Letters
Fiscal Crisis
Editor: In the interest of accuracy, I would like to
comment on the statement, "Governor Walker
spent (the state's $435 million cash reserve),"
which appears in the "Fiscal Crisis" article in your
December issue.
In 1974, the legislature substantially overappropriated,
as they did in 1972. I don't recall the
precise figures, but total general revenue fund
appropriations in 1974 exceeded my recommended
budget by well over one hundred million
dollars. In both years I vetoed much of the
overspending. The legislature overrode a number
of my vetoes, thereby forcing overspending.
I waged a constant fight with the General
Assembly about overspending. At the time, I was
told that I vetoed more general revenue fund
appropriations than any governor in the history of
the state. In view of this, I continue to be amazed
at the repeated efforts in the media to rewrite
history to say that I "spent" the general revenue
fund balance existing when I took office.
Dan Walker
Former Gov. Dan Walker should not be
assigned sole responsibility for state spending
during his term. Governors generally take an
unfair share of the blame and credit for the fiscal
gains or losses during their administration. In fact,
Gov. Walker vetoed over $1.2 billion in general
fund appropriations during his four years in
office. The legislature overrode $144 million of
that total, spending, in other words, $144 million
in general revenue funds that he did not approve.
Yet general revenue fund spending exceeded
revenues by $138 million, $189 million, and $78
million in fiscal years 1975, 1976 and 1977
respectively. Only in the last year of his term was
there an end to deficit spending from the general
fund, with the state taking in $38 million more
than it spent. � Eds.
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Names
Appointments
Harvey Beam, Springfield, as chief circuit
judge of the 7th Judicial Circuit, effective
December 1. Beam was elected by the judges
of the 7th Judicial Circuit to replace Byron E. Koch, presiding circuit judge of Scott
County. Beam has been with the 7th Circuit
since 1970.
James C. Griggs, Jr., Chicago, as president, Malcolm X College, by the Board of
Trustees of the City Colleges of Chicago
effective January 9. Griggs, who was
associate professor of higher education at
the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle,
replaced Samuel Huffman who resigned
because of alleged difficulties with credentials.
Dr. Frank L. Kudrna, Clarendon Hills, as
director of the division of water resources,
Illinois Department of Transportation, by
Director John Kramer effective November
14. Kudrna was director of planning and
flood control for the Chicago Metropolitan
Sanitary District.
Silver Suarez, Springfield, as executive
director, Illinois Local Governmental Law
Enforcement Officers Training Board, by
the board effective December 1. Suarez had
been assistant director since 1976 and is a
former Springfield police chief. He replaced
Mervin G. O'Melia who retired after 11
years of service.
Donald M. Cadagin, Springfield, as
enforcement attorney, Office of the Secretary of State, securities division, by Secy. of
State Alan Dixon on November 1. Cadagin
was a public defender in the state's attorney's
office. He replaced Jerry Maybury who
resigned to become administrator to the
Court of Claims.
Terry Quertermous, Springfield, as assistant director, balance of state operations,
Governor's Office of Manpower and Human
Development, by L. W. "Bill" Murray
effective November 2. Formerly public
services unit chief for the office, Quertermous replaced James Braxton who resigned
to become executive director of the Illinois
Fair Employment Practices Commission.
Dr. Sam C. Sarkesian, professor and
chairman of the political science department, Loyola University of Chicago, was
elected president of the Illinois Political
Science Association at the annual meeting
at Bradley University, Peoria, in October.
Resignations
William L. Denton, Chicago, as executive
director of the Illinois Arts Council effective
December 31. Denton had held the post
since November 1976. He plans to return to
his career with performing arts groups. A
31/ February 1978/ Illinois Issues
search committee is being formed to find his
successor.
Robert C. Spencer, as president of Sangamon State University, Springfield, effective
in August. The founding president of the
school. Dr. Spencer made the announcement at a special meeting of the Illinois
Board of Regents in Chicago December 19,
Spencer was offered the faculty position of
professor of government and public affairs.
Retirements
George P. Coutrakon, Springfield, as
circuit court judge, 7th Judicial Circuit, on
December 1. Coutrakon, who had served on
the Circuit Court bench since his election in
1964, said he retired for economic reasons
and to pursue other interests which, he
added, are not partisan politics.
Deaths
Former state Rep. Leo J. Pfeffer, 69, in
Seymour on December 2. Pfeffer served two
terms as representative from the 24th district
(1954-1956) and five terms from the 44th
district (1957-1966). He was also chairman
of the Champaign County Democratic
Central Committee for 27 years and a
precinct chairman for 37 years.
Honors
The Illinois State Historical Society
recognized the following individuals and
groups for their contributions to state and
local history: James Bingle, Bolingbrook;
Adade Mitchell Wheeler, Wheaton; Virginia
K. Blair, Belleville; O. T. Bantun, Decatur;
the Sheffield Historical Society, Bureau
County; the Macon County Historical
Society; the Fulton County Historical
Society, and the Sangamon County Historical Society.
Charles B. Shuman, Sullivan, received the
"Friend of Extension" award from the
Illinois Extension Advisors Association for
"his outstanding contributions to Illinois
Agriculture." Shuman, a retired farmer, is a
member of the Board of Regents and has
been president of the Illinois Agricultural
Association and the American Farm Bureau
Federation.
Joseph R. Maher, Springfield, was named
"Outstanding Probation Officer for 1977"
by the Illinois Probation and Court Services
Association. Also honored was Edward
Shaver, a probation officer for St. Clair
County, who received the Pauline Gaunser
Award.
Dr. Adrienne Bailey, Chicago, as president-elect, 1977-1978, National Association
of State Boards of Education, at the
association's annual meeting in October in
San Francisco, Cal. She will then be a
candidate for association president in
October 1978. Bailey has been a member of
the Illinois State Board of Education since
its beginning in 1975.
Governor's appointments
THE GOVERNOR made the following
appointments to boards and commissions:
Law Enforcement Commissions:
Twenty-one members were reappointed to
the Illinois Law Enforcement Commission
effective November 18. This was in accordance
with legislation which reduced the number of
commission members from 35 to 21. Members
are; Daniel W. Weil, Chicago, attorney,
reappointed as chairman; Allen H. Andrews,
Peoria, Peoria police superintendent; Herbert
D. Brown, Rockford, former Winnebago
County sheriff and former director of the
Illinois Department of Law Enforcement;
Joseph Dakin, Carbondale, supervisor of
corrections and law enforcement. Southern
Illinois University, Carbondale; C. Bernard
Carey, Chicago, Cook County state's attorney; Richard J. Elrod, Chicago, Cook County
sheriff; Roy O. Gulley, Springfield, director,
Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts;
Dallas C. Ingemunson, Yorkville, Kendall
County state's attorney; Mearl J. Justus,
Cahokia, Cahokia police chief; Paul Klincar,
Belleville, St. Clair County sheriff; Honoratus
Lopez, Chicago, attorney; Circuit Judge Ben
K. Miller, Springfield; Appellate Judge
Richard Mills, Virginia; Ethel Payne, Chicago, cochairperson, Coalition of Concerned
Women; Circuit Judge Philip G. Reinhard,
Rockford; Circuit Judge Wayne C. Townley,
Jr., Bloomington; Donald Turner, Cairo,
Alexander County sheriff; Supreme Court
Justice Daniel P. Ward, Chicago; Frank
Wesolowski, Wheaton, DuPage County public defender; Robert H. Babcox, Waukegan,
Lake County coronor; Ellen Flaum, Chicago,
student, Northwestern University School of
Law. Senate confirmation is required except
for Justice Ward, Judge Townley and Gulley
whose appointments are made under federal
guidelines. All terms run until November 1981
and are unsalaried.
Dangerous Drugs Commission
Appointed to the Dangerous Drugs Commission in November pending Senate confirmation
were Dr. Joseph H. Skom, a Winnetka
physician, for a term ending in January 1979
and Stephen E. Delanty, a Palatine attorney,
for a term ending January 1980. Skom
replaced David M. Law, Washington, and
Delanty succeeded Dr. Daniel X. Freedman,
Chicago. There is no salary for serving on this
three-member commission.
School Problems Commission
Appointed to the School Problems Commission effective November 15 for terms
expiring July 1979 were: H. Michael Finkle,
account executive, R. Rowland and Co., Inc.,
Danville, replacing Norella B. Welch, Mount
Vernon; Harris W. Fawell, lawyer and former
state senator, Naperville, replacing Mary
Evelyn McDade, Peoria; Dr. Donald J.
D'Amico, superintendent, St. Charles
Schools, St. Charles, replacing Patton L.
Feichter, Des Plaines; and Walter L. Bishop,
professor, department of education administration,
Northern Illinois University, DeKalb,
replacing William S. Adsit, Milford. Reappointed
was Curtis E. Plott, executive secretary,
Illinois Education Association, Springfield.
The 15-member commission, whose
members do not receive a salary, also includes
five representatives and five senators.
Dangerous Drugs Advisory Council
To the Dangerous Drugs Advisory Council
for three-year terms effective November 18:
Charles A. Gruber, Quincy, replacing William
D. Barta, Waukegan; and Harry Sholl, Lake
Forest, replacing Susan M. Barton, Springfield.
Positions on the seven-member council
are nonsalaried.
Corrections' Adult Advisory Board
Four new appointments to the nine-member
Adult Advisory Board to the Department of
Corrections effective November 9: Margaret
Morrissey, Joliet, warden, Dwight Correctional
Center; Dr. Robert G. Culbertson,
Normal, professor, Department of Corrections,
Illinois State University; Wayne S.
Shimp, Wheaton, sheriff, DuPage County,
and president, Illinois Sheriffs Association;
and Norval Morris, Chicago, dean, University
of Chicago Law School. Their terms expire
January 1983. Reappointed for a term
expiring January 1979 was Reid R. Tombaugh,
Pontiac, realtor and farm manager.
The appointments are nonsalaried.
Local Governmental Law
Enforcement Officers Training Board
Appointed to the 16-member Illinois Local
Governmental Law Enforcement Officers
Training Board for three-year terms effective
August 7 were: Thomas B. Herring, city
manager, Galesburg; and Robert B. Morris,
city manager, Glencoe. Morris serves as the
board's chairman. The positions do not
involve salaries.
Tri-City Regional Port District
Appointed to the Tri-City Regional Port
District Board, effective November 17 for a
term ending June 1979 was Homer A. Huber,
Granite City. Huber replaced Avery Schermer,
Granite City, who resigned last July. The
appointment is nonsalaried.
State Historical Library Board
Three persons were appointed to the three-member
Illinois State Historical Library
board of trustees in November. They are
Sally Bunn Schanbacher, Springfield, chairman of
the Historic Sites Commission; John R. Gehlbach, Lincoln, attorney and
collector of antiques and rare books; Charles L. McMackin II,
Salem, consultant and director of
field operations. Southern Gardens Shopping
Centers of Southern Illinois. These appointments
require Senate confirmation and are unsalaried.
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32/ February 1978/ Illinois Issues
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