People

Shifts at the top •Anne M. Burke of Chicago was appointed to the First District Appellate Court, filling the vacancy created by the resignation of Appellate Judge Carl McCormick. Her term runs from August 14, 1995, to December 2, 1996. Burke, who had served on the Illinois Court of Claims under both Gov. Jim Edgar and former Gov. James Thompson, leaves the position created for her by Gov. Edgar in April 1994 as his special counsel for child welfare services. Edgar has named Burke's assistant, Jill Landsberg, as acting special counsel. • Dorothy Arensman began duties the end of July as superintendent of the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired in Jacksonville. The residential school for blind and visually impaired students age 5 to 21 is operated by the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services. Prior to her appointment Arensman was director of personnel and special services at Bering Strait School District in Unalakleet, Alaska. •Joseph L. Banks of Chicago was named assistant secretary of transportation. He served from 1991 to 1995 as a special assistant to the governor. •Dennis Reidy of Tinley Park was appointed director of information processing in the comptroller's office. Prior to his appointment, he was director of data processing at the Federal Home Loan Bank in Chicago. •Mark Randal has left his position as communications director for state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka. Beginning September 5, he will be the director/public relations manager for Farm Progress Companies Inc., the company that produces the Farm Progress Show and other farm exposition shows across the country. Prior to joining the Treasurer's office, Randal was Statehouse bureau chief for WICS-TV in Springfield and was press secretary for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Durbin and Shimkus make it official U.S. Rep. Richard Durbin and Madison County Treasurer John Shimkus both have officially declared their intentions to run for office. Durbin, who beat Shimkus in 1992, is a Democratic candidate for U.S. Sen. Paul Simon's seat. Republican Shimkus is trying again to win the 20th District seat that has been held by Durbin.

Governor names new chief counsel

Bill Roberts, who was considered one of the strongest potential Republican candidates to run for Rep. Richard Durbin's 20th District seat, accepted the position as chief counsel to Gov. Jim Edgar. Roberts, who has been in private practice as a partner in the Chicago-based law firm of Hinshaw and Culbertson, is a former federal and state prosecutor. He served as U.S. attorney for the central district of Illinois from 1986 through 1993. Prior to that, he was twice elected state's attorney of Sangamon County.

New chairman for toll highway authority

Julian C. D'Esposito Jr. of Winnetka was appointed chairman of the Illinois Toll Highway Authority. He is a partner in the Chicago law firm of Mayer, Brown and Platt and is a former counsel to the governor. D'Esposito has also served on the Capital Development Board and the Illinois Medical Center Commission.

New members for state board of education

Sandra M. Pellegrino, owner of Pellegrino Law Offices in Peoria, and Julia F. Walsh, secretary and treasurer of Siles and Walsh Ltd. of Arlington Heights, were appointed to the State Board of Education at the end of July. Deborah Miller, owner of Miller Consulting Group in Hoffman Estates, and Doreen P. Crewe of Palos Park, former board of education president for School District 230, were reappointed to the board.

Math and science academy foundation names officers

The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy Fund for Advancement of Education, based in Aurora, has announced its officers and board of directors. Former Gov. James R. Thompson was elected chairman after serving as president for five years. The new president is Michael J. Birck, president and CEO of Tellabs Inc. in Lisle.

Other officers and members include:

•Thomas Castino, president/CEO of Underwriters Laboratories in Northbrook;

•Joanne Hansen, president of Fumas Foundation in Batavia;

•Alan Kember, vice president of the central region of Northern Telecom Inc. in Schaumburg;

•Richard Lumpkin, chairman/CEO of Consolidated Communications Inc. in Mattoon;

•Robert Malott, chairman of the executive committee of FMC Corp.;

•Susan Schanlaber, president of The Landmark Group Inc.;

•William J. White, president/chairman/CEO of Bell and Howell Co.

Thompson (right) says the purpose of the fund is "to make sure we have sufficient dollars to supplement whatever is in the state budget each year, so that we can keep IMSA as the top residential academy for math and science students in the nation." IMSA, a residential high school for gifted students, was created during Thompson's administration. The fund was established at the same time. Thompson says he values IMSA's "ability to be a resource for all of the kids in the Illinois school system ... whose teachers can get assistance and support."

38/September 1995/Illinois Issues

Politicians paid record prices for State Fair champions State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka congratulates Natasha Kirby of Greenview, who raised the junior champion Suffolk lamb. Topinka bought the lamb for a record $5,200 at the State Fair's Sale of Champions. The previous record price of $5,000 was paid last year by Decatur's Archer Daniels Midland Co. Lt. Gov. Bob Kustra also set a record when he purchased the grand champion rabbit trio for $5,200 from Karen Hicks of Chatham. The previous record for a rabbit trio was set in 1994 when Walker Standardbreds, whom Kustra bid against this year, paid $2,900 to Karen's brother Kevin.

Illinois lawyer to head Oklahoma City bombing prosecution team

Joe Hartzler, a U.S. attorney based in Springfield, is heading the federal government's prosecution team in the case against Oklahoma City bombing suspects Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. Hartzler was profiled in the August 14 issue of Newsweek magazine. Prior to his Springfield assignment, Hartzler was a U.S. attorney in Chicago. In 1985 he prosecuted members of the Puerto Rican nationalist group FALN for a nine-year bombing spree. Hartzler, who has multiple sclerosis, was honored at the White House this spring as MS Father of the Year.

Corrections names employee of the year

Steven Renner, who is a recreation worker at Dixon Correctional Center, has been named 1994 Employee of the Year by the Illinois Department of Corrections. Renner was commended for developing the Dixon CC Wellness Center, a workout area providing stress-reduction to employees.

Marion County farmer honored as sustainable ag farmer of the year

Ken Heinzmann of Sandoval was named 1995 Sustainable Agriculture Farmer of the Year by the Illinois Department of Agriculture. Heinzmann conducts research on his 550-acre farm in Marion County that includes fertilizer rate studies, cover crop trials and herbicide rate research. He is also interested in organic farming, the long-term effects of herbicides on weeds and strategies to cope with high-sodium soil. Heinzmann is chairman of the Illinois Sustainable Agriculture Committee.

Records show state grants going to the rich and not-so-famous Dennis Conrad of The Associated Press reports that Internal Revenue Service records show that the Illinois College of Optometry, a small private college in Chicago, has been receiving at the behest of Senate President James "Pate" Philip a yearly grant of $250,000 — no strings attached. At the time the grants began in 1991, records show that the college was in the black by $1.72 million. The surplus grew to $2.1 million in the year ending June 1993. The president of the Optometry school, Boyd B. Banwell, who has contributed more than $56,000 since 1990 to campaign funds controlled by Philip, averaged $313,000 annually during the first three years of the grants. A 1993 College and University Personnel Association survey reports the average pay for a CEO at private, nonreligious colleges was $140,100. Gov. Jim Edgar put a hold on a $300,000 grant for the current fiscal year and asked the college for an accounting of its use of the grants. Some legislators want hearings.

Reynolds found guilty

As his colleagues finish their summer recess, Chicago Congressman Mel Reynolds faces prison. A jury convicted the Democrat August 22 of sexual misconduct. He faces a minimum 4-year term. After the verdict, Cook County State's Attorney Jack O'Malley told WGN-TV, "This is a victory for the criminal justice system." Reynolds' attorney vowed to appeal. Unless ousted by Congress, Reynolds can continue to hold his seat. Nevertheless, potential candidates are lining up to make a run in his 2nd District.

Obituary

Frances L. Dawson, a former state representative from Evanston, died August 20. A Republican first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives without the support of party regulars, she served the 7th District from 1956 to 1970.

During her seven terms she focused on education and children's issues.

Beverley Scobell

September 1995/Illinois Issues/39