By Steve Rhodes
“In a stunning political maneuver, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority elected former TV reporter and gubernatorial aide Kelly Kraft as its new CEO,” Crain’s reports.
Quinn was worried that the fix was in, so he put the fix in. And now the ISFA is doubly broken.
“The governor dumped one of his board members, Manny Sanchez – without telling him beforehand – to pave the way for a 4-3 vote in favor of Kraft for the $175,900-a-year post,” the Tribune reports.
“Quinn’s replacement for Sanchez, longtime ally and renowned physician Quentin Young, joined the governor’s three other appointees in supporting Kraft. The mayor’s appointees voted against her.”
To review: Pat Quinn wanted to reward a political ally wholly unqualified for the job by installing her in the post so he could control the authority instead of Rahm Emanuel, who wanted to install a wholly qualified lackey of his own so he could control the authority. But one of Quinn’s appointees wasn’t playing along, so Quinn replaced him – with heretofore unsullied Dr. Quentin Young, who for unknown reasons decided to play the good mope and join the authority, which was apparently in need of a health-care professional, and give Quinn the vote he needed to pull one over on all of us.
“Kraft was a TV reporter for about a decade before joining state government in 2009, the same year she filed for personal bankruptcy,” the Tribune notes. “She was selected over Diana Ferguson, a Yale graduate who served as chief financial officer at Sara Lee Corp. and Chicago Public Schools.”
Crain’s helpfully posted both of their resumes: Kraft. Ferguson.
Now, make no mistake, Ferguson is a piece of work.
But Kraft is a better fit to be the authority’s spokesperson, not its executive director.
Ultimately, though, this is a battle of insiders for control of a public agency with no interest in the public. Otherwise there would have been a third candidate whose only qualifications were the experience, skill and gumption to do the job with complete disregard for the wishes of Quinn and Emanuel.
Ballot Fraud
“Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced today that 173 teams of assistant attorneys general and investigators from her office will be working throughout the state on Tuesday, Nov. 6, to monitor the general election to ensure that Illinoisans’ voting rights are protected and that polling places are accessible.”
Gotta give her credit, she will fight like hell to make sure voters have access to her father’s fraudulent ballot. Just like she always does.
Court Sport
“Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans has put the brakes on a new gun court, saying he was blindsided when he learned Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle was planning one,” the Sun-Times reports.
That’s okay, he’ll come around once he figures out how he can get his family to staff it.
Judge Dread
If there aren’t any secret cases against her yet, there should be now.
Apparently unasked/unanswered: Why hasn’t she been removed from the bench pending further review of her claims and mental fitness?
- 2:45 P.M. Sun-Times UPDATE: Judge In Bizarre Court Appearance Was Quietly Suspended Months Ago.
Fair Weather Rahm
“Rahm Emanuel has been calling labor unions over the past week and making a forceful case that they contribute six-figures and up to President Barack Obama’s super PAC, multiple sources tell Politico.
And by multiple sources, Politico means Rahm calling from three different phone lines using three different voices.
*
Unions, Rahm has been heard to sigh, can’t live with them, can’t get elected without them.
*
Maybe if Rahm had been minding the store instead of working a second job, he wouldn’t have been out-manuevered by Quinn.
The Undefeated, Overrated And Offshore
In the world’s greatest College Football Report.
The Week in Chicago Rock
Including Die Antwoord. Fok.
Pots And Pans
In today’s QT.
–
The Beachwood Tip Line: Fok.
Posted on November 2, 2012