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* Press release…
Gov. Bruce Rauner announced today that Rodger Heaton will become his chief of staff effective Monday, Oct. 9. Heaton, a former U.S. Attorney and most recently the director of Public Safety and chairman of the Statewide Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform, succeeds Kristina Rasmussen, who will remain on staff until Friday, Oct. 13, to help ensure a smooth transition.
Heaton has served as public safety director and the governor’s Homeland Security adviser since January 2015. In these roles, he has worked extensively with members from all three branches of Illinois state government and is familiar with the workings of the Office of the Governor and the priorities that the governor has established.
“I’m excited to promote Rodger to be our team leader,” Rauner said. “His combination of legal, legislative and policy experience will help us build on the significant improvements that Kristina accomplished in a very compressed and challenging time.”
Heaton has had a 30-year career in law, litigation, law enforcement and policy. From 2005 to 2009, he served as U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois, the chief federal law enforcement official for 46 counties. He also served on the U.S. Attorney General’s Advisory Committee, a body that advises the Attorney General on all policy matters related to the justice system.
The governor lauded the work of outgoing Chief of Staff Kristina Rasmussen, who is leaving the administration to pursue other interests.
“I brought Kristina on last summer because of her reputation as a foremost policy leader and organizational innovator,” the governor said. “I asked her to reinvigorate our staff and advance our goals in improving education, growing jobs, and protecting taxpayers … and she delivered on all fronts.
“Kristina built and organized a team that is enhancing our executive operations, making them more focused, more effective and better prepared to win a growth agenda for Illinois,” Rauner said. “I know she will be a great success in any endeavor she chooses in the future.”
Thoughts?
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:14 pm
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I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a press release that includes a pause for dramatic effect before.
==“I asked her to reinvigorate our staff and advance our goals in improving education, growing jobs, and protecting taxpayers … and she delivered on all fronts.”==
It’s almost like you’re wondering if Rauner’s going to call her a failure right there in the press release.
Comment by Moist von Lipwig Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:17 pm
Hopefully somebody will be at the JRTC to let him in the building. Its a holiday!
Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:20 pm
I think that it is safe to surmise that Ms. Rasmussen, just like her predecessors, did the very best with the resources and environment given.
Comment by Duh Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:20 pm
“I brought Kristina on last summer” … and by last summer, I mean this summer, you know, less than three months ago.
Comment by TopHatMonocle Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:21 pm
Took longer than I thought.
Comment by Been there, done that Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:21 pm
I think there’s some candor missing towards the end of that press release.
Comment by Keyrock Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:21 pm
===“I asked her to reinvigorate our staff and advance our goals in improving education, growing jobs, and protecting taxpayers … and she delivered on all fronts.===
“… “I asked her to reinvigorate our staff and advance our goals in improving education, growing jobs, and protecting taxpayers. As a white male, I can say she delivered on all fronts.”…”
#FakeRadicalCandorEdit
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:22 pm
Can someone please clarify whether revolving door will keep her from returning to the Illinois Perjury Institute?
Comment by Soccermom Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:22 pm
“Radical Candor - July, 1017-October, 2017″
Does the Staff get to keep all those “suggested reading” materials or…
#RadicalPurge
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:23 pm
“I brought Kristina on last summer . . .”
Way back when. Nice phrasing.
I bet we are gonna hear a lot about how the Guv and his staff have made many “enhancements” to the state and how it is run. It’s a nice word, connotes progress, but is easily specious.
Comment by Henry Francis Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:23 pm
I hope this doesn’t mean @RadicalCandorIL won’t go away. It’s another Twitter I check out….
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:26 pm
Does this make David Orr acting Chief of Staff on Saturday and Sunday?
Comment by Free Set of Steak Knives Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:27 pm
It indicates the Governor realizes he made a mistake bringing in the IPI team and is cutting his losses.
Comment by anon2 Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:28 pm
It’s hilarious that Rasmussen’s record as Chief of Staff is HB40, the TRUST Act, and a CPS Bailout.
Comment by Grand Avenue Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:28 pm
Heaton is a great choice. Fair, inquisitive, and thoughtful. He has spent his time in Rauner’s Office learning, studying, and meeting with staff. All around great choice.
Comment by Lilady Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:28 pm
==the significant improvements that Kristina accomplished==
“Improvements”…you keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:29 pm
I’d have to think Rasmussen is now an embarrassment to IPI (HB40, Chicago Bailout, Sanctuary State) but also to Rauner himself (”As a white male, veto override numbers, budget override and revolt(s)…)
Bet Rasmussen would like a do-over and go back to June 20th(ish) and …
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:34 pm
Agree with @Lilady that Rodger Heaton is an excellent choice. He has the respect of virtually everyone who’s ever worked with him.
Comment by charles in charge Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:36 pm
Not since Chicago mayor Jane Byrne have we had a revolving door revolving this fast.
Comment by Upstate Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:38 pm
So…. there was no treasure in Al Capone’s vault?
Brutal.
You spend your career telling the world every day that you know how to run the show better than anyone else, and then you flame out in spectacularly humiliating incompetence in a matter of weeks.
That’s gotta sting.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:40 pm
With Heaton, there will be a close eye on the fuzzy lines between Policy and Politics.
That will hurt Rauner.
Comment by Winnin' Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:47 pm
Your on the bus or your under the bus.
Comment by Bigtwich Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:49 pm
Keep on playing those mind games together.
Comment by #9 Dream Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:51 pm
Before, Rasmussen, Rickert, they’d go on the Tee-Vee and radio and berate and smugly suggest that “they knew”, they had the real ideas… No one was “listening” to them… “Fire all state employees” was a favorite… as both Rasmussen and Rickert were messaging…
… and Diana Rauner was obsessed with IPI messaging.
Diana Rauner had to have Rickert, and had to have Rasmussen. Goldberg was expendable.
As a white male, Bruce lost Rickert, like someone edits a press release.
Now, Rasmussen, after HB40 is safely signed, Diana pleased to keep her reputation, can go too, knowing she will be called to discuss Illinois, and her role undermining her own beliefs and embarrassing herself and a governor.
That memo, so smug, told us all how she knew it all, and how she’d usher in Radical Candor
Guess that played out to be miserably fail.
“We’ll take it from here, Kristina… “
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:52 pm
===“We’ll take it from here, Kristina… “===
We’ll take it from here? What are you going to do, Willy? Comment a few hundred times a week on this blog?
Comment by whea Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:56 pm
===What are you going to do… ===
Paint. Sculpt. Go for a walk, take in a play…
===Comment a few hundred times a week on this blog?===
Your concern is heartwarming, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 1:59 pm
“It’s an up day”
Comment by Boone's is Back Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 2:12 pm
Love the tail end, ” will remain on staff until Friday, Oct. 13, to help ensure a smooth transition.” To this point, “smooth” has not ever been used to describe this administration.
Comment by TOTM Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 2:15 pm
== brought Kristina on last summer ==
Last summer? You mean, 3 months ago?
Comment by Name Withheld Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 2:30 pm
===Last summer? You mean, 3 months ago?===
If Rasmussen ever writes a book about it…
“88 Days of Radical Candor”
It’s all done in IPI style comics…
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 2:38 pm
HBO - “Dad’s Home State” - Season 3B, Episode 13
Bruce decides to change Kristina with another person, is glad he signed controversial bill first. Diana is thrilled some of her friends are now returning her texts again, tells them Bruce has only just begun. Diana’s State Employee blocks emails from every legislator to Bruce and Diana. Hud prepares spin for staff changes, Ann disagrees, leaves odd editing for a Bruce quote. The Looch tweets he’s looking for empty boxes. Comedy, 59 minutes
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 2:49 pm
Was wondering if 3 months was a record, then remembered the ‘body man’ who didn’t make it 3 days (and whose name I can’t remember)…
Comment by Behind the Scenes Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 2:55 pm
I’m not sure why WHEA took a gratuitous shot at OW but I enjoy OW’s insight along with Wordslinger, VanillaMan and other frequent posters. It’s kind of like Illini football, if you don’t like losing so much…GET BETTER.
Comment by Trapped in the 'burbs Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 3:01 pm
Has their ever been a Billionaire governor in US modern history that has left behind a trail of failures,money lost,and staff turnover.
Comment by DeseDemDose Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 3:11 pm
Does Proft still owe the $30 million in campaign contributions that was promised for these jobs?
Comment by Chicago 20 Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 3:11 pm
Rodger is a great guy. Brucie will benefit from an adult in the room.
Comment by d.p.gumby Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 3:12 pm
It’s just rearranging the deck chairs… Once that ship hit the iceberg it was going down no matter who was brought in to calm the passengers.
Comment by don the legend Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 3:14 pm
Chin up Kristina, you may not have been the first female CoS, but I think you set the record for shortest lived.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 3:15 pm
@Trappedintheburbs - agree and to your point of saying “It’s kind of like Illini football, if you don’t like losing so much…GET BETTER.”
Good advice.
Comment by illini Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 3:24 pm
And another one bites the dust. This would make a great comedy. It is really to bad that the Governor has no empathy, nor sympathy for anyone. I am not a fan of the lady he removed. (I actually hope she quit) I do think there are better ways of doing things.
Comment by Retired Educator Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 3:25 pm
I read elsewhere that she resigned.
Comment by conservative mom Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 3:47 pm
Has there ever been such a big turnover, in such a short period of time, like we’ve seen in the Governor’s office in the history of Illinois?
Also, how about in POTUS Trump’s administration?
Comment by Honeybadger Friday, Oct 6, 17 @ 4:43 pm