People
in the news

Carl Hawkinson
The former Republican state senator and lieutenant governor candidate from Galesburg has been named to direct the state’s homeland security efforts.

Illinois Issues January 23, 2003

Timothy Martin
The chief operating officer of Chicago Public Schools has been named director of the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Illinois Issues January 23, 2003

Michael Fenger
The Rockford area representative of 1,200 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, local 364, has been named director of the Illinois Department of Labor.

Illinois Issues January 23, 2003

Michael Rumman
The former CEO of Veritel Corp. has been named director of Central Management Services.

Illinois Issues January 23, 2003

Jack Hartman
The Chicago Transit Authority vice president has been named director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

Illinois Issues January 23, 2003

Renee Cipriano
The director of the state's Environmental Protection Agency under George Ryan has been asked to continue in that capacity.

Illinois Issues January 23, 2003

Brenda Russell
The vice president at CSX Transportation Inc. has been named director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Illinois Issues January 23, 2003

Mary Lee Leahy
The Springfield labor attorney has been named to revise Illinois' hiring rules as special investigator for employment and personnel.

Illinois Issues January 23, 2003

Ruth Munson
The Elgin city councilwoman was selected to fill the House seat left vacant by the December death of Republican state Rep. Doug Hoeft.

Illinois Issues January 23, 2003

JoAnn Osmond
The wife of the late Republican state Rep. Timothy Osmond of Antioch was selected to fill the House seat left vacant by his December death.

Illinois Issues January 23, 2003

TOP

News January 2003

 

Blagojevich takes office
"You voted for change; I intend to deliver it,'" Rod Blagojevich told voters as he was sworn in as Illinois' 40th executive. Sure enough, the first Democrat to hold the office in 26 years began his administration by cleaning house, firing 35 of the outgoing governor's last-minute appointees and Scott Fawell, the $190,000-a-year head of the Chicago Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. Fawell is facing corruption charges. The new governor also imposed a freeze on hiring and promotions at agencies under his control. Among staff the new governor brought with him are Chief of Staff Alonzo Monk, an old law school chum; Deputy Gov. Doug Scofield, former chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez; and Communications Director Cheryle Jackson, who had been an Amtrak vice president for communications. Monk and Scofield played major roles on the Blagojevich campaign and transition teams.

Illinois Issues, January 23, 2003

Link to Inaugural Address 2003

Blagojevich plans budget reform
Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he wants to reform Illinois' spending practices and blamed the state"s projected deficit of $4.8 billion over the next 18 months on years of spending without regard for the state's fiscal health. The new governor named as his budget director John Filan, the managing partner of FPT&W Ltd., an Illinois-based consulting and accounting firm. The governor also named a Council of Economic Advisors. The panel is expected to focus on improving the state"s climate for economic development and job creation. It will be co-chaired by Jim Annable, an adviser to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, and Paula Wolff, executive director of Metropolis 2020.
LINK HERE FOR THE FULL COUNCIL

Illinois Issues, January 23, 2003

Outgoing governor empties Death Row
On the last weekend before turning the Executive Mansion over to Rod Blagojevich, George Ryan cleared Illinois' Death Row. He commuted the sentences of 164 Death Row inmates to life in prison without parole. The sentences of three others were commuted to 40 years and another four Death Row inmates received pardons.

Illinois Issues, Januray 23, 2003

For more details:
Shifts at the top of the Ryan Administration

For complete lists of the transition teams:
Blagojevich transition advisory board and team