NOMINATION of Earl E. Soder (see Naniesj by Gov. Dan Walker as superintendent of the Stale Fair Agency (1 2/27/74) was expected to end a disagreement over payment of State Fair bills that began when State Comptroller Creorge Lindberg, on the advice of Attorney Cieneral William J. Scott, refused to honor vouchers certified by Paul H - King as acting State Fair superintendent.
The attorney general ruled that King was not legally fair superintendent because the statute does not provide for an "acting superintendent" and King's name had never been submitted to the Senate for confirmation as required by the statute and Constitution (File No. S-846, 12/10/74). King then filed suit in the Sangamon County (Springfield) Circuit Court, seeking to compel the comptroller to honor the unpaid vouchers, including a payroll for 87 fair employees (t 2/18/74). Circuit Judge J. Waldo Ackerman quickly granted a temporary mandatory injunction ordering the employees to be paid but holding back King's pay and action on other bills (King v. Lindberg. 676-74, 1 2/19/74). "The employees are not, in my opinion, required at their peril to determine legal questions relating to the head of their agency," he said. Ackerman described his order as "one of the most extraordinary of writs [which] should be issued by courts with extreme caution."
The reason given by the administration for not submitting King's name to the Senate for confirmation as State Fair superintendent was that the statutory salary for the position, $16,000 was too low to attract a qualified executive. The salary was set in 1961 when the State Fair Agency, formerly part of the state Department of Agriculture, became a separate agency (Ill-Rev. Stat., ch. 127, par. 401). In an
acting capacity. King had been paid approximately $24,000 per year as an Executive V, an administrative job title. House Bill 2898, which will raise the salaries of many state officers, including the State Fair superintendent (to $23,000) was signed by the governor in January. Soder, it was announced, would receive compensation from his accounting firm, Arthur Andersen & Co.. to supplement his statutory salary.
The practice of appointing an acting superintendent had begun during the previous administration. King's two immediate predecessors, John Kadow (appointed 2/18/70) and Thomas B. Evans (appointed 4/20/70) had never been confirmed by the Senate either, according to the appointments ledger in the Index Department. Office of Secretary of State-With Soder, a certified public accountant, becoming responsible for the finances of the fair, King, who formerly headed Milwaukee's Oktoberfest, would continue as State Fair manager. Concurrent with announcement of Soder's appointment, the Illinois Information Service announced that the fair was one of 19 organizations cited for outstanding design by a national magazine, industrial Design.
While the State Fair Agency is not a major state department by any means, its budget runs into the millions. The appropriation for the fiscal year that ends June 30. 1975, totals $6,685,271 and includes $2,735,271 for operations. $2,944.000 for permanent improvements, $995,400 for grants and awards, and $10,000) for refunds. Three-fourths of this money comes from the Agricultural Premium Fund, supported in the main by taxes on horse racing;
State Fair proceeds are also paid into this fund after depositing the first $200,000 in a State Fair trust fund.
Sidney M. Marder of Peru as director of the new Energy Development Program of the Department of Business and Economic Development (12/17/74) effective January 1. He has served as a member of the Illinois Pollution Control Board.
James T. Otis, a Chicago attorney, as chairman of the governor's Board of Ethics to succeed Jack F. Isakoff, retired professor of government. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, whose resignation was announced earlier (12/19/74).
Chicago industrialist A. T. Tsoumas as chairman of the International Trade and Port Promotion Adivsory Council.
Earl E. Soder of Downers Grove as superintendent of the Illinois State Fair. He is a manager with the auditing firm of Arthur Andersen & Co. and wilt serve until a new superintendent is named, according to the governor.
George Nichols, Springfield, by the Legislative Reference Bureau as the Bureau's executive secretary (1/7/75). Nichols had been deputy secretary.
Jerry D. Sternstein as deputy director for licensing in the Department of Registration and Education (12/13/74) effective mid- January. He was formerly chief of the Office of Housing and Building, Department of Local Ciovernment Affairs.
Alexander P. Robinson as assistant for urban affairs in the Department of Insurance (1/7/75). He was formerly assistant director of the department's Public Service Division.
Robert Y. Andersen as deputy director for community services (12/19/74) for the Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities. He was formerly special assistant to the director.
Richard H. Parsons, a Peoria attorney, for three-year term as member of the Capital Development Board.
Alfred C. Whitley. Chicago, as member of the Fair Employment Practices Commission for three-vear term.
William B. Petty of Eldorado, William S. Andersen of Chicago, Peter A. Skinger of Matteson, and David Woodland of Benton, by the auditor general as members of the Illinois Slate Audit Advisory Board.
March 1975/Illinois Issues/93