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* As you probably know by now, Gov. Pat Quinn has rehired Jerry Stermer…
Gov. Pat Quinn rehired a former top aide who resigned following ethics violations that became an issue in the governor’s race, his office said today.
Jerry Stermer, who served as chief of staff before resigning in August, will return to Quinn’s administration on Nov. 29 in the role of senior adviser. He will make $125,000 a year.
Stermer, a longtime education advocate, will consult with Quinn on issues such as healthcare, education, social services and the budget.
“He is coming back at the governor’s request,” said Quinn spokeswoman Ashley Cross. “He has a wealth of experience and knowledge in these areas and has a long history of working with legislators and others that make him the best fit.”
* The rehiring comes about a week after it became public that the ethics commisison had investigated the firing of Inspector General James Wright, which led directly to Stermer’s resignation…
The commission in charge of upholding the state’s ethics laws has decided not to launch an investigation into the dismissal of the executive inspector general who Gov. Pat Quinn fired after he drafted a report critical of Quinn’s top aide.
James Wright’s replacement, former federal prosecutor Ricardo Meza, told a Senate committee on Wednesday that he asked the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission to appoint an independent investigator to look into the matter shortly after he was hired by Quinn.
But Meza said the panel declined to appoint an investigator. Executive Director Chad Fornoff said Wednesday that the group conducted a preliminary review including e-mails regarding Wright’s replacement and found the situation “did not justify the use of limited resources involved in the appointment” of a special investigator.
Fornoff said Wright has not contacted the commission about the situation, and added that Wright’s status as a holdover appointed by ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich also factored into the decision not to investigate.
* The Question: Are you OK with Stermer returning with a new job? Explain.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:12 pm
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Yes… definitely okay with it. He should have never left in the first place.
Jerry is a first-class, highly ethical advocate for low- and middle-income individuals and families, and is an important voice in the Quinn admin.
Comment by dave Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:14 pm
No. Why on earth would you continue to feed the impression of indecision and waffling? Are you telling me no one else in this enormous state could do as good a job? Just another appearance of a flip-flop. As they say on ESPN, “C’mon, man!”
Comment by Ray del Camino Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:15 pm
Definitely OK with it. However, if PQ won’t actually listen to Stermer’s advice, what’s the point?
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:15 pm
I’m not quite sure what exactly Jerry brings to the table. You would think that Quinn might want somebody who could actually get something done, but whatever. If Quinn wants him, he can have him. Same old, same old.
Comment by Bill Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:18 pm
Jerry should never have resigned. But he might be better in an advisory role than an administrative role in any event.
The ethics officer had already been slated to leave when the report was issued; nothing to see here.
Comment by lakeviewlawyer Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:22 pm
No, he should have announced it durign the campaign. if not, this is a shady thing to do…Come on son!
Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:22 pm
Has nothing changed? Is Quinn trying to recreate his failure over the past 2 years? I like Stermer. He’s a great guy and an excellent advocate for children, but he was a lousy chief of staff. Quinn needs to stop surrounding himself with yes-men and start hiring people who can actually get the job done.
Comment by umm Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:24 pm
Looks like Illinois is in for some really rocky years but hey you guys asked for it.
Comment by Goodluck Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:26 pm
I’m OK with Stermer returning to a job with the Quinn administration. The alleged wrongdoing was not substantial.
I am not OK, however, with Quinn changing his mind on the issue after an election. If he wanted Stermer in his administration, he should have made the case before the election. Perhaps he could have put Stermer on some sort of suspension.
But what Quinn should not have done is take one action before the election for political expediency only to blatantly reverse himself after he secured election. Ironically, this pattern of behavior is one reason so many Democrats were lukewarm to his candidacy.
Comment by the Other Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:32 pm
I agree with Pot. I have no problem with it, but try listening to him - or anybody for that matter.
Comment by Montrose Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:32 pm
No, this is a complete screw up by Quinn (yet again).
Did he really just decide to quit? Of course not.
And now that the election blows over, he’s back.
Quinn was wrong on this at least once — either to have him leave or to get him back — and the whole things leaves the terrible impression that he left just to let the smoke blow over after the election.
One more thing: $125,000? These guys toss around relatively high paying jobs like nothing. That’s not a ton of money, but it is pretty substantial. We are having a financial crisis, and Quinn is throwing more money at staffers.
Can I have my vote back?
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:33 pm
Sounds like PQ has the same personnel mgr. as the Minnesota Vikings.
Comment by Lefty Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:34 pm
It’s OK…but he’s just another Boy Scout around the campfire.
Comment by Louis Howe Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:36 pm
====Can I have my vote back?
Round up 29,999 friends and we can talk.
Can anyone say load up the Gov Recall-o-matic?
The first of many PQ blunders I’m sure.
Comment by Statesman Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:36 pm
No. Given all the fanfare generated by Pat Quinn and Stermer’s own admission that he acted improperly that the Governor now is hiring him back with six figures makes me wonder if the resignation was just a tactical campaign ploy. Mr. Quinn, the public awaits your personal response.
Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:37 pm
I’m not okay with it. I think that it’s the height of arrogance, actually, tinged with PQ’s trademark sanctimoniousness (”Everyone knows that I do things ethically.”). I’m sure Stermer’s a great guy and everything, but let’s examine the principle that might be in play here.
He’s done his penance? Funny how the penance ends just after the campaign.
He’s needed in state government? Funny how he’s needed just after the campaign.
Maybe he never should have left, but he did. So I’d like to know the justification for bringing him back now. This whole incident is political, from start to finish — just a 3 month dodge while the campaign was going on.
Comment by Corduroy Bob Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:42 pm
I miro dave’s comments. I am not only ok with it, I think it is a good move.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:45 pm
The allegations behind the public reasoning for the firing were Mickey Mouse, so I don’t have a problem with him coming back. It seems to me that his firing was just cover to dump Wright.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:46 pm
===One more thing: $125,000? These guys toss around relatively high paying jobs like nothing. That’s not a ton of money, but it is pretty substantial. We are having a financial crisis, and Quinn is throwing more money at staffers.===
That’s actually less than Stermer was making before if I remember correctly.
I’m ok with Quinn hiring him back because I don’t think it matters much. There’s no additional harm done and the Governor has the right to bring on people who he thinks will help him. If he is going to be part of the administration, better as an advisor than as CoS I suppose.
Comment by Obamarama Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:46 pm
No, but not because of the ethics incident, which was beyond trivial.
Stermer is another elderly liberal whose ideas for improving government seem to revolve around higher state income taxes on the middle class and an expensive government–goverments, really, at all levels.The Stermers of the world don’t get that in the private sector, the safety net is gone. We private sector and self employed workers have to pay for our own health care and retirements and (very expensive) college for the kids. We don’t have a lot of extra cash-none, really. And, unlike the old days (and the public sector today) there is no lifetime job security for us. Stermer is living in the Lyndon Johnson years when the Great Society and lots of $$$$ were going to solve all social problems. It didn’t work. It’s time for some new ideas–and a recognition that the government party is over. We won’t get new ideas from Stermer-or Quinn either.
Comment by cassandra Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:48 pm
Yes, I think it is good that he is back. Even though I am about as partisan a Republican as they come, I have a good deal of respect for Stermer. I never understood why he left in the first place. Quinn should have given him a warning…if they wanted to set an example he could have suspended him for three days but his resignation was way overboard. Perhaps Quinn was trying to make up for letting the folks who fouled up the prison release program stay.
Anyway, I say welcome back to Jerry Stermer….though things havent exactly improved in your absence.
Comment by Raising Kane Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:52 pm
Ummm…the fact so many have no problem with this, is indicative of the problem.
Comment by Dan Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:54 pm
No way. Resigns during the campaign and is rehired after the election. Quinn likes to believe that he is above reproach, but he is a typical politician.
Comment by Skeptic Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 12:55 pm
It’s perfect! Confirmation that we’re back to exactly where we were before the election. We’re perfectly positioned now to remain in our abysmal state of disaster for an additional four years. Don’t forget, he has a mandate to do exactly that.
Comment by UnionsWonItForQuinn Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:00 pm
Mr. Stermer should never have resigned. I prefer him as an advisor to being Chief of Staff and I am glad he is back.
Comment by Far Northsider Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:01 pm
Quinn learned ZERO from the almost lossing two elections. Voters don’t like him because of stunts like this. Look at your own approvals and get the message.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:02 pm
== Ummm…the fact so many have no problem with this, is indicative of the problem. ==
Or they don’t actually know the whole story.
“Normally, one would say that this firing of Wright is a blatant attempt at a cover-up,” writes Rich Miller of the Capitol Fax blog, “But Stermer actually reported himself to the OEIG…”
Comment by 10th Voter Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:07 pm
Nothing against Stermer but what do we gain @ 125k? Will PQ bring back Mike Randall? Now that was a misscarriage of justice! Prison over flowing with prisoners who should be gone
Comment by PQ you gonna learn Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:14 pm
Stermer is a good guy and works well with the Gov. Glad he’s back!
Comment by Gathersno Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:16 pm
I’d be fine with it if and only if Quinn calls a Sunday press conference to announce he’s not actually a reformer. Otherwise, no.
I’m so sick of hypocritical do-gooders. If this was MJM, Cullerton, Daley, or even Blago or GRyan, Quinn would’ve been the first one screaming FOUL
Comment by Thoughts... Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:16 pm
–learned ZERO from the almost lossing two elections. Voters don’t like him because of stunts like this–
Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, dude. It’s a zero sum game.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:19 pm
Seriously, PQ has the political IQ of a turnip
Comment by Thoughts... Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:22 pm
Should’ve waited until Thanksgiving Day.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:24 pm
Seems like a good move to me. The reason for firing him in the first place was chicken feed.
Comment by Moving to Oklahoma Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:43 pm
When Stermer resigned, they said he was stepping down so as not to be a distraction during the campaign. I assumed he would be back. The guy’s only problem (regarding this incident) was that he doesn’t know how to work a blackberry.
Comment by ok Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:51 pm
No problem…the original situation was stupid that illustrated how bogus our alleged “ethics” structure is.
Comment by D.P. Gumby Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:52 pm
So shady. I could care less if Stermer is there or not, but to have him go away before the election and conveniently re-hire him after the election is shady politics.
Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 2:06 pm
I thought we impeached BlagoQUINNjevich………..
Comment by truthman Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 2:17 pm
Welcome back Jerry. Quinn needs you to be successful, and all of us in Illinois need Quinn to be successful. We’re lucky you decided to come back.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 2:31 pm
This is all part of Quinn’s mandate.
Comment by Crystal Clear Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 2:55 pm
no, make up your mind PQ. What other ‘fired’ state workers is he going to bring back.
Comment by disappointed (again) Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 2:59 pm
I guess this means the Governor only wants to serve one term?
Comment by really Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:10 pm
Par for the course… This is Illinois and it has a reputation that must be lived down to by it’s elected officials.
Comment by Nero Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:11 pm
OK, He should not have resigned, the whole thing was stupid, but coming back now looks worse. what part of public perception does Quinn not get? I would love to think this is going to get better, but we all know it’s not.
Then again, the alternative was equally bad. oh well, how much worse can it get in 4 years.
Comment by frustrated GOP Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:14 pm
–I guess this means the Governor only wants to serve one term?–
Absolutely. Citizens are outraged by this scandal of Watergate proportions.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:15 pm
There are worst things than this … doesn’t make is all great, but this isn’t the “end all” of decisions …
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:21 pm
Yep I am OK with it. Now there is exactly 1 person (including Quinn) in the administration that has a clue.
Comment by Jaded Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:22 pm
=== Absolutely. Citizens are outraged by this scandal of Watergate proportions. ===
you owe me a new keyboard….
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:37 pm
I agree with lakeviewlawyer. This might never have even been a tempest in a teapot outside the context of a political campaign.
Still, it might have been smart to balance this by hiring someone like Steve Rauschenberger.
Comment by David Starrett Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:37 pm
I would support Stermer coming back in and advisory role; as has been suggested here, so long as the Quinn campaign fund was paying the $125,000 he is slated to be paid. That way Quinn could receive the benefit of the valuable advice that he believes Stermer can provide him; and yet the rest of us do not have to pay for it.
Comment by Quinn T. Sential Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:41 pm
If this were any other State, I’d have a problem. The perceived lack of ethics being seemingly okayed by the guy at the top who champions himself as protector of the little guy is great for Illinois though. We really don’t deserve better here. There are only 12 million+ other people in the State to choose from. And Iowa thinks it has a brain drain problem….
Comment by Shemp Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 3:56 pm
It is all in a name. If it was a union or non-democratic employee that did what he did, the OEIG would have them gone. I give, the corruption will snowball as it did under Blago. Why not have the OEIG under the Auditor General? Makes sense, that way all the unethical behavior in Agencies under the Governor, etc. might be squashed some. Just a thought.
Comment by Ain't No Justice Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 4:03 pm
If two days was enough for Keith Oberman, than certainly a month off is more than sufficient for the ultimate straight guy and honest public official, Jerry Stermer.
Welcome back, Jerry, and find a few more folks as honest and honorable as you are for the full four year term coming up.
Comment by Capitol View Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 4:39 pm
Stermer is the best. Better than anything NoTaxBill and Daddy’s Little Deduction could bring to the table
Should be the Hands Down Winner for Golden Horseshoe Best Staffer!
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 5:17 pm
sadly i must say like many of you that this is another in a seemingly endless line of PQ missteps…i seriously don’t get this guy, just when you think he may be on to something or a likable guy he does stupid stunts that make you remember he really is just another politician…
Comment by jimmy james Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 5:23 pm
I guess a friend of Quinn’s stays in, someone with no clout stays out.
Comment by irisheyesrsmilin' Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 5:36 pm
Wonder what he would do in the private sector? Is he a guy who can make $200K as a Business Consultant? Or is he a political crony who would be out of work without a benefactor? The answer to this question should answer whether he is a worthy rehire.
Comment by Jon Zahm Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 7:33 pm
Not suprized! Election is over, back to politics as usual.
Comment by Zoble21 Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 8:41 pm
Jerry Stermer is smart and committed, and PQ should never have accepted his resignation. It’s a good thing he’s back.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 8:42 pm
This was the year of fake scandals, and premature surrenders:
Stermer was forced to resign because of…honesty and integrity!
Randle (IDOC chief) was forced to resign because of …a commitment to reform!
Jorge Montes was made to quit (the PRB) because…he worked so hard to return prisoners to their communities.
And Quinn had to end MGT becauase… his election opponents told him he had too. Let’s hope that in 2011, honesty, hard work, integrity, and courage are rewarded instead of punished. We can make it so!
Comment by moby Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 9:20 pm
I’m sure Lisa Madigan will use this in the 2014 Democratic Primary……….
Comment by 2014 Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 9:59 pm
===Yes, I think it is good that he is back. Even though I am about as partisan a Republican as they come, I have a good deal of respect for Stermer. I never understood why he left in the first place.===
I, too, am not only ok with the re-hiring but think it is a good move, like many posters before me.
This is simply a matter of Quinn hiring the person who he thinks is the BEST person for a job of the very highest importance, which almost surely involves dealing with the General Assembly.
Quinn doesn’t CARE if he gives the impression of waffling, and he also doesn’t care if those who are ignorant of the facts think the re-hiring of Stermer looks crooked or otherwise inappropriate.
Quinn cares little about how it looks because he WON the election, so can hire whom he pleases and IGNORE the political effect of such decisions on the 2014 campaign for another two or three years!
Comment by Mighty M. Mouse Wednesday, Nov 24, 10 @ 1:20 am
Bad idea. Don’t care if Stermer is a great guy, it was a crime he resigned, whatever — it makes Quinn look like a con man. More of the same, and Quinn needs to look like a good guy, not business as usual in Illinois. Couldn’t we use some new voices at the table in the Quinn administration?
Comment by SouthernGirl Wednesday, Nov 24, 10 @ 7:27 am
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Nov 23, 10 @ 1:24 pm:
“Should’ve waited until Thanksgiving Day.”
Pardoning of the Turkey?
Comment by Cincinnatus Wednesday, Nov 24, 10 @ 8:39 am
Jerry should have been given a very small sanction for his very small–and self-reported!–infraction of ethics rules. Jerry did the right thing in offering his resignation on the principle that a violation is a violation and that the proper authorities, not he himself, should determine appropriate sanctions. I’m very glad that Jerry is back in a place to advise the governor. –ds
Comment by Human Services Lobbyist Wednesday, Nov 24, 10 @ 11:00 am
Whatever! Just wait a few days if PQ takes more heat then he will reverse himself yet again.
Comment by KnuckleHead Wednesday, Nov 24, 10 @ 11:02 am
Standard Illinois politics,and don’t expect it to change.If you’re elected you can do anything you’ve got the guts to do.Any concern for how it looks or if it’s appropriate can wait for the next election cycle. Both parties
Comment by sylvia Wednesday, Nov 24, 10 @ 11:19 am