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Meet the new boss…

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Illinois

* From a press release…

Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today named Bob Greenlee as Deputy Governor, effective June 9. Greenlee will replace current Deputy Governor Sheila Nix when she concludes her four-year tenure with the administration at the end of this week. […]

Greenlee will be based in Chicago and will oversee the administration’s policy and legislative affairs efforts. Greenlee previously worked as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the State’s infrastructure agencies and as the Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget. Greenlee also worked as a lawyer in private practice in Chicago before joining the State. He earned his undergraduate degree from Yale University and received his law degree from the University of Chicago Law School.

“I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. Illinois, like states across the country, is experiencing an economic slowdown that impacts families and businesses statewide. Governor Blagojevich is keenly aware of the important role the State can play in helping families and stimulating the economy. I’m excited to have the opportunity to help him achieve his goals for the people of our state,” said Greenlee.

* From the SJ-R…

Greenlee recently has been overseeing the Blagojevich administration’s push to lease much of the Illinois Lottery to a private firm to help pay for a statewide construction program.

As of November, Greenlee was being paid $120,000 annually as deputy chief of staff overseeing administrative and infrastructure agencies, including Revenue, Central Management Services, Transportation, the Toll Highway Authority and the Housing Development Authority. He also did revenue estimation and valuation and special projects in public finance.

He began with the state in late 2003, after working for Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:10 pm

Comments

Ah! This will be interesting.

Comment by Macbeth Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:12 pm
Lawyer eh, that might come in handy.

Comment by Dan S, a Voter & Cubs Fan Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:14 pm
Poor guy, he had a good resume up until now.

Comment by Napoleon has left the building Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:15 pm
I met Bob a few times.

Probably one of the smartest people in all Illinois, let alone State government.

It will be interesting…

Comment by problem Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:18 pm
A smart guy and a good pick, but someone’s going to jump all over the part in the press release that says he will be based in Chicago and oversee leg affairs.

Comment by Anon Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:22 pm
for good reason

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:23 pm
“Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world… but for Wales?” Sir Thomas More, “A Man for All Seasons”

Comment by Anon III Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:23 pm
What is wrong with this picture?
{Greenlee will be based in Chicago and will oversee legislative affairs efforts}

Comment by Global Positioning Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:25 pm
If he’s that smart, he should be arguing against the sale or lease of the lottery.

At the end of the day, nobody is going to buy or lease it without the promise of a substantial profit. Profit that Illinois taxpayers will be giving up along with the lease or sale agreement.

Maybe we should hire “Bob” to run the lottery and figure out how to make those profits that the lottery sale advocates want to give up to the private sector.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:26 pm
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to help him achieve his goals for the people of our state”

Um, Bob? His biggest goal right now should be understanding sentencing guidelines.

Comment by Memo to the new guy Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:26 pm
That is kind of tone deaf, isn’t it?

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:26 pm
Even if nobody cares, there is no such thing as a Deputy Governor. Calling your chief of staff “Deputy” doesn’t make him or her a constitutional officer. Grumble, grump….

Comment by Excessively rabid Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:33 pm
Cannon fodder!

(Best of luck to him.)

Comment by Ken in Aurora Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:35 pm
Bob is a very smart guy who plays it straight. One of the handful of people over there in the Gov’s office who is easy to work with. This is a positive development….finally.

Comment by Give him a break Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:42 pm
Cassandra I agree with you. But keep in mind the goal of leasing is to rob peter to pay paul. it will give the State a short term cash boost and by giving up revenue that would be collected by the next Gov. Not Bob’s or the Gov’s problem or concern apparently.

I am surprised they have not looked at selling State land back to some of the Indian tribes to raise funds.

Bob is definbetly smart, but the question is whetehr he will use his intelligience to guid the govenror or to try and make the Governors square ideas fit into round peg holes.

Comment by Ghost Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 2:44 pm
Cassandra - I must have missed your comment about his lavish salary.

Comment by Dirt Guy Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 3:05 pm
Bob is solid. He will do a great job with the unfortunate position he has been given. He is intelligent and knows more about Illinois government than almost anybody.

Comment by FlackerBacker Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 3:40 pm
Bob is smart but this is a big leap from Filan’s shadow.

Comment by Anon Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 3:47 pm
He will still be in Filan’s shadow, it is a long and dark one.

Comment by anon Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 3:54 pm
Dirt Guy–he’d probably do it for nothing.

This is the Mayor Daley approach to executive office staffing: hire young persons who graduated from elite schools, put them in positions of considerable responsibility, work them to death for a few years, then they go off with their toned up resume and work for a hedge fund.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 3:56 pm
===Dirt Guy–he’d probably do it for nothing.===

Don’t be silly. People have to live while they’re working to build a career that’ll make them a fortune.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 4:01 pm
Well, I was exaggerating just a little, but the point is, these staff jobs are a huge career boost.
And I don’t fault Daley for the approach. Chicago, after all, seems to run a lot better than Illinois state government.

Comment by Cassandra Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 4:10 pm
Nah, the hedge funds don’t want Daley’s guys. We want a bunch of kids who earned PhDs at US schools but can’t work here due to visa quotas.

Comment by Greg Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 4:24 pm
Bob is smart, but as tough as they come. He knows the workings of government better than most. If anybody can get it done, its Bob. He also likes got sauce.

Comment by anon Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 4:55 pm
It was actually Jim Thompson who started calling staff people “Deputy Governor”. Remember Jerry Blakemore, in the Chicago office.

Comment by Anon 4:08pm Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 5:00 pm
I don’t see this as resume’ building. After the Ryan administration, it took those staffers a year or two to find a job.

Comment by Shelbyville Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 5:15 pm
Hope he has time to enjoy the new title, clout, etc. before all those personnel papers he signed come back to bite him in the caboose.

Comment by Filan's Shadow Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 6:08 pm
Congratulations ,but, dude, you are in for it now!

Comment by Bill Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 6:45 pm
Head flea on a dead dog.

Comment by anon Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 7:51 pm
All the kings horses
All the king men,
Couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again!

Comment by It's to late Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 8:06 pm
Bob is bright, hardworking and easy to get along with. This is a great choice.

Comment by Goldfinch Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 9:13 pm
Bob is the smartest guy i know. He will definitely serve the Governor well. The administration definitely made the right choice by putting bob in that position.

People discussing salaries should understand that a law firm would pay bob $300,000. Chicago law firms start people right out of U of C law school at the salary bob will be making (actually its probably more like $150,000). So he is taking a pay cut to remain in state government. The people of the state of illinois are getting a bargain and some of the bloggers on this site should drop that discussion.

Comment by anonymous Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 10:55 pm
I hope he asks for a ton of money, because in 2 years and 6 months he’ll be unable to find a job anywhere, except maybe as a delivery man in the loop.

Comment by Just Me Monday, Jun 9, 08 @ 11:05 pm
Interesting that this position could be filled so quickly. As more rats jump off this proverbial sinking ship - and they will, I wonder if it will be as easy to find victims, er volunteers?

Comment by Sweet Polly Purebred Tuesday, Jun 10, 08 @ 12:40 am