Names                        

Edgar fills two cabinet positions and names acting director to a third Robert Wright and Lynn Quigley Doherty, who have been acting directors of the Illinois Department of Public Aid and the Illinois Department of Employment Security, respectively, were appointed by Gov. Edgar in February as director of the departments. Edgar also named James Schacht as acting director of the Illinois Department of Insurance.

Wright, 32, of Springfield has been overseeing the Department of Public Aid since last June when Phil Bradley resigned as director to take a job in the private sector (see Illinois Issues, June 1993, page 35). Wright was deputy director under Bradley.

He began his career in the governor's Bureau of the Budget in 1983, moving to Public Aid in 1989 as chief of its bureau of hospital services and later that year became deputy administrator for its division of medical programs. Wright received a bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway and a master's degree from Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y.

Upon Senate confirmation, Wright will earn $78,839 a year.

Doherty, 41, of Chicago has served as acting director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security since October 1993 when Loleta A. Didrickson resigned to campaign for Illinois comptroller (see Illinois Issues, December 1993, page 27). A former teacher of deaf and blind students, Doherty began state service in 1976 in the Department of Rehabilitation Services. She became a legislative liaison for the agency and in 1986 was appointed an agency deputy director. She also held management positions with the secretary of state's office and the Department of Central Management Services. She joined the Department of Employment Security in 1992 as deputy director for its finance and administration bureau.

The Department of Employment Security administers the state's unemployment insurance program, a job-placement service and labor market information service. Upon confirmation by the Senate, Doherty will earn $78,839 as director.

Schacht, 52, of Petersburg began serving as acting director of the Department of Insurance on February 1 when Steven F. Selcke resigned to take a position with Ameritech-Illinois Corp. (see Illinois Issues, February 1994, page 34).

A 30-year career employee of the agency, Schacht has been tapped twice before to serve as acting director, in 1982 by former Gov. James R. Thompson and previously by Gov. Edgar in 1991. Starting as a field financial examiner in 1964, Schacht has held various supervisory and management positions in the department, serving most recently as chief deputy director.

In 1990 Schacht received recognition from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a national organization of professional insurance regulators with members from insurance departments of every state. He was given the Robert E. Dineen Award for outstanding contribution to insurance regulation.

Broncato to head state board of
education as interim superintendent

Mary Jayne Broncato, 54, of Joliet is the interim state superintendent of education as of March 1. Succeeding Robert Leininger, who resigned to take a position with Magna Group Inc. (see Illinois Issues, January 1994, page 28), Broncato is the first woman to hold the position of superintendent, interim or otherwise. She will act as superintendent until a permanent superintendent is chosen from a nationwide search. The State Board of Education has set the goal of finding a new superintendent by May 19.

Broncato joined the state board staff in March 1990 as associate state superintendent for programs and accountability, one of six senior staff positions. Prior to joining the board, she was superintendent of the Joliet elementary school district.

Broncato's main responsibility as an assistant to the superintendent has been to supervise the creation of a new accreditation process for schools and students. The General Assembly passed legislation in 1991 (P.A. 87-559) establishing accreditation of schools based on performance — whether or not students were learning. In the past, accreditation of schools was based on criteria such as whether the buildings were safe, certain curriculum requirements were taught and local boards had minutes up to date. Under the new plan, Broncato oversaw input from over 13,000 people who will be affected by a new way to accredit schools. She guided the process to the point where individual schools, rather than whole districts, will begin to be accredited under the new system by fall, if not sooner.

Michael W. Skarr, chairperson of the State Board, attributed Broncato's leadership in implementing this accreditation process as the principal reason for her being chosen to fill the interim superintendent position. Broncato will earn $8,923 per month while interim superintendent.

Hamilton named deputy
communications chief at DCFS

Scott A. Hamilton, 41, of Vernon Hills is the new deputy communications chief for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), working out of the agency's Chicago office. He was spokesman for House Minority Leader Lee A. Daniels (R-46, Elmhurst) prior to moving to DCFS. Hamilton was a reporter for suburban newspapers in Libertyville and Waukegan and the Chicago Sun-Times before joining Daniels' staff in 1983.

Hamilton received his bachelor's degree from Monmouth College in Monmouth and his master's degree in public affairs reporting from Sangamon State University, Springfield.

Opp named acting superintendent
of Quincy veterans home

Paul F. Opp Jr. is acting superintendent of the Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy effective January 20. Prior to his appointment by Robert J. Poshard, director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, Opp was assistant administrator of the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle.

Opp is a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a licensed nursing home administrator. He joined the staff at the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle as assistant administrator in 1990. He is a former vice president of operations for the Community Hospital of Ottawa, an administrator of South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, CEO and consultant administrator of Edgewater Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago and assistant administrator of St. Bernard Hospital in Chicago.

Opp left his full-time position to replace Richard E. Northern, who is on administrative leave for an unspecified period of time pending an investigation by the Illinois State Police into records and management practices at the Quincy veterans home.

Continued on page 30

28/March 1994/Illinois Issues