-profit corporations with investment and financial planning. She co-manages the firm with other partners, and is the co-chair of the firm’s investment committee.

From 1999 to 2005, Reiches was the vice president of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc., where she worked as a financial adviser. Prior to that, she worked for U.S. Bank and its predecessor institutions, eventually working her way up to the president of private banking. In that role, she managed the private banking division.

Reiches earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She earned a master’s degree in banking from the University of Wisconsin.

Board of Education

Name: Lula Ford
Position: Member – Illinois State Board of Education

Governor Rauner has named Lula Ford, 71, to the Illinois State Board of Education. Ford brings 34 years of experience as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent to the position. She also served the State of Illinois as an Illinois State Commerce Commissioner and as the Assistant Director of Central Management Services.

Ford began her career as an elementary school teacher in Chicago Public Schools. Throughout her three decade career at CPS, she was also a counselor and principal. Ford earned the Principal of Excellence Award from 1992-1994. She also served as an Assistant Superintendent and the Chief Instruction Officer.

Most recently, Ford was an Illinois State Commerce Commissioner. She served on that board for 10 years until 2013. Before that, she was the Assistant Director of the Illinois Central Management Services.

Ford earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. She also holds two master’s degrees in inner city studies from Northeastern Illinois University, and vocational counseling from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Name: Craig Lindvahl
Position: Member – Illinois State Board of Education

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Craig Lindvahl, 57, to the Illinois State Board of Education. Lindvahl brings more than 35 years of experience in education and business to the board. Lindvahl is an award-winning educator earning the prestigious Milken National Educator Award, and has twice been a finalist for Illinois Teacher of the Year.

Lindvahl is currently the Executive Director of the Midland Institute for Entrepreneurship, which is a company that educates future business leaders. He oversees the CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) program. He speaks across the country about CEO, millennials and economic development.

Lindvahl spent 34 years in the classrooms of the Teutopolis District 50 Schools. He taught music, band, television production and entrepreneurship programs. Some of the accomplishments during his tenure include tripling the size of the district band program and the creation of a television production program. He also led a group of students to the Marshall Islands to produce a student-led documentary about the country and culture. The product was distributed to 5,000 schools through the Peace Corps.

Lindvahl is also an award-winning filmmaker, having earned 12 Mid-America Emmy Awards and 11 Telly Awards for his writing, producing, camera work and editing. Projects have taken him all over the world, and given him the ability to work with students from more than 25 countries. He currently owns Callan Films Corporation, which produces documentaries and corporate projects.

Name: Roberta Parks
Position: Member – Illinois State Board of Education

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Roberta Parks, 64, to the Illinois State Board of Education. Parks brings more than 35 years of experience to the position.

As the Vice President for UnityPoint Health Methodist|Proctor Foundation, she oversees the $27 million foundation, which benefits two hospitals and doctors in the system, along with Methodist College. This also includes fund development; donor relations; and the communications of major gifts, planned giving and special events.

For 15 years until 2013, Parks was the President of the Peoria Chamber of Commerce. She was responsible for all operations of the 1,100 member organization. Parks was directly responsible for government affairs, education, transportation and community development programs.

Parks has also worked for the City of Peoria as the Intergovernmental Coordinator. She worked in tandem with the Mayor and City Council to serve the people of Peoria.

Parks is a graduate of Bradley University, with a bachelor’s degree in business management.

Name: Eligio Cerda Pimentel
Position: Member - Illinois State Board of Education

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Eligio Cerda Pimentel, 49, to join the Illinois State Board of Education. Pimentel has a demonstrated track record of supporting education in underprivileged communities through his work in the community. He brings nearly 20 years of professional experience, both as an attorney and engineer, to the position.

Currently, Pimentel is an attorney and board member at McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd. He joined the firm as an associate in 1996, working his way up to a member of the board. Pimentel is a patent attorney, focusing on litigation; and he maintains a transactional practice focusing on intellectual property rights.

Pimentel is an avid-supporter of providing educational opportunities to economically disadvantaged children. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Cristo Rey High School, serving students on Chicago’s southwest side who could not otherwise afford a private college-prep education. Pimentel also served on the Board of Directors of the Mary Crane Center, which promotes early-childhood education on Chicago’s west and northwest sides.

Pimentel is the son of migrant farm workers from California’s Central Valley. He went on to Stanford University, earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He worked for three years as an engineer at the Bechtel Corporation, and then decided to go to law school, earning his Juris Doctorate from the University of Minnesota.

Gaming Board

Name: Don Tracy
Position: Chairman - Illinois Gaming Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Don Tracy, 54, to become Chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board. Tracy’s background as an attorney and business owner gives him the experience necessary to lead the board dealing with an important industry in Illinois.

Tracy is currently a partner at Brown, Hay & Stephens LLP, which is the state’s oldest law firm and the former firm of President Abraham Lincoln. Tracy currently practices corporate law, including acquisitions and business litigation. He represents a number of closely held and family businesses. Tracy is also general outside counsel to Dot Foods, Inc., which he owns with his 11 siblings. Dot Foods is the nation’s largest food re-distributor.

Prior to joining Brown, Hay & Stephens, LLP in 1995, Tracy was a partner at Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen for six years. He also owned and operated his own law firm for nine years. Tracy also has experience as in-house counsel at the Illinois National Bank of Springfield. He began his law career at Baker & Donelson in Memphis, Tenn.

Tracy serves on a number of boards in the Springfield area, including the Abraham Lincoln Association, the Dana Thomas House Foundation and the Illinois National Guard & Militia Historical Society. He also was appointed to the Oak Ridge Cemetery Board in 1992 and served on it for four years.

Tracy is a graduate of Arizona State University and has a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He earned his law degree from the University of Memphis.

Name: Thomas Dunn
Position: Member - Illinois Gaming Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has named former Will County associate judge and state Senator Thomas Dunn to become a member of the Illinois Gaming Board. Dunn, 72, was instrumental in bringing riverboat gambling to his district of Joliet, which brings a different perspective to the board.

Dunn served the people of Joliet and Will County as a state senator from 1972 to 1997. He was a ranking member of the judiciary committee, and also served on the public health, welfare, corrections and revenue committees.

Most recently, Dunn served as an associate judge for Will County. He was appointed in 1997 and served for eight years until 2005. He is a graduate of St. Ambrose College with degrees in political science and history. He earned his law degree from DePaul University.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 4:37 pm

Comments

Marc Levine to the IL State Board of Investment. Cross’s “pension advisor” from IPI.

Comment by Anon Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 4:41 pm
Is the term of the 2nd person listed a typo? An appointment for 7 days?

Comment by Cable Line Beer Gardener Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 4:46 pm
When is he going to do the DOC Director ?

Comment by Strobby Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 4:49 pm
Late Friday press releases? Learned that quickly, eh?

Any bio on some of these?

Comment by sal-says Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 4:54 pm
==* Thomas Dunn - Member of the Illinois Gaming Board (Former Democratic state Senator, former Will County judge)==

Is this one going to go over well with the House GOP caucus? His daughter did get crushed, but…

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 4:59 pm
“DuPage County – Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Services”. - James Joseph, 33 years old.

So he guarded golf courses from terrorist attack or earthquakes? Any experience with urban centers - of any size?

I’m sure that will serve him well at IEMA.

Comment by low level Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 5:04 pm
===Is this one going to go over well with the House GOP caucus?===

They don’t have a vote. Plus, people liked him here.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 5:04 pm
Tracy is a hack - and he’s replacing Jaffe who was completely independent.

So much for Rauner’s pledge that politics would play “no role” in the selection of directors. This goes for my above post also about our new IEMA director

Comment by low level Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 5:07 pm
===he’s replacing Jaffe who was completely independent.===

Jaffe wasn’t all that independent from the interests of the casinos he regulated. He dragged out video gaming, fought slots at tracks, went after the Chicago casino, etc. etc. etc.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 5:08 pm
Still no DCEO director I see.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 5:11 pm
It’s their Shop…

Wish the Friday dumps weren’t announcing them, but..,

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 5:12 pm
James Joseph, IEMA, sounds like a prodigy. All that work while earning a bachelor’s degree from a community college (is that possible? Thought only Associates offered there)starting at 18 years old! Wow - or something’s fishy.

Comment by Gone, but not forgotten Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 5:19 pm
Bye-bye Iliana? How will it go forward with such a vocal appointment heading IDOT?

Comment by Archiesmom Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 5:19 pm
And DCFS? Another temp?

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 5:21 pm
Congrats to Mannion. Good guy and knows his stuff.

That Tracy appointment may come back to haunt them. He is high maintenance.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 5:48 pm
I have no objection to Rauner doing this. But it might have been nice if the people who got the boot effective immediately found out directly instead of having to read it on the CapFax blog as I know some just did. Cmon Bruce - get your act together.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 5:49 pm
Chicago Cynic–
If those people hadn’t figured out by 11 pm last November 4th that they would be out of a job by now, then how they feel right now simply can’t be helped.

Comment by Taken for Granite Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 6:07 pm
Blankenhorn a very strong and significant choice.

Jaffe needed to go; but his replacement could have been better. Still the other gaming board members look strong.

The rest seem pretty much a standard mix of good and not so good that we always get in these roles.

Comment by walker Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 6:23 pm
A 33-year old statewide director of Emergency Management Services? He has the whole state to choose from and the Gov couldn’t get someone with more experience and credentials for such an important position? Geez.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 6:31 pm
Blankenhorn is a very good pick. He will have a tough job. I can’t think of anyone who could do better.

Comment by kimocat Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 6:44 pm
Taken,

It’s one thing to know you’re likely out at some point and another to literally have nobody tel you anything. When does insurance terminate, etc. A friend he been kept on and had no idea how long that would last. They found out tonight that their job was done this second. Bad form.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 6:46 pm
Mannion has what it takes, nice choice!

Comment by Man Club Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 6:47 pm
The New IEMA Director seems to be a weak appointment. The former Director had an MBA from Northwestern University and was in top 1 percent of his class at West Point. This nominee looks like he only has a few years in each job before he moves on. You can’t get a bachelors degree from a community college. It’s my understanding that he does not have a degree (there are smart people without degrees but you don’t often see them appointed as cabinet directors).

Comment by CarreerBureaucrat Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 7:16 pm
Blankenhorn good pick, but goggle “downstate transportation funding” and its clear he views 20 plus year old standing legislative agreement as “arbitrary.” Not sure D’s (ie Manar) and R’s (ie LaHood) outside of the Chicago District would agree. Time to start waffling. Randy will need to compromise … that is if Bruce lets him.

Comment by Anon Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 7:25 pm
Re: IEMA director, shades of John Monken?

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 7:32 pm
Mannion, great pick.

Comment by The Captain Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 7:36 pm
Leo Schmitz for ISP-such a hard working CPD Officer in an impossibly tough District in Chicago. A stand up guy. He will be missed immensely by those of us he helps protect.

Comment by Noovertimeforme Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 7:57 pm
Like others said, something seems off with James Joseph.

33 years old with 15 years of private and public sector work experience…thats just resume talk for he’s held several jobs since turning 18.

Pfft, I’m 29 and have 13 years of private and public sector work experience, someone appoint me to a position! Never thought my teen years working at McD’s would sound so good on my resume.

Comment by blah Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 8:08 pm
do we have some reuse inflation here? Joseph James received a bachelors degree from a community college? HSBC’s VP of security and fraud risk when he was 21?!

Really? This doesn’t pass the smell test.

Comment by Jerry 101 Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 8:08 pm
Re: Jimmy Joe, IEMA’s loss is DuPage’s gain

Comment by Savoir Faire Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 8:09 pm
Cassandra- DCFS has a new interim Director- internal person. Same occurred in DHS. I imagine DOC is similar right now. They are doing a national search for DCFS and DHS Directors.

Comment by carbaby Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 8:11 pm
DOC’s director (Godinez) retired end of 2014, but then got a 75-day contract to stay on.

Would love to know the rationale for this decision.

Comment by This One Dude Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 8:22 pm
When a 33-year-old claims 15 years experience in anything it gets a look. When the gig is emergency management, it gets a double take.

Joseph’s resume is on Linkedin. He must have really nailed it in the interview because the new gig is a big step up in breadth and responsibility. Real big.

On the bright side, he wont have to catch stray dogs in DuPage anymore.

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 9:01 pm
- Wordslinger -,

Rauner seems to have a history with some personnel decisions that have his best interests at heart and maybe Illinois’ best interests aren’t the number one criteria, experience or criteria notwithstanding…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 9:10 pm
Oakton’s web site indicates that their law enforcement degree is an A.A. I wonder how this kid got his job in DuPage County?? Plus some pretty lofty titles at age 18, 19 and 20. Hmmmm…

Comment by DuPage Dave Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 9:20 pm
I’m dumbfounded by the IEMA appointment too. I had to do a double take on that resume. Maybe off topic, maybe not, how many minorities have been appointed to top agency posts so far?

Comment by Southerner Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 9:22 pm
The second appointment is not a typo. Jay Stewart is serving as Acting Secretary until the new guy announced last week starts the week following.

Comment by State Government Watcher Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 9:23 pm
Bruce we trust you. Just like you mentioned during the campaign. Nobody who worked on the campaign or worked for state Government before or anyone related to the GOP will not be hired. Though it seems like everybody is connected to your campaign or the GOP-Rauner party. Paid for lock stock and barrel. You think the taxpayers of illinois will buy in to your illusions? O’Boy, the next 4 years will be very Brucey!!!

Comment by 5th Grader Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 9:44 pm
So let me get this straight, Rauner takes off a Westpoint grad that handled over a half-a-dozen disasters in Illinois with great results for a guy that started gaining experience for this job since he was “18″. with very questionable credentials. This is EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.

Comment by Thelight Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 9:45 pm
So James Joseph’s bio says he has a bachelor’s from Oakton but they don’t even offer bachelors degrees…the two types of degrees are certainly not synonymous. I hope there is a valid reason for the discrepancy in claims of education. And a VP at HSBC for all of North America at 21? Would love if someone found more info on this.

Comment by Setec Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 9:48 pm
Jay Stewart? Former Quinn staffer? Huh.

Comment by ??? Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 10:04 pm
Randall Blankenhorn glad he’s going to shift all the road money to chicago.

Comment by foster brooks Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 10:17 pm
If the Oakton College is the one in the Illinois community college system, it doesn’t award four-year degrees, obviously, so BA would be a typo or something.

If you look at the responsibilities at IEMA, it’s, not surprisingly, a real heavy load across a wide range — natural disasters, haz-mat, nukes, terrorism.

This guy had the DuPage gig for less than two years. Hope he’s a rock star. But, how would you know?

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 10:20 pm
No snark.

The IEMA pick, is that why this is a Friday after four “drop”?

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 10:25 pm
Carbaby, you are correct. One thing for sure all of the Quinn brass think that their gonads shine with arrogance. Most likely will become brass bushings in a couple of months.

Comment by ironman Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 10:31 pm
Bruce, I will be sending down more people to appoint sometime next week. Your having as much fun as I did stopping organized labor up here. Turning people’s lives upside down saves a lot of money remember. Rock on Bruce!! Your BFF from the north. TTYL!!:)

Comment by Scott Walker Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 10:37 pm
Things seem off-kilter with this Joseph release.

HSBC North America is the seventh largest bank in the country, with $305 billion in assets.

Joseph was “its vice president of security and fraud risk” starting in 2003, when he would have been about 22?

Was that before or after he got his Oakton degree?

Do they mean HSBC North America corporate in NYC, or are they talking about a branch bank or something?

Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 11:03 pm
I didn’t vote for Bruce to see him reappoint Jay Stewart, long time Quinn staffer and former legal counsel, to anything acting or otherwise. Will Bruce end up naming Quinn to a Cush job too? C’mon Bruce you said you were shaking up Sprinffield so hit the hammer and get pink slip to Jay Stewart who is only there to protect the machine’s unprofessional licensed goons

Comment by Doubting Thomas Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 11:08 pm
I dont know if the IEMA pick is good or not, ahvent had a chance to read the resume. Working fr IDOT, I do know, there is a TON of free training from the fed’s, firefighter organizations adn such (having taken tons of them) that can provide training that is used nationwide by agencies to manage incidents.Ill have too look up the rest of his resume whenIm not so tired, hopefully he has some of these credentials. If not, he better learn really quick or have good people under him that he is willing to listen to.

Comment by IDOT GUY Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 11:18 pm
Whew it looks like Jay Stewart appointment is very temporary until Feb 8, 2015. Bruce cannot keep that Quinn staffer anywhere near his admin.

Comment by Doubting Thomas Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 11:23 pm
Doubting Thomas - why such hate for people you haven’t rvent met?

Comment by Namaste Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 11:36 pm
Seems like a good time for “Big Noise from Winnetka” by Bob Crosby and his band. {If you listen to that and don’t think about Hamms Beer, you are under 50).

Comment by Geek Marine Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 11:41 pm
I don’t understand why Rauner is not taking the IEMA appointment more seriously. Does he remember George W. and Brownie? I don’t want to make light of this issue. IEMA oversees many important programs including nuclear safety. I want someone with the right experience in charge. There are real consequences involved.

Comment by Chicago guy Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 11:42 pm
Mannion got booted out of a good gig at the Blues. Hopefully the ego check will help him because he’s a bright guy. Not sure all of the candidates were well vetted.

Comment by 1776 Friday, Jan 30, 15 @ 11:44 pm
I hope Rich, the media or someone really checks out the IEMA pick and calls Rauner to task for it. That is way too important a post for someone like the guy he’s appointed.
Rauner lost a lot of credibility with this selection along with the increased pay of Rauner’s top staffers.

Comment by Disappointed Greatly Saturday, Jan 31, 15 @ 12:51 am
Joseph ran for Carol Stream trustee. On his campaign website he said he had a small business that focused on, among other things, “counter terrorism.”

At HSBC, he said he worked on day to day safety and security operations for the company’s 70,000 North American employees and created safety and security policies for its 300,000 employees worldwide.

votejamesjoseph.com

Comment by Wordslinger Saturday, Jan 31, 15 @ 12:56 am
Very disappointing the there is no Deep South representation on the Illinois State Board of Education. Once again, we have no voice at the table from southern Illinois. Thanks Dr. Andrea Brown for your service to ISBE and representation of the Deep South for the past eight years. You will be missed.

Comment by Bocephus Saturday, Jan 31, 15 @ 6:55 am
Heck, former IEMA Director Monken initially started at the Illinois State Police until it became clear he wouldn’t make it through Senate confirmation, and then was moved to IEMA. Seems like, again, a youthful pick is directed to IEMA to build credibility. If Joseph’s resume is legit, he’s pretty impressive.

I’m not fond of Jaffe, mainly because I’ve never understood the logic of placing someone in charge of regulating something who hates what he’s regulating. Suspicious of it? Sure. Hates? Not so much.

Still, the contents of Rauner’s past week along with the 4 p.m. Friday appointment dump seems to be a twofold effort. First, we’re going to see just how long the editorial boards who loved him can stay silent. Second, we’re going to see how long it takes before he takes his $20 million backstop out for a test drive.

Methinks the Governor isn’t particularly worried about grumbly news stories or the errant nasty editorial. $20 million buys a lot of message crafting that doesn’t require being filtered through actual news media. And, of course, $20 million is merely a down payment.

Meanwhile, Blankenhorn is an excellent appointment. We’ll see how much ability he’s given to actually do something. With no capital money, he’s essentially there to make sure the bridges don’t collapse.

Comment by Big West Saturday, Jan 31, 15 @ 7:00 am
Jay Stewart has done an excellent job as DPR director. One of the best in recent years. Though Quinn didn’t do much right, he somehow made a smart choice in hiring Jay Stewart.

Comment by no plan b Saturday, Jan 31, 15 @ 8:02 am
As far as the Blankenhorn appointment, I would think there are a lot more items at stake other than the Illiana Expressway which most observers have fixated on. Randy is a veteran of IDOT and he knows all the options, from dropping the project altogether to just acquiring the property, building only the less controversial piece from I-57 to the east, or even giving it to the Tollway which has much deeper pockets than IDOT. At this point, nothing would be surprising.

Of greater long term importance is Randy’s championing tilting the “55/45″ formula in favor of Chicagoland while he was at CMAP. Such a change could result in billions more for Chicago area roads and billions less for downstate roads over the course of the next 30 years, if enacted.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Saturday, Jan 31, 15 @ 9:46 am
Who with the Rauner team is responsible for vetting and researching appointees?

Roberta Parks…..Really?
No educational experience(she admits this in the Peoria Journal Star today that this is way higher than anything she has ever done)

She worked against Rauner for Quinn

She was ousted from the Peoria Chamber of Commerce for polarizing people

We have been hearing how we need the best and brightest, not sure we have seen that in all cases yet. Best of luck to all though

Comment by Charles Wilkins Saturday, Jan 31, 15 @ 10:21 am
Great pick in bringing Mannion to the table. The guy will be a smart, consistent, decisive, accessible regulator. Plus he knows every legislator and the legislative process. Smart move.

Comment by Wow Saturday, Jan 31, 15 @ 10:24 am