People                                 

Constitutional officers and U of I trustees take oath Gov. Jim Edgar, Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra and Secretary of State George Ryan were sworn in on January 9 for their second terms of office. Attorney General Jim Ryan, Comptroller Loleta Didrickson and Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka took the oath of office for the first time. This Republican sweep of constitutional offices marks the first time women have held two of the top executive positions in Illinois. Dawn Clark Netsch was the first woman to break the barrier when she was elected comptroller in 1990. The trustees of the University of Illinois board were also sworn in. Judith R. Reese of Chicago, attorney and director of Reese Construction Co. of Cahokia and Lebanon, is serving a second term. New members are William D. Engelbrecht of Henry and Martha R. O'Malley of Belleville. Engelbrecht is owner of Engelbrecht Angus Farm and former executive vice president of Leo Burnett Co. Inc. Martha R. O'Malley was the lone Democrat to be sworn in. She is regional superintendent of schools for St. Clair County.

Photo by Ginny R. Lee Before a crowd of reporters, state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka cut the audit tape on the state vault, a procedure required when a new treasurer takes office. However, the event also symbolized the Republican takeover of all six constitutional offices and leadership in both houses of the General Assembly. Left of Topinka is state Auditor General Bill Holland.

Shifts at the top

Out with the old, in with the new. The annual January herald certainly applies after an election. Three more agency directors left Gov. Jim Edgar's cabinet:

• Jan Grayson, head of the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, left the state's economic development agency to return to the private sector. Taking over as director is Dennis R. Whetstone of Springfield. Prior to joining the governor's staff a year ago to develop and implement workforce preparation and job training programs. Whetstone was a deputy director of DCCA. He will report to Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra. The governor signed an executive order in January giving Kustra oversight of economic development policy and the direction of DCCA.

• Robert J. Poshard, director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, retired at the end of 1994. Robert Foster, deputy director for administration for the agency, is acting director.

• The head of Edgar's Department of Military Affairs, Maj. Gen. Donald W. Lynn left the job of adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard to be the superintendent of the Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy. Lynn replaces Richard "Hap" Northern, who retired after 32 years as superintendent.

The governor filled one cabinet post, the vacancy at Corrections created when he moved Howard Peters III to a deputy chief of staff position. Odie Washington, former warden at Dixon Correctional Center, is the new director.

At the Department of Agriculture, Dave Bender, who has worked for both the governor and lieutenant governor, joined the agency as assistant director. Jim Reynolds, owner of a Watseka horse farm, is the head of a reorganized division that includes the Illinois and DuQuoin state fairs, county fairs, horse racing and marketing and promotion. Joe Saputo replaces Bud Hall as manager of the Illinois State Fair. Hall works for the Illinois Department of Transportation.

John N. Varones is acting deputy director at the Illinois Housing Development Authority, and Michael Rose replaces the retiring Warren Matha as general counsel.

Illinois Liquor Control Commission Director Jack Dorgan is leaving the executive for the legislative branch, joining Illinois House Speaker Lee Daniels' new team as deputy chief of staff. Daniels chose Michael Stokke

Michael Belletire (left), one of Edgar's closest advisors in the first four years of his administration, left the inner circle to be administrator for the Illinois Gaming Board. Belletire, 48, was deputy chief of staff responsible for the oversight and direction of policy and programs for state agencies. At the gaming board he fills a vacancy created when Mort Friedman resigned in August 1993. Belletire was director of the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities under former Gov. James R. Thompson. He also served as associate superintendent of the State Board of Education. Responsibilities at the Illinois Gaming Board could increase if, as expected, the General Assembly expands the number of gambling licenses.

36/February 1995/Illinois Issues

Executive branch leadership

The following six people, all Republicans, will lead Illinois for the next four years.

Jim Edgar, 48 • Governor • Second term • Paid $110,537 annually. Jim Ryan, 48 • Attorney general • First term • Paid $97,534 annually. Loleta Didrickson, 53 • Comptroller • First term • Paid $84,529 annually.

Bob Kustra, 51 • Lieutenant governor • Second term • Paid $78,027 annually. George Ryan, 60 • Secretary of state • Second term • Paid $97,534 annually. Judy Baar Topinka, 50 • Treasurer • First term • Paid $84,529 annually.

as his chief of staff. Stokke was chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Tom Ewing, Republican from Pontiac, for the past three years. Stokke replaces Michael Tristano, who took a position with the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Attorney General Jim Ryan named his top management team: Steve Culliton of Geneva, chief of staff; Rick Stock of Clarendon Hills, deputy attorney general; Ed Ludwig, chief of administration; Barbara Preiner, solicitor general; Ed Bishop, chief of investigations; and Dan Curry, press secretary.

Comptroller Loleta Didrickson appointed Thomas R. Creal, a CPA and partner in the Chicago-based accounting firm of Checkers, Simon and Rosner, as her chief of staff. Jonathan Stuart Gaciala is assistant comptroller for fiscal policy. Didrickson kept three of former Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch's top staff: Robert D. Brock, director of research and statistics; Jo Ellen Keim, director of state accounting; and Samuel E. Stiles, director of financial reporting and technical support.

Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka has given chief of staff duties to her former campaign manager, Marty Kovarik. Jim Howard, former bureau chief of WSSU-FM/WIPA-FM, Sangamon State University's public radio station, is the treasurer's new press secretary.

Leadership in the House

For the first time in 12 years the Republicans are the majority party. Offices and committee chairs changed hands. The Senate leadership remains the same with the exception of Democratic Assistant Minority Leader William "Bill" Shaw of Chicago. He replace Earlean Collins, who lost her bid for state comptroller. This is what the new power structure looks like under Speaker Lee A. Daniels of Elmhurst:

People                                 

State Justice Commission members named

Gov. Edgar appointed a 21-member commission that will study and make recommendations for improving the state's civil and criminal justice systems. The commission, chaired by former Attorney General Roland Burris, will report to the General Assembly this session.

Commission members are:

• Sen. Carl Hawkinson, Republican of Galesburg;

• Sen. Thomas Dunn, Democrat of Joliet;

• Rep. Judy Biggert, Republican of Westmont;

• Rep. Calvin Giles, Democrat of Chicago;

• Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Miller of Springfield;

• Donald O'Connell of Chicago, chief judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County;

• John Killain of Jacksonville, Association of County Boards and Commissions;

• Rita Fry of Chicago, Cook County Public Defender;

•Virginia Martinez of Chicago, executive director of Mujeres Latinas En Accion;

• Jack O'Malley of Chicago, Cook County State's Attorney;

• Polly Poskin of Springfield, executive director of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault;

• Stephan Landsman of Chicago, professor in the college of law at DePaul University;

• Greg Baise of Chicago, president of the Illinois Manufacturers' Association;

• Thomas Geraghty of Chicago, professor and director of the Legal Clinic at Northwestern University;

• Joy Feinberg of Chicago, chair of the Illinois State Bar Associaton's Family Law Section;

• Candice Kane of Chicago, associate director of the Criminal Justice Information Authority;

• Arturo Jauregui of Chicago, regional counsel for the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund;

• Sally Jackson of Chicago, president of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce;

• Bill Nolan of Chicago, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 7: and,

• Mary Rudasill of Carbondale, professor and director of the Southern Illinois University Legal Clinic.

New historical society director

Jon N. Austin is the new executive director for the Illinois State Historical Society. He succeeds Carolyn I. Johnson of Chicago, who has served as acting director since December 1993. Austin, a native of Peoria, was executive director of the Rome, N.Y., historical society before accepting the Illinois position.

1995 Lincoln Laureates

Six Illinoisans will receive the state's highest honor for individual achievement, the Order of Lincoln Medallion. Gov. Edgar will present the medallions during a ceremony on April 22 in Shryock Auditorium at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.

The 1995 Lincoln Laureates are:

• James S. Brady, a native of Centralia. As press secretary to President Ronald Reagan, Brady was wounded in the 1981 assassination attempt on the president. Brady was cited for his work with national organizations for those with disabilities and for playing a leading role in the reform of federal gun registration laws.

• Jeane Kirkpatrick, who graduated from Mt. Vernon Township High School. She was the U.S. representative to the United Nations and a member of the National Security Council from 1981 to 1985.

• Dr. Joseph B. Kirsner of Chicago. The University of Chicago professor of medicine has written more than 600 scientific papers dealing with digestive diseases. The university has dedicated a center in his name.

• William M. (Bill) Kurtis of Chicago. An award-winning broadcast journalist and investigative reporter, he has anchored CBS network and Chicago newscasts and produced or moderated numerous documentaries for commercial, cable and public television. He is also cited for his work with Chicago civic groups.

• Robert H. Malott of Kenilworth. Chairman of the executive committee of the FMC Corp., he is recognized for his contributions to civic, educational and corporate organizations. He is a trustee of the University of Chicago and a member of the boards of directors of the Lyric Opera, the National Park Foundation and the Argonne National Laboratory, as well as Amoco and United Technologies corporations.

• Arnold R. Weber of Evanston. Chancellor of Northwestern University as of January 1, he served 10 years as president. He has served as an advisor or cabinet-level appointee for three U.S. presidents.

New U of I board chair Thomas R. Lamont of Springfield was elected to a one-year term as chair of the board of trustees for the University of Illinois. Lamont, a partner with the Springfield law firm Gordon and Glickson P.C., succeeds Kenneth R. Boyle of Chatham.

New planning commission chief

Arthur F. Hill Jr. of Chicago was elected president of the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, which encompasses the six-county metropolitan area. He succeeds Donna Schiller. Hill, a former Cook County state's attorney, is a partner with the firm of Haggerty, Koenig & Hill Chtd.

Judicial appointments

• Daniel Pascale, Cook County circuit court judge, began duties January 1 as director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. Pascale, who did not win a March primary bid for nomination to a judgeship in the 8th subcircuit, left the bench in December.

Originally appointed to the bench in 1990, he was assigned to the Juvenile Court for the past year. Pascale replaces Robert E. Davison, who was appointed in November to a two-year term on the 4th Judicial Circuit.

• Lawrence X. Pusateri, a partner with the Chicago law firm of Peterson & Ross, is the executive director of the Judicial Inquiry Board. He replaces Ray F. Breen, who died in an accident while vacationing in Washington state in July.

Honors

• Ralf Hotchkiss, a native of Rockford, was named the 1994 Henry B. Betts Award Laureate for his work as a wheelchair designer and his efforts to teach people in developing countries to build affordable wheelchairs. The $50,000 annual award, named in honor of Dr. Henry B. Betts of the Rahabilitation Institute of Chicago, is given to those who improve the quality of life for people with disabilities.

• Jack Schaffer, Commissioner of Savings and Residental Finance, was elected chair of the American Association of State Savings Supervisors. Schaffer was a Republican state senator from Crystal Lake prior to being appointed in 1993 to head the state agency that oversees state-chartered thrifts and the residential mortgage banking industry.