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* In his Sunday column, Bernie Schoenburg ran a list of about a dozen high-level staffers for Gov. Pat Quinn who live in Chicago or the suburbs including…
* JACK LAVIN, 49, Chicago, chief of staff…
* CRISTAL THOMAS, 35, Chicago, deputy governor…
* DAVID VAUGHT, 63, of Naperville…
He also had a list of seven top staffers who live in the Springfield area.
* The Question: Does it bother you that several members of Gov. Quinn’s stop staff live in Chicago and the suburbs? Take the poll and then fully explain your answer in comments, please. Thanks.
*** UPDATE - 1:48 pm *** I thought you might want to see how the voting is going so far. Green is “Yes” and Red is “No,” with 342 votes cast as I write this…
As you can see, this story bothers everybody who’s voted in the Springfield area.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:15 pm
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No, it doesn’t bother me one bit. 8 million out of 12 million Illinoisans live in Chicago or the suburbs. Why shouldn’t the governor’s staff reflect this?
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:19 pm
Several Illinoisan - on and off his staff - live in Chicago and the suburbs. A majority of Illinoisans for that matter. Having a downstater is a good idea, but it only makes sense that the majority are from metro Chicago.
Comment by Montrose Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:20 pm
“Bothers” may be too strong, but it certainly reflects the reality that Quinn only won a tiny number of Illinois counties. His administration echoes his political supporters.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:23 pm
With all of the problems we have in this state, and the talent necessary to address these problems, I couldn’t care less where his staffers live.
Comment by Obamarama Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:23 pm
Top staff, no. Mid-level managers, when their staff is in Springfield, heck yes. everybody below deputy level should live where the work is. You have to state on your state job application what county you will reside in.
Comment by Gregor Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:23 pm
No. The majority of top administration officials and staffers in DC are ivy league educated and come from the north east/mid atlantic area even in GOP administrations. There’s no need for regional affirmative action for staff hiring.
Comment by Shore Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:30 pm
Almost everyone in Illinois lives in Chicago or the suburbs. Why should Quinn’s staff be different than the state population?
Comment by lakeview Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:32 pm
Quinn doesn’t live or work in the state capital. Why should his staff? But I am curious about the per diem and travel costs in his administration.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:33 pm
@ Gregor, I suggest reading Anonymous 12:23. He/She is right on - whatever the reason is, right or wrong, it reflects not only the majority of constituents, but also to whom the Governor listens. Why not have staffers up here. Not ALL of them are!
Comment by Burnham Wannabe Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:34 pm
It bothered me that Blago and his people lived/worked in Chicago because they seemed to purposefully thumb their nose at Springfield, but Quinn and his top staff seem to recognize that Springfield is the state capitol and they make regular and frequent trips to Springfield, so I voted no.
Comment by Not It Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:36 pm
No. The great majority of Illinoisans live in Chicago and the suburbs. Springfield’s not that far away, and communications being what they are, most anyone can do most any business from most anywhere.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:37 pm
Why should it bother anyone. It is where a majority of the state lives so it stands to reason that a number of the people who work for the state, and by extension, the Governor will live in the Chicago metro area.
Comment by RWP Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:38 pm
After living in Chicago, Central IL and Downstate- I feel like I am starting to grasp the different value sets and issues.
I think it is important to have a diverse staff and to have strong voices for different areas of Illinois. I think that will help with the view that Chicago is causing all the problems in the world. (which you get anywhere outside of the Burbs and Chicago)
And frankly some of the comments made about this topic are offensive and displays why people outside of the suburbs and Chicago feel like people from Chicago do not seem to notice anyone exists outside of the city.
Comment by anon Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:38 pm
Nope, as long as they bear the primary costs of commuting between home and Springfield.
We don’t need another fiscal drain like our former governor gave us by commuting on the public dime.
Comment by Plutocrat03 Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:41 pm
It’s not where they live, it’s the quality. Thus far from performance, I have not seen outstanding leadership from Quinn or his staff.
Comment by downstate hack Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:43 pm
I thought Vaught was born and raised in Southern Illinois (White County?).
Comment by Just Sayin' Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:47 pm
One thing George Ryan often used to say that I take to heart is that
it makes no sense for downstaters to hate Chicago because the revenue that Chicago contributes in taxes is spent statewide, and in some cases disproportionate amounts (if you only go by population) are spent to favor downstate and Western IL, but we’re all on one team in the end, one state. Success in any one part is good for the whole. Loss in one part diminishes the entire state as a whole. Artificial rivalry and regionalism is counterproductive to the good of the whole state.
George put it more succinctly that that, but that’s the gist. On this issue, the old man was right.
Comment by Gregor Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:47 pm
Depends. If they get reimbursed for travel from home to their place of work or use state transportation free to get there, then yes, as that is really part of their salary and can be a hidden drain on the already tapped budget. If the heart of the question is whether or not those jobs should be done from Springfield vs. Chicago, I would generally agree with Gregor. The more removed a person is from actual work being done, the farther away they can be. Bosses can give orders from anywhere.
Comment by McLean Farmboy Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:50 pm
Rich, this question just perpetuates the us vs. them mentality in state government…stop it!
As long as it is not against the law for Gubernatorial appointees to live in the Chicago region so be it…
Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 12:58 pm
State government, here and in many other states, persistently favors rural areas over urban ones — in part because of the history of overrepresentation of rural areas prior to one-man-one-vote, and in part because so many of our metropolitan areas straddle state borders, resulting in the attitude in state government of “it’s not my responsibility”. Many structural features of this remain, such as the huge shortchanging of Chicagoland on transportation funding in state spending formulas. It’s a pleasant change to see the high levels of a state administration at least somewhat reflecting where people actually live.
Comment by Angry Chicagoan Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:05 pm
Wherever top staffers live, they’ll have to commute a fair amount in a state this long and geographically diverse–so, no, it doesn’t bother me a bit.
Comment by Ray del Camino Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:06 pm
It doesn’t particularly bother me b/c whether they lived here or there they would still be traveling for their jobs just by their very nature. I do have to comment about what some people are saying here however - that somehow the population of Chicago and the suburbs matters. Like it or not the seat of state government is in Springfield. Where people live should have no bearing on anything related to this question.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:13 pm
Loop Lady, bite me.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:16 pm
In my opinion, senior staff should live in close proximity to the staff they manage. Absentee management leads to all kinds of problems, especially in a command driven state government bureaucracy. However, the worst case isn’t that the Quinn hires live in Chicago, but rather, that they make uninformed decisions which sap the initiative out of frontline workers.
Comment by Louis Howe Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:19 pm
David Vaught will always be a downstater (and a good Cardinal fan too!), no matter where he is.
Comment by J Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:20 pm
Doesn’t bother me at all where these folks live; modern technology and good management skills should be enough to make it all work.
What DOES bother me is that Vaught and many other members of the Executive staff are not paid out of the Governor’s budget, but rather “hidden” in the U of I budget.
Comment by Well, Well, Well. Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:23 pm
It doesn’t bother me a bit. These folks are in Springfield when they need to be, I don’t care where they get their mail delivered.
Comment by Small Town Liberal Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:25 pm
No. Chicago is in Illinois, isn’t it?
Comment by amalia Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:29 pm
Oddly enough, I think where you grew up, as opposed to where you live now, has a much greater impact on your values.
And let’s be frank, this debate is not about state government logistics…opponents of Quinn raise questions about where his staff is from to raise questions about their values.
If Quinn’s staff was comprised 100% of people who had lived in Sangamon County their entire lives, THEN I would be worried.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:31 pm
Oh Rich, stop teasing me…;)
Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:31 pm
I can understand why it is that why, but I wish the current government would treat Springfield as the capitol of Illinois.
Comment by Rufus Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:33 pm
Articles like Scheonburg’s does not give a true reflection of the people themselves. David Vaught, for example, was born in Burnt Prairie, Illinois, attended school in Carmi, graduated from West Point, went to law school and the early part of his law career he practiced in the Fairview Heights area. Now, because he lives in Naperville, he is “from” Chicago. A Governor should have a staff the he knows and trusts no matter where they live.
Comment by I wonder... Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:34 pm
Click here for a message to Loop Lady.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:37 pm
As a Chicago resident it bothers me a great deal that I’m not seeing any benefit from this supposed geographical domination. We make more money so the tax cut affects us more and we’re not seeing any particular funding windfall to go with it.
Comment by Dirt Digger Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:44 pm
I think they should live in Springfield, but it doesn’t bother me. So long as they get the job done and are in town during session. It’s not unprecendedted to move for a job though. It happens all the time around the country.
Comment by Ahoy Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:44 pm
not at all. chicago is full, absolutely full, of people who migrated there from little burgs and towns throughout the midwest. it’s hard not to come into regular contact with people who were raised in all parts of illinois (and other midwestern states). so just because one lives in chicago now, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have a strong sense of what it’s like elsewhere.
somehow, i don’t think the reverse is true (based upon my very limited, once- or twice-a-year trips to springfield)…
Comment by bored now Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:45 pm
Talent is important, but doesn’t it help to have some people in your administration from outside of the region where the majority of all people in this state lives? Of course such people should be qualified.
Comment by Levois Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:47 pm
Bernie got a few of these ages wrong… I also don’t think this is much of an issue.
Comment by abraham lincoln Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:49 pm
amalia has it right, Chicago and the suburbs aren’t exactly a foreign country, no matter how hard downstate Republicans try to portray the area as somehow separate from the rest of the state.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:52 pm
Jim Thompson lived in Springfield and at the Mansion on weekdays, but spent weekends in Chicago with his family.
The issue is the perception of acknowledgement that Springfield is the State Capitol of Illinois. And that is why all state officers other than the governor are given funds to establish a residency in the city of Springfield - the Gov has the Mansion.
Springfield is where all directors of major agencies should be based, and their staffs in Springfield other than a day or two a week in Chicago or elsewhere.
Comment by Capitol View Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:55 pm
It’s cool how the graph of the voting results reflects the population distribution referred to in so many folks’ comments.
Comment by cynical Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:56 pm
- Well, Well, Well. - Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:23 pm:
Doesn’t bother me at all where these folks live; modern technology and good management skills should be enough to make it all work.
“What DOES bother me is that Vaught and many other members of the Executive staff are not paid out of the Governor’s budget, but rather “hidden” in the U of I budget.”
Uh, Vaught is paid out of OMB’s budget. You can check it out at accountability.illinois.gov
Comment by Little Lewbowski Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 1:57 pm
I’m not sure why someone would be bothered that top staffers live in Cook or the Collars. They should have easy access to the State Capitol in the James R. Thomson Center.
Comment by John Bambenek Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 2:07 pm
It doesn’t matter if Quinn’s staffers live on Mars (maybe to be near the boss), for all I care. What matters is the compensation they get to move back and forth. The taxpayers should pay for a one-time relocation fee for his staff, after which they’re on their own.
Comment by Cincinnatus Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 2:12 pm
I’m from Springfield, and voted no because there is a lot of state business which is more cost-effectively carried out in Chicago than in Springfield, so most staffers will need to be in both places some of the time. The issue of where to base the staffer should depend on where the staffer needs to be more often. Since the only time most would really need to be in Springfield would be when they have legislative work when the legislature is actually in session, basing most in Chicago probably saves money for the state compared to basing them in Springfield and having them travel to Chicago when needed.
Where they are from, on the other hand, doesn’t matter.
Comment by Pat Robertson Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 2:13 pm
I live in springfield and work in chicago and have done so to varying degrees for almost 30 years (and still miss Meigs Field). What matters is if they never leave either location. I’ve met too many people in both locations who are clueless about other places in the state, but think they can make policy that applies everywhere.
Comment by D.P. Gumby Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 2:30 pm
Why, the second most important person in Illinois is from the southern part of the state. Lt Gov Sheila Simon represents!
Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 2:31 pm
Hey Rich, when are you going to post the results of last Friday’s poll?
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 2:52 pm
I voted “no” because the best for the job should do it. That said, John Bambeck summed up my (and other downstate’s) feelings (I hope by being tongue-in-cheek) when he said, “They should have easy access to the State Capitol in the James R. Thomson Center.” An analogy would be if, say, Sears had it’s HQ in suburbia, but the CEO lived in New York and hired most of his senior staff from there. Is that a problem? How would others at Sears feel? I don’t know, but I think you get the idea.
Comment by What planet is he from again? Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 2:53 pm
===when are you going to post the results of last Friday’s poll? ===
Go to the post, ding-dong. The results are there.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 3:04 pm
Rich-
I want to see the crosstabs in this poll… You’re oversampling democrats!
*ducks*
Comment by John Bambenek Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 3:06 pm
voted narrowly yes - I think it depends on the position - someone with a title of “Chief of Staff” probably ought to be where most of the staff is - or is most of the staff in Chicago? it’d probably be good to have a majority of staff in Springfield in order to better navigate the state agencies, though they too are in chicago and elsewhere.
Comment by Robert Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 3:17 pm
Many political hires I met in Springfield who worked for Blago came from other states because they were hoping he would run for President. The Quinn staffers I meet in Springfield actually care about Illinois because they’re from here. I’d say that’s a big improvement.
Comment by Will Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 3:30 pm
–Jim Thompson lived in Springfield and at the Mansion on weekdays, but spent weekends in Chicago with his family.–
When the GA was in session, sure. Otherwise, not so much.
Heck, when the GA wasn’t in session, Thompson was traveling the world, particularly Asia, hustling business. Lot of trips to Japan for that Mitsubishi plant in Bloomington.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 3:34 pm
I went for the no with reservations. Idealistically, I really don’t care where they live as long as they represent all of Illinois in their decisions, it doesn’t cost me extra as a taxpayer and they can still effectively manage their staff. Pragmatically, I fear that many may not consider the whole state, I will pay more as a taxpayer for travel/etc, and they won’t be as able to effectively manage their staff.
Rich: You have some cool tech skills / tools.
Comment by Logic not emotion Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 4:07 pm
I was unaware Bernie’s family originally settled Springfield. Sheesh, dude give it a rest, as if there’s nothing else to write about in city, county or state government? Jim Edgar didn’t live at the mansion, he bought property outside Springfield. Egad, reporters at the SJR aren’t all purebred Sangamon County residents. Aliens, Aliens, Aliens.
We need to build a wall and not let anybody out or in …
Comment by anon Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 4:24 pm
I grew up in Springfield but now live in Chicago, and have worked in both places. Unfortunately for Springfield, being an effective Governor requires having a good chunk of your staff that is on top of issues, public feedback, and media in the state’s largest metropolitan area. That’s no different than any other state in the country. It has nothing to do with Quinn and everything to do with the changed demographics of the state. Although we started out as part of Virginia (with a more southern population center), that southern connection has faded over time.
Comment by Vibes Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 4:26 pm
Next thing you know, not only will they live in Chicago…they’ll be Cubs Fans! Good grief, is there no end in sight?
Don’t really care where they live as long as they show up and do a good job for all the citizens of this great state.
Comment by Justice Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 4:59 pm
Not much to add, but you instructed us to explain. Quinn is from Chicago. Most people in the state live in the area. And it fits within the borders of the state. No harm, no foul.
Comment by Bill F. Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 4:59 pm
Tomorrow can we have a equally long, fascinating conversation of the message of the final Oprah show?
To tie in here Chicago Oprah airs 9 a.m. Downstate Oprah 4 p.m.
THink about it cook Chicagoans get cooler sooner that DSers
Simple facts
Comment by CircularFiringSquad Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 5:33 pm
==Why, the second most important person in Illinois is from the southern part of the state. Lt Gov Sheila Simon represents! ==
Two siblings grew up together. One ran away to sea. The other was elected Lt Gov. Nothing was ever heard of either again.
Apologies to Thomas Marshall.
Comment by Bigtwich Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 6:08 pm
The only thing that bothers me about the Chicago connection is that many are hirees and holdovers from the Blago administration.
Comment by Soccertease Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 8:01 pm
Bothers - Absolutely : Everybody knows that downstate we have the Good Ol Boys and those from Chicago and area are flat out Counterfeiters .
Comment by x ace Tuesday, May 24, 11 @ 11:07 pm
Little Lewbowski:
That web site only reports where the person is employed, not the budget line which pays them. Vaught’s paid out of the UIUC budget, along with other Guv folk.
Comment by Well, well, well Wednesday, May 25, 11 @ 7:49 pm