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Who should run IDNR?

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Illinois

* Dale Bowman at the Sun-Times…

I would like a simple declarative sentence from Pritzker, “I believe a wildlife professional should head the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.”

Unfortunately, I am losing faith.

Rumors have had Downstate legislators or former legislators as likely to be named director of the IDNR. The latest came earlier this month when the O’Fallon Weekly reported that state representative Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton) is “likely to be appointed the next Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.”

IDNR isn’t just about wildlife. It operates state parks, regulates the mining industry, operates the Abandoned Mined Land Reclamation program, regulates the oil and gas industry and even regulates the use, possession and storage of explosives.

Four years ago some of the state’s wildlife columnists were up in arms about the appointment of then-Rep. Wayne Rosenthal as director of IDNR. Just like now, they wanted a wildlife professional as director. But putting someone with such a narrow focus to run an agency with such broad powers seems like an even worse idea than putting a politician in that job.

What’s really needed are highly capable professionals running the various departments like Conservation/Preservation and Hunting/Trapping and Fishing/Boating. The person at the very top needs administrative skills and a real passion to protect the outdoors for future generations.

Bowman also wrote about rumors that Rep. Costello may not get the gig. There are lots of rumors out there about every agency, but his campaign contributions from coal and energy interests probably aren’t helping.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:41 pm

Comments

Costello would good, but if not JC then it needs to be someone with connections to the outdoor community

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:48 pm
Rich, we agree. We feel as though the agency needs administrative and business management at the top. The entire agency needs to be revamped. Someone with strong leadership skills could transform that agency by putting in knowledgeable department heads and restructuring how the agency is run.

Comment by Capitol Outdoors Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:49 pm
===What’s really needed are highly capable professionals===

Yes, please.

Comment by njt Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:54 pm
We don’t need programming animal torturers running the department. That needs to end.The fur market has collapsed . Ask yourselves a question would you snap one shut on you dog or cat leg.

Comment by David Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:55 pm
Wasn’t one of reasons speculated as to why Costello didn’t go for the old man’s congressional seat was the limits on outside income?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:56 pm
So… only a cop should run ISP, and only a healthcare professional should run DHS/HFS/IDPH/DCFS, and only an accountant should run DOR, right?

It seems to get really silly really quickly. Like Rich said, there are other skillsets that are vitally important. You find a wildlife professional with good business and administration experience, I’m all for it. Saying that only a wildlife expert can do the job is silly.

Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:57 pm
Should all of that actually fall under one roof? Totally agree that the top person needs administrative and business skills. Steps down need subject matter expertise. And although it all relates to outdoors, at a certain level everything is connected. Not a fan of big government, but should some of this be split up?

Comment by Leslie K Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:57 pm
IDNR needs a skilled and energetic administrator that can prevent the worksites from operating like little kingdoms.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:59 pm
I think someone with a strong environmentalist background and record should run IDNR.

Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 12:59 pm
Daphna Nachminovitch

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:00 pm
And they now have historic sites too, not to mention the biggest shooting complex in the world. It’s a tough agency to navigate, when you have the NRA at one end of the table and the Sierra Club at the other. And talk about a hallowed out agency…

Comment by Because I said so... Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:03 pm
Costello will be a great fit.. I strongly believe it’s important for JB to follow through on this promise for downstate. Rosenthal accomplished next to nothing.. leaving open the contract for conservation police to this date.

Comment by CostelloGoodFit Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:04 pm
What’s Gary Forby up to these days, I’m sure he’d be down to run the DNR.

Comment by Iggy Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:04 pm
I remember Brent Manning being a terrific chief of IDNR. Why can’t we find someone who’s only goal getting out of bed in the morning is to make IDNR the best it can be? Why do we have to find a former politician? It seems to me, if you bring in a politician, you’re going to have a political agency. I’m not saying there aren’t exceptions, but this is an important position and I’d really like to see a pick who is committed to reversing years of neglect in the agency.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:04 pm
I agree. The position encompasses far more than just wildlife, and requires both and understanding of and commitment to wise use of those resources along with the skill to oversee a very multi faceted department. It’s important to note that many DNR constituents frequently voice the wish for the removal of politics from our DNR and a return a solely science based model of operation, that simply isn’t feasible in the current climate. The new director needs the political capital to effect meaningful changes in policy and programming in our current system. I would advocate for a broad set of skills at the top and more qualified and narrow science based scopes at the individual levels such as fisheries, wildlife management, trail and recreational development etc.

Comment by dowsouth outdoor writer Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:05 pm
Darwin did not captain the HMS Beagle.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:05 pm
I think Costello would be a good choice.

Comment by dr. reason a, goodwin Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:08 pm
We need a Governor and a legislature that believes in proper funding. Madigan has gutted DNR because at the end of the day, trees don’t vote. Democrats don’t really believe in climate change and we know this because of how they vote. When you live in a state where one man has drafted every budget for 20 years it is not hard to see the truth.

Madigan figured at his age he would never have to live to see the ramifications of his poor stewardship of our natural resources. I wonder if knowing the world will end in 12 years will make him take this more seriously.

Comment by the Patriot Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:17 pm
100% agreement with Capitol Outdoors. Real administrators with vision and a drive to change are needed across the board. So many Rauner appointees treated their roles as only outreach/speaking positions.

Comment by NIU Grad Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:23 pm
How about someone who is young, with a tourism, tech, or hospitality background, maybe someone from Chicago? or maybe someone from an NGO that specializes in environmental and resource protection/ sustainability, an organization like the Sierra Club.

Comment by Merica Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:24 pm
===Madigan has gutted DNR===

That was Blago, not Madigan.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:34 pm
Agree with someone who is a strong and experienced administrator/leader and open to a lot of learning on the job, but who also has a demonstrated respect for the natural environment - this is a huge brief, so also agree that each division needs to have a specialist head, and some of those individuals should be scientists (biologists/forestry experts / toxic waste experts for reclamation projects, etc.).

So: experienced administrator-manager / relevant background in one or another of the relevant areas / curiosity and willingness to learn from subject experts / reverence-respect for the natural environment.

Don’t know where such an individual is to be found but there must be somebody out there somewhere who is both able and willing to take it on.

Comment by dbk Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:38 pm
Brent would probably come out of retirement to either repeat as Director OR at least assist in anyway he could. In either case, the new Governor would be wise to at least reach out to Manning for input for I know he isnt happy with the current state of IDNR…

Comment by LINK Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:40 pm
JCII has proven to be an effective legislator. Apparently he knows how to represent most of his constituents. I know the man is compassionate about his love of our states natural resources. He will do an outstanding job if called upon.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 1:42 pm
==To the credit of Rauner, he did the right thing when it mattered most.==

No, no, a thousand times no. The extra land for state parks is nice, but I can never forget that Rauner shut down the Illinois State Museum out of nothing more than spite and malice.

A DNR director who believes in the value of Illinois’s cultural and natural resources would be most refreshing and welcome.

Comment by LakeCo Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:09 pm
About those coal and energy interests.
I heard it with my own ears. JB is taking us down a path of 100% renewables and to follow the guidelines of the Paris Accord. The coal and fossil fuel industries will be extinct soon enough.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:39 pm
Strong effective leadership is what is needed; the agency has essentially been run by the rank-and-file for years. Granted the Department has been hamstrung by funding cuts and an exodus of personnel who were not replaced, but I doubt a former legislator can bring the agency out of its slump. It was always hilarious when new directors, in making their first speech to staff, emphasized their love of hunting and fishing to an audience 80% of whom had nothing to do with those aspects. It’s called Natural Resources for a reason, and there are many issues awaiting decisions which will have wide-ranging and controversial effects throughout the State. That said, the Department should not be run out of the Governor’s Office, either.

Comment by Oberon Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:45 pm
I like Leslie Sgro for the job.

Comment by parks and recreation Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 2:59 pm
Most of you are describing Rosenthal as it relates to the experience needed. You can’t make changes with no budget and the lifetime of resistance within the ranks. Please anyone but a “wildlife professional”.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 3:08 pm
The same JC that refused to endorse the Governor?

Comment by Dodger's Blue Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 3:22 pm
David: Agreed.

Whoever runs it, let’s see a few bobcats north of Vandalia.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 3:40 pm
Tom Flattery would be a great pick…lots of experience.

Comment by flea Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 4:28 pm
You actually need someone from a consumptive wildlife organization like a big shot from Duck’s Unlimited who wanted the challenge of a lifetime.

They now how to raise funds, work on projects that benefit broad constituencies, work with various government agencies and NGO’s, and work with politicians of all stripes.

Comment by Leave a light on George Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 4:34 pm
Those hollering for a wildlife professional want to go back to the old days of the Department of Conservation when it was only the hook and bullet crowd they had to worry about.

Comment by Leave a light on George Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 4:42 pm
Costello would be a good choice, but the Dems can kiss his legislative seat goodbye in 2020.

Comment by Dave W Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 4:44 pm
Somebody with genuine passion for the agency and its mission, knowledgeable and respected, and sophisticated understanding of IL government: Costello. Obvious good choice.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 5:20 pm
Good points, Rich. An solid administrator is what is needed for this diverse agency. We can do better than former lawmakers, failed congressional candidates and people who offer little more than posing with dead animals.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 5:27 pm
Politicians or political hacks are not generally qualified administrators either. Would prefer a person with a parks or forestry or wildlife background over a politician with no background at all in agency oversight.

Comment by Shemp Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 5:59 pm
Dave W. You can take that to the bank
Especially if they appoint Reitzs son to the spot.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 6:23 pm
Exactly Dodger’s Blue - perhaps Blue Dog can explain to us why JC didn’t support the Gov but now expects a job from him?

Comment by Bruce Blago Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 6:42 pm
=Politicians or political hacks are not generally qualified administrators either. Would prefer a person with a parks or forestry or wildlife background over a politician with no background at all in agency oversight.=

Right now DNR needs someone with knowledge of the appropriations process and someone that can build relationships with both political parties. Costello would be a great fit for DNR and someone that could rebuild the agency.

Someone with parks, forestry or wildlife background would be destroyed at the capitol. Let’s face it Pat Quinn was an environmentalist and he made Marc Miller the Director. Miller had limited experience at the capitol, but had a strong senior staff. The person with the knowledge of programs needs to go in as a Bureau Chief, not Director. The Director needs to be someone that can negotiate, rebuild the agency and be a cheerleader for DNR.

I like how these industry groups turn to the media to put pressure on the new Governor, who has only been in office for a week.. {Sigh} Give the Governor an opportunity to make his own cabinet picks.

I have 100% confidence that Costello could do the job.

Comment by {Sigh} Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 6:51 pm
Agency directors have historicly been lawyer/politicians. Leadership qualities, management experience and institutional knowledge of the agency are much more important IMHO. If I were JB I would look for a IDNR lifer (if there is one after recent partisan politics).

Comment by Justacitizen Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 7:28 pm
DNR also runs the Illinois State Mueseum. Since Rauner shut the ISM down, then allowed it to reopen with about 1/3 the staff and most of the top curators gone, I hope the governor rwalizes the very real dumbing down of Illinois due to that closedown catastrophe is sonething the new director needs to rectify. If we are trading Republican doofuses for Democratic ones, what’s the point?

Comment by My New Handle Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 7:31 pm
Blue Dog Dem: I think pretty much anyone not named Costello hasn’t a prayer at hanging onto that seat. Jerry Jr ran as far right as he could, and still had a dogfight in 2018.

Comment by Dave W Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 8:06 pm
Dodger and blago. Cant give you a definite answer,but i can surmise an educated guess. JcII’s district is now heavily R. Why give your competitor campaign sound bites. If ya know Jerry, hes a real union supporting guy. I only judge a man by his actions. Not by his words. When it comes to supporting the working poor and middle classes,JCII takes a back seat to noone.

Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 8:08 pm
Fair enough Blue Dog - I’m sure that was the reason, just thought I’d throw it out there. Not saying he wouldn’t necessarily be a good pick - but curious as to why others say he would be other than his last name is Costello and this would be a good way to spare him having to run again. Other than those factors I’m not sure what qualifications being a State Rep gives one to run an agency. Knowledge of state government? Yes. Knowledge of a few or most of the issues the agency might face? Yes. But zero experience managing a large number of people. For those who want to do the minimum, being a State Rep involves little more than managing a couple assistants in the local office. One could argue he knows how to move a large piece of legislation such as concealed carry. Then again that’s not likely to be an issue Pritzker would have much respect for. And the Governor has shown he can win without worrying votes from Costello’s neck of the woods. So all and all, good guy and arguably good Rep - but not sure what JC 2 brings to the table for this specific Governor.

Comment by Bruce Blago Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 10:29 pm
JC brings a terrible enviro record and relationships with the coal and energy folks. He is not a good pick.

Comment by anon Tuesday, Jan 22, 19 @ 10:53 pm
Costello would be JBs smartest pick. Costello is one smart dude for the job. I am also a 100% Republican stating this.

Comment by Inmman Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 1:42 am
“Right now DNR needs someone with knowledge of the appropriations process and someone that can build relationships with both political parties.”

Couldn’t agree with this more. The biggest challenge IDNR faces is budgetary. It’s a catch-22… I know of numerous instances in which staff decided not to apply for federal grants for projects such as wetland conservation and invasive species removal because either they couldn’t pull together the non-federal match or they didn’t have guarantees that there would be anyone in Springfield to manage the back-end financial components of a grant. IDNR needs more money and more staff- both in the field and back office.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 10:08 am