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* The guy who accused prison workers of taking Super Bowl Sunday off, even though part of the state was hit by a blizzard that day, has unexpectedly resigned after just two months on the job…

Donald Stolworthy, acting director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, submitted his resignation to the Republican governor this week, but will remain on the state payroll while a search for a replacement is underway.

“We have accepted the resignation of Acting Director Stolworthy. At our request, he has agreed to help during the transition period to continue our transformation of the Department of Corrections while we identify the leader that will succeed him,” Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said in an email Friday.

Stolworthy was named to the $150,200 post on March 8 after serving as an official in the U.S. State Department’s prison bureau. The 54-year-old Arlington, Virginia resident replaced S.A. “Tony” Godinez, who had overseen the agency since 2011.

The governor’s office provided no reason for Stolworthy’s pending departure.

What a bizarre turn of events this is.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 22, 15 @ 11:40 am

Comments

Boy that job is hard to keep filled! What dragons lurk beneath the surface there?

Comment by walker Friday, May 22, 15 @ 11:42 am
That was fun.

Out of state superstar blames the Super Bowl, with out checking the weather factor in disparaging prison workers.

End result. A dismissive Governor’s Office “accepting” a resignation.

Yikes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 22, 15 @ 11:45 am
Another outlet reports Stolworthy was upset by “micromanaging” from the governor’s office, and he is not alone.

Apparently another director has let it be known that he is not pleased with the governor’s office “recommendations” for filing job openings.

Comment by Juvenal Friday, May 22, 15 @ 11:46 am
No snark here: I would gladly take this job for 60% of the pay.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, May 22, 15 @ 11:47 am
===Another outlet reports===

Link?

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, May 22, 15 @ 11:50 am
This likely says more about Rauner’s ability to do his job than Stolworthy’s ability to do his.

Comment by State worker Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:05 pm
They haven’t replaced anyone from DOC yet still same ol crew

Comment by Calling u out Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:05 pm
Yikes wait til someone finds the subprime auto loan lender who was exec at a company that bilked folks out of $200 million.

Comment by Anonin' Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:06 pm
=== Apparently another director has let it be known that he is not pleased with the governor’s office “recommendations” for filing job openings. ===

Sounds normal to me. I need more details to see a more egregious pattern.

Comment by Norseman Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:06 pm
Snow happens.

Comment by A guy Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:10 pm
Rich -

I don’t have a link, it was in the Illinois Observer’s “Don’t quote me” section…so maybe I shouldn’t have quoted him?

Comment by Juvenal Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:10 pm
Has anyone to this date actually looked into whether it was actually snow or the superbowl that caused the absences? Or where they took place?

Comment by mcb Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:21 pm
Norseman:

If the agency director is objecting, I suspect they are totally unqualified individuals being slated for mission-critical jobs.

The problem is, the “Assistant Deputy Director” jobs can’t be filled with hacks because Rauner intends/needs to eliminate those posts to get within budget.

Comment by Juvenal Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:24 pm
I can see Rauner having a constant change of directors in the next 31/2 years. His micro managing and I’m better then anybody attitude will wear thin on those who can easily move on.

Comment by Du page Republican Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:28 pm
Tom Dart made a similar comment the other night on Chicago Tonight. He claimed over 600 guards had called in sick at the Cook County Jail on the day of the Holyfield Pacquiao fight.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:32 pm
Sorry meant Mayweather oops.

Comment by Anonymous Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:33 pm
Juvenal, this has been an issue with past administrations as well. I’m not defending it, but until I have more information I can’t say its’ worse than before.

One of my director’s was quite adept and identifying a candidate and would negotiate a less harmful spot for the Govs person while he got the qualified person in the higher priority spot.

=== The problem is, the “Assistant Deputy Director” jobs can’t be filled with hacks because Rauner intends/needs to eliminate those posts to get within budget. ===

I find that hard to believe. These are prime positions for Rauner hacks.

Comment by Norseman Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:36 pm
Norseman:

The Asst. Deputy Director jobs have to go, and some of the more aimless deputy director posts too. Budgets are being slashed everywhere but you can’t achieve the savings just by eliminating union positions. Heck, you can’t even start laying off union members for 120 days.

Rauner may not want to eliminate the hack jobs, and he may indeed find it difficult, but the math is irrefutable.

Comment by Juvenal Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:45 pm
Juvenal, you’re arguing what should be and I’m just pointing out that this is business as usual. Despite pronouncements, this gov is into doing business as usual.

Comment by Norseman Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:54 pm
Juvenal,

Sounds like you work at DOC. are you really making the most of your state paid salary by gossiping on here?

Comment by FriendofNAture Friday, May 22, 15 @ 12:54 pm
Meanwhile, Quinn holdovers rule the Illinois Tollway.

Comment by Emanuel Can't Friday, May 22, 15 @ 1:04 pm
the guy was a goof. end of story.

Comment by proudstatetrooper Friday, May 22, 15 @ 1:13 pm
This is rather curious. If you look at Stolworthy’s bio, he IS a superstar.

Comment by Politix Friday, May 22, 15 @ 1:13 pm
When this happened, I recommended that he be fired.

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, May 22, 15 @ 1:14 pm
Fire him.
He failed to do any basic research as to why this occurred. I’d hate to imagine someone this incompetent working at this level of government.

He couldn’t ask anyone what happened? He write this crap based on anecdotal coincident? Unbelievable.

Fire him.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 12:47 pm

Comment by VanillaMan Friday, May 22, 15 @ 1:17 pm
There has to be more to it then the “snowstorm.” I’m not insinuating anything nefarious, whatsoever. That doesn’t even rise to the level of “I quit.” It’s a non-issue outside of this blog. Maybe the dude is homesick?

Comment by W.S. Wolcott Friday, May 22, 15 @ 1:24 pm
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao was a dog of a fight. It’s time to see someone step up to face Golovkin. Back to the topic, I’m not surprised. He never looked comfortable in the role.

Comment by Jorge Friday, May 22, 15 @ 1:41 pm