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* Your New Year’s resolution suggestions for Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner?
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:04 pm
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Lead Boldly, Speak Modestly.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:06 pm
Appoint at least a few folks who have some experience in Illinois state government.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:07 pm
Set the tone early using the art of compromise.
Comment by Stones Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:10 pm
Don’t promise what you can’t deliver.
Comment by Wensicia Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:11 pm
Learn to share success and own failures.
Both add to governing character.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:13 pm
Always remember, it’s not about you. It’s about Illinois, present and future.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:15 pm
Fire Michelle Sadler as soon as you are sworn in.
Comment by Lee Dixon Fan Club Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:16 pm
resolve to be hesitant to weild power, and thus become deserving to do so.
Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:18 pm
Stick to the plan, but maintain an ability to adjust. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. The election is over. Ignore anyone who’s still talking about it and rationalizing different outcomes. You won. Lead.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:20 pm
Listen.
Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:21 pm
Under promise. Over deliver.
Comment by My Nickname Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:29 pm
I’m going to steal this from a conversation I had with someone I respect very much;
For no reason, with no agenda, resolve at least a couple afternoons to go to Stratton to say hello to House members. Make the effort to just go across and just pop in.
Don’t “see” rank and file legislators only when you want something.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:31 pm
Work on long term goals. Restructure the executive branch of government. Don’t necessarily accept any “we always do it this way” alibis. If you can’t stop a train wreck then be ready to rebuild. DCFS and prisons need a lot of TLC right now. Pare back the administrative layers of education and free up better teaching. Use your limited resources in a positive fashion.
Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:38 pm
Act fast. Four years sounds like a long time, but it isn’t. In fact, you don’t have four years. You have about six months, until the fy16 budget year starts. Some new CEO’s don’t get that much time, so consider yourself lucky. And enjoy this last week of being a private citizen for four years.
Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:48 pm
Plan your work, work your plan, and don’t let up!
Comment by Sunshine Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:48 pm
“in the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity”
Sun Tzu, A Arte da Guerra
Comment by Railrat Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:53 pm
Be careful and make smart choices for your agency legislative directors, legislative liaisons and communication staff.
Don’t view those positions as places to just plant people, those positions are key to your success. And don’t walk in and just fire everyone just because you can, there are talented people in lots of agencies.
Get rid of the slackers but know who they are first.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:54 pm
Reserve your table at Saputo’s next to the Speaker’s spot.
Comment by NW Illinois Democrat Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:59 pm
Fumigate all unproductive State employees.
Comment by Black Ivy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 2:59 pm
You won. Get over it.
Comment by walker Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 3:08 pm
Be selective in your pink slips
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 3:39 pm
Listen to people who can help you get things done (think a Nancy Kimme type). There are many valuable people in government that can help. Use them.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 3:50 pm
Make OW eat his words…
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 3:55 pm
===Make OW eat his words…====
If they all do, I hope it leads to success for all of us, no snark.
“QOTD?”
Resolve to make yourself more available to Press now that you will be governor.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:03 pm
Run.
Comment by Percival Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:14 pm
Respect the work of individuals who are paid a salary. Some Government employees are unproductive, but most are serving a purpose and supporting their families. Recognize that most people earn their living by hard, sometimes tedious, work, not by moving money from one rich guy to another. Listen to them from time to time.
Comment by orzo Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:14 pm
Endeavor to persevere. -Lone Watie
Comment by Matt Belcher Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:15 pm
Learn to negotiate. Nobody gets things their own way all of the time, especially in politics.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:18 pm
Don’t let the door hit you when you bust out
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:22 pm
Remember, not everyone, including Legislators, can afford to refuse a salary, or contribute huge sums to a project. Regular people….get to know them.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:32 pm
Restructure/revamp the state’s personnel code. The whole “broad banding” public service administrator/senior public service administrator thing isn’t working. It will be tough to do since so many PSA’s are now unionized.
Comment by Soccertease Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:43 pm
Trust everyone…BUT DON’T FORGET TO CUT THE CARDS!
To truly understand Springfield pols, start with imagining the smartest, most honest and most competent person you know, then strip away all responsiblity, respect for the people of Illinois, and accountability.
Voila! The Springfield pol!
Comment by Arizona Bob Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 4:49 pm
Just remember that being the CEO of one of the largest states in the Union is not like being the CEO of a Huge Private Corporation that worked by different rules. This is a new game and be willing to play ( hardball, if necessary ), by the realities you are confronted with.
Comment by illini Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 5:14 pm
It’s not us versus them when dealing with state employees. A lot of government workers chose their profession to make a difference. Most would’ve done better financially in the private sector. Last night you sent out email to state workers who’ve been at their jobs for decades. You need to consider extending some of them who know more about government and how to get things done than their replacements will learn in the next four years. Adding 3 to 6 months to their government service will yield dividends. You don’t want your new hires to spend 4 years learning their jobs. Some are involved in very important projects that will be delayed for who knows how long if they gone in two weeks. Don’t waste time because you’ll lose the best workers first.
Comment by nothingsurprisesme Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 5:35 pm
Get real.
Comment by Wordslinger Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 5:40 pm
Remember that you are the Governor of all of the citizens of Illinois, not just those who voted for you, or those who voted. Listen to their concerns, you don’t necessarily have to agree with them, but be attentive.
Comment by Old Sarge Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 6:31 pm
Dillard gave the best advice: blame Democrats.
Voters will want to believe that you are the guy who cuts spending on bad stuff, increases it on good stuff, and cuts taxes. If you do anything to the contrary, and no matter what your budget says, blame Democrats.
Offer a budget with 6% income taxes? It is the fault of Democrats. Voters will believe it and the Tribune will endorse you for it.
Do what you want but if things are unpopular, don’t take the blame. Push it all off on Democrats. People will want to believe it, and so they will.
Comment by Gooner Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 7:17 pm
Listen more.
You can’t hear anything when you are talking.
Comment by Finally Out (formerly Ready to Get Out) Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 10:41 pm
Eat and Drink Local Governor - This Springfield economy has lost a lot of jobs the past 12 years!
Comment by Modest Proposal Tuesday, Jan 6, 15 @ 11:31 pm
Stay healthy. I may not trust you any further than I could toss you across a room, but none of us want to find out how Slip and Sue would do in the governor’s office.
Comment by Aldyth Wednesday, Jan 7, 15 @ 7:27 am
Resolve to bring into Illinois state government the best and the brightest from our business community and our state universities. Place bright and educated young people into state appointed positions. Encourage them to think out of the box. Assure them that you will cover their backs and that their ideas will not be immediately quashed by long time establishment personnel. Let the loyal opposition know that you are a fresh breeze that has just blown into Springfield and that partisan politics is about to lose it’s choke hold on the throat of Illinois state government. Let the taxpayers know exactly what you are doing and more importantly why you are doing it. And, Don’t be afraid to publicly name the names of those who are working to subvert the best interests of Illinois taxpayers. Otherwise, we will never get them out of public office. Make the media aware of who needs to be listed in Santa’s “naughty list”. Resolve to serve out your 4 year term with enthusiasm and courage and then “dance off of the stage” lest you also morph into the problem that we are currently having to deal with (the “politically entitled”).
Comment by Rowdy Yates Wednesday, Jan 7, 15 @ 7:44 am
Subscribe to Capitol Fax. Assign a staffer to read the Fax and blog including the comments. Believe it or not, you might find some great ideas in here.
Comment by metro east transplant Wednesday, Jan 7, 15 @ 7:54 am
Rebuild the Mansion.
Turn it into a symbol of your administration’s rebuilding of Illinois. Videotape it before and after restoration. Use it to show voters how you have turn Illinois around so that you can have a story of success that will be appreciated by all Illinois citizens.
Rebuilding the Mansion will make permanent history for you and your family. No matter what happens during your term in office, your legacy will always be appreciated by doing this. In a century, no one is going to remember you, your party, our era, or our politics - but they will be admiring your generosity, your love of State and your governorship if you leave behind a Mansion as beautiful as it could be.
Do that and never be forgotten.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jan 7, 15 @ 8:34 am
Know the difference between sales, marketing and product. Marketing is politics and it is usable to gather an interested crowd. Marketing is your story and it is based on fiction. Sales is how you convince that interested crowd in your product. Bruce Rauner supposedly knows the difference.
But the bottom line is that product. No matter what you said during the sale and no matter how you used politics to draw in the voters - you can’t lie about the product. What you produce as governor is either right or wrong. Focus on your product and you will have an easier time with the marketing and the sales.
For too long Illinois has been run by optical artists who places the art of marketing and sales over the product. Today we have too many citizens aware of the fact that the Illinois government product is inferior to their expectations and fails in comparison to other US state governments. You can’t keep marketing and selling this failed product anymore.
Do good government and measure objectively your results. Do that and you won’t have to embarrass yourselves in the future with your spinning, your BS, your sales, or your marketing. Give us good government and it would be such a refreshing change from what we have experienced over the past, it will be very popular.
Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jan 7, 15 @ 9:40 am
Appoint friends and campaign donors to top positions, and redefine “shake-up” to mean current cronies out, new cronies in. Adopt “Won’t Get Fooled Again” as your rally-theme song.
Comment by RubberNeck Wednesday, Jan 7, 15 @ 10:11 am
Consider the feasibility of merging HFS with DHS. HFS largely exists to fund programs administered by DHS and provides Child Support services. Significant economies of scale would result from a merger. Review the status of all current personnel hired since the Blago administration as Rutan Exempt, seek justification for those whom have been placed into non-exempt positions. Take particular note of those who were employed outside of the State of Illinois prior to their being hired (DHS and HFS in particular). Prohibit your agency directors and deputy directors from maintaining headquarter offices (and costly staffs) in Cook County in addition to Springfield. Based on the population, Cook County will always need more front-line workers, but directors and deputy directors can and should perform their jobs in Springfield. Lastly, conduct a forensic review of all private service and IT contracts as well as services being provided by CMS. While Illinois has fewer State employees per capita than any other state, CMS is one agency that doesn’t provide benefits commensurate with its staffing level or budget. At minimum, CMS needs to be significantly restructured and re-focused, albeit an argument can be made for its outright elimination.
Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 7, 15 @ 10:33 am
Streamline the state’s operations and invest taxpayer money wisely with strong support for enterprise-wide shared services IT initiatives that will eliminate redundancy, promote reuse, save money, implement new technologies, and attain higher quality IT solutions. Please utilize the knowledge and recommendations of the experienced professional technology experts at CMS. The Dems brought in too many outside business experts that didn’t understand how state government works instead of trusting competent state employees who have dedicated their careers to improving the state’s IT infrastructure. Promote experienced people from within wherever possible to lead because they already know more about how to get things done at the state than someone hired from outside could learn in four years.
Comment by Joyful Servant Leader Wednesday, Jan 7, 15 @ 10:50 am