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Soft landing for some Quinnsters

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Illinois

* Greg Hinz reports on some former Quinn administration PR types…

Abdon Pallasch, who was a deputy budget director, now is the new communications director for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.

The Illinois Department of Revenue’s Sue Hofer and health care spokesman Mike Claffey are at City Hall. She’s the new spokesman for Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s budget office, he’s at the Department of Transportation.

Katie Hickey has gone to work for City Treasurer Kurt Summers.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 12:37 pm

Comments

Glad to see Abdon landed somewhere, although selfishly I wish it were back as a reporter. I miss reading his byline.

Comment by Betsy Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 1:15 pm
Happy for Sue, Katie and Mike - all stellar.

Comment by Politix Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 1:36 pm
Agreed Betsy. It’s like crossing the foul line in Field of Dreams though right? Can’t go back?

Honest question. Journalism-wise can’t be done?

Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 1:50 pm
=== Journalism-wise can’t be done?===

It can be done and has been done (in DC), but it’s tricky. There really aren’t many openings, however, and hiring him as the CST Statehouse reporter probably wouldn’t be kosher.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 1:53 pm
Many congrats to Abdon, Sue and Mike. All hardworking good folks. But a special congrats to Kurt for the pick-up of Katie. She’s a rock star and will be very helpful to a pol who is looking to move up in the future.

Comment by Juice Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 1:53 pm
Thanks Rich. I’d be willing to bet Tom Dart is more likely to be in business in a few years than the Sun-Times is anyway.

Comment by LizPhairTax Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 1:55 pm
Don’t let the door hitya where the good Lord splitya. Fawning over these staffers after they helped their former boss make a complete mess of things really lets them off the hook. Notice how not a one went into the private sector?

Comment by Taken for Granite Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 1:59 pm
Taken,

I was about as far removed from being a Quinn supporter, but I don’t blame the staffers and for certain wouldn’t wish them to sit on unemployment. It’s the cycle and nature of political jobs now. Be careful how much you gloat in the misfortune of others…chances are you’ll be in their position one day.

Comment by Anonymoiis Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:08 pm
I’m happy for Abdon. But can’t help but feel he made a mistake going to work for Quinn in the first place. He seems much more suited for open end reporting than directed flacking. I, too, miss his byline. And as you say, it’ll be hard to go “home” again. I’d argue he’s had and would have continued to have, a greater impact as a reporter than in any political job.

Comment by Responsa Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:09 pm
Taken,

May you never fall on hard times.

Comment by Anon Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:17 pm
“Notice how not a one went into the private sector?”

So what? Private sector employment is not some dispositive indicator of worth.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:17 pm
- Taken for Granite -,

Feel better?

The bitterness towards people and the contempt…how long do you want them unemployed to make it ok for you?

You want to put a brick on anyone who looked at Quinn until you, personally, are ok with it?

They are people, no different than you or me.

I never understood why people can’t let others just move on and be happy for them.

If you have that list of when the Quinnsters can get back to work, let us know.

Only you can stop the animosity you feel. No one else.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:19 pm
Good things happen to good people. Best wishes to all of them and their new employers, who are very lucky to have them.

Comment by Ribbit Ribbit Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:20 pm
Abdon did a lot of great work at the Sun-Times. Even if it is just as an editorial writer someday, hopefully Abdon can come back into journalism. Like others, I miss his writing. I would also like to point out that Abdon never felt himself too good for phone banking or canvassing during the campaign season.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:20 pm
As Anon Said, TFG,

I really hope you never fall on hard times, Karma can be a real, well you know……..

Comment by Someone you should know Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:25 pm
Were any of them hired competitively with an application process? Perhaps they are all the best candidates for those positions but it looks like business as usual to me.

Comment by NoGifts Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:41 pm
===Perhaps they are all the best candidates for those positions but it looks like business as usual to me.===

So they may be the best, but it could be business as usual?

Like your wavering, your comment misses the mark.

They coukd be the best, it could be business as usual…

Pick a lane. Stay there.

If you’re lane is to insinuate something, just say it, don’t qualify it. And remember karma while you’re at it too.

Jeez.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:47 pm
There’s not much of a Sun-Times left to go back to. It probably won’t last the year.

Comment by Bright One Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:48 pm
wow. Dart made a smart hire.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:49 pm
===but it looks like business as usual to me.===

Yep, me too. Elected officials hiring experienced and talented public servants.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:51 pm
Taken is right, gang. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. If the Sun-Times was an ongoing concern, Abdon would not have left to become a PR flak for a goofball like Quinn. At least Quinn is who he is, though, and not a total condescending phony with a fake accent who thinks we are all stupid.

Comment by Bright One Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:53 pm
Amelia: Dart may also be gone soon.

Comment by Bright One Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:54 pm
—
Notice how not a one went into the private sector?—

Hard to believe, but there are some folks that feel that public service is very important.

Frankly, I feel that way — and I wish more folks (especially among Rauner’s staff and especially with Rauner himself) would understand this.

Comment by Macbeth Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:55 pm
Ummmmmmmmmm, Dart just got sworn in after winning re-election, I believe he has 47 months to serve………

Comment by Someone you should know Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:55 pm
===Were any of them hired competitively with an application process?====
I will go out on a limb here and guess that these are exempt positions. Of course you might want hire somebody to speak for you as an elected official who is in a non-exempt position. Myself? I would prefer someone I get to pick.

Comment by Been There Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:55 pm
LizPhair: I missed your post. Dart and the Sun-Times are both on the same timetable for self-destruction. Do not take said bet.

Comment by Bright One Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:56 pm
===Taken is right, gang. You live by the sword, you die by the sword.===

No one said they shouldn’t be “out” after Quinn lost, but how long they suppose to be unemployed to make it ok for you? What’s the penance? What is sufficient for working for Quinn?

They found gigs, it’s part of the industry; you’re good, you land in your feet.

The animosity is just sad. I feel bad for you as opposed to anyone, in any race that lost. Karma…

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:57 pm
Go to school on Dart’s recent behavior. He must hate Google.

Comment by Bright One Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:58 pm
Oswego: I’m glad everyone landed on their feet. Also, when I said Dart could be gone, I did not indicate where. He could be appointed the next federal judge for life like Brian Barnett Duff, et al.

Comment by Bright One Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:02 pm
I did a property tax appeal for a woman who was the public face of Rahm policies. She had left for the private sector.

She really didn’t feel good about being the spokesperson for Rahm policies.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:11 pm
NoGifts: Hired competitively with an application process? I thought recreational marijuana was still a bill to be introduced.

Comment by Bright One Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:11 pm
Pick a lane? Perhaps business as usual sometimes does result in the best outcome. Maybe that’s why people keep doing it - but it might not be true in all cases.

Comment by NoGifts Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:15 pm
@Bright One, are you talking about BGA hit pieces on Dart? Cus whatever if that’s what you’re talking about.

Comment by From the 'Dale to HP Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:18 pm
You can go as far as your talent takes you. These 3 prove it. They were talented and earned good new positions. Good for them.

Comment by A guy Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:20 pm
More to the point, were the new positions at City Hall and DOT necessary and empty? In that case wouldn’t you do a search even for exempt positions? Or were they created as high priced positions to pay back favors between political bosses. I didn’t want to cast aspersions on the skills of the hired, because they can be very good, but rather on the reasons and methods such positions suddenly appear.

Comment by NoGifts Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:23 pm
BGA has minimal credibility. Not sure those are even “hit” pieces. Go to the sites monitoring Dart’s policies and personal behavior as of late.

Comment by Bright One Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:29 pm
NoGifts: I’ll bet you a case of Stag Beer (another Rauner affectation) that those positions were not necessary and empty…wait, I agree. Contact high, bro. By thy rivers gently flowing…

Comment by Bright One Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:33 pm
**Were any of them hired competitively with an application process? Perhaps they are all the best candidates for those positions but it looks like business as usual to me.**

Did Rauner “hire competitively with an application process” any of this political appointees?

Didn’t think so…

Comment by AlabamaShake Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:46 pm
Geez, ya think @Bright One might have an axe to grind?

Comment by RJ Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 3:52 pm
I don’t think the practice of generating new high paid positions for as favors to political friends differs between democrats and republicans. I think most people in government have well paid positions suddenly appear out of nowhere for people with good political connections.

Comment by NoGifts Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 4:55 pm
“have seen” well paid…

Comment by NoGifts Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 4:56 pm
==- Bright One - Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 2:58 pm:==

Having inmates help demolish vacant, blighted houses? Working on rape backlogs in the south suburbs? Exposing incompetent policing in the south suburbs? What an awful record *eye roll*.

Comment by Precinct Captain Friday, Feb 6, 15 @ 4:56 pm