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* Um, no…
The acting chief of DCFS was never confirmed due to feuding between former Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats. Now with Gov. J.B. Pritzker in, Beverly "BJ" Walker is out. https://t.co/Rd35Bb0U4m
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) January 26, 2019
One of the least appreciated successes of the Rauner years was his ability to work with the Senate on his nominations. The Democratic Senate rarely voted to reject the Republican governor’s nominees (I think it happened only a couple of times) because Rauner’s team worked very closely with the Senate leadership. They made sure to vet all the candidates, closely followed all the nominating rules and they cut side deals to sweeten things with the SDems.
BJ Walker got sideways with the Black Caucus and that’s why I’m told she was never confirmed. But the Senate did not take the step of actually rejecting her, so she leaves as she came in: “Acting Director.”
* Rauner’s success is all the more remarkable when you recall things like this…
Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s attempt to install a prominent consumer watchdog as head of the Illinois Commerce Commission flopped Thursday when the state Senate rejected his nomination.
The dramatic vote to deny the job to Martin Cohen prompted complaints that he was being punished for an effective career on behalf of consumers, and that the Senate was siding with powerful utility companies against ratepayers.
And this…
In a rare move, the Illinois Senate Wednesday slapped down Gov. Pat Quinn’s latest appointments to the Southern Illinois board of trustees.
Just two days after Quinn nominated new members to the board, senators used their appointment powers to send a strong message to the governor that they don’t approve of his tinkering with the make-up of the board.
The governor’s proposed appointments of Sandra Cook of Collinsville, Melvin Terrell of Chicago and Lee Milner of Springfield received zero “yes” votes, 23 “no” votes and 32 “present” votes.
* Back to the Sun-Times story…
The acting director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services says she’s stepping down next month.
Beverly “BJ” Walker told the Chicago Tribune late Friday that Gov. J.B. Pritzker is conducting a national search for her replacement and she has agreed to stay on to help the transition.
Walker was appointed as the acting head of the agency by former Gov. Bruce Rauner in June 2017 following the departure of George Sheldon, who left in the fallout of DCFS’ admitted mishandling of the Semaj Crosby case.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 11:16 am
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Democrats want governments to function, regardless of efficiencies, bugdets, or obsolescence, because it is better than nothing. Rauner just had to do his job.
Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 11:37 am
====and they cut side deals to sweeten things with the SDems===
Rauner (or his staff) did this from the get go. It gave me hope that Rauner might be an ok governor who would know how to cut deals. My hope obviously didn’t last long.
Comment by Been There Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 11:39 am
This is definitely eye-opening. I always kind of assumed that the long list of positions left “Acting” was more of a petty action than anything else. It turns out it was based more on compromise.
Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 11:41 am
=The dramatic vote to deny the job to Martin Cohen prompted complaints that he was being punished for an effective career on behalf of consumers, and that the Senate was siding with powerful utility companies against ratepayers.=
The above appears to be accurate.
I can say that Staff was looking forward to having Cohen on board back then. It was disappointing when the Senate shilled for ComEd. This is more evidence that Democrats are not liberal as they can be blatant corporatists also.
Comment by Duopoly Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 11:47 am
So that makes how many DCFS Directors in the last eight years?
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 11:54 am
DOC still working under an Acting Director…(who’s term expired last weekend)
Comment by New Slang Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 11:59 am
*whose term
Comment by New Slang Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 12:00 pm
I kinda have trouble calling getting your government in place a “success”. It’s necessary and I’m sure can be very difficult, but getting the job doesn’t matter nearly as much as what you do when you get the job.
Comment by Perrid Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 12:04 pm
Duopoly has got it right - the big utilities (and their “campaign contributions”) carry a lot of weight with politicians regardless of party
Comment by Nobody Sent Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 12:08 pm
Everybody got their “walking around” money. Nothing to see here, just bidness as usual.
Comment by Al Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 12:12 pm
Talk about Damning with Feint Praise:
Rauner could not pass a budget.
He could not stop a tax increase.
He could not pass his turnaround agenda.
But atleast his agency heads were not tarred and deal there’d and run out of town on a rail.
Except Sheldon at DCFS.
And the head of Veterans Affairs.
And The tollway board.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 2:04 pm
DCFS Directors; McEwen, Calica, Gregg, Sheldon, Walker. Not counting those who served simply to keep things going until a replacement was named. When Calica went down with cancer, Quinn had trouble getting a good person. It was viewed as too risky a position.
Part of the problem is that internal candidates have not had good management role models. External candidates don’t know the people, systems, and history well enough to be effective.
It would be nice to find someone who has both DCFS knowledge and management skills. But that is a rare duck.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 2:06 pm
It should be noted IDOC Director is entering his fourth year of service, assuming he’s not been canned by Gov. Pritzker and he was never confirmed.
Comment by Cornfield Cowboy Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 2:37 pm
“BJ Walker got sideways with the Black Caucus and that’s why I’m told she was never confirmed.”
So the Black Caucus held on to a grudge because they didn’t like something she said?
This is what’s wrong with Illinois politics. Maybe politics in general. There are too many egos. Is BJ Walker qualified for the job? How has the agency performed under her leadership? I don’t know the answers to these questions and I am sure we can all find something wrong. This agency will never progress if someone new has to come in every few years. And ultimately, it’s the kids who suffer because of these egos.
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:02 pm
===didn’t like something she said?===
Assumes facts not in evidence.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:04 pm
Director Doll was such a great choice to run the Division of Banking. Said none of her staff.
Comment by Meet Edwards in Chicago Monday, Jan 28, 19 @ 3:17 pm