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Stevenson bows out -- Dixon jumps in

U.S. Sen. Adlai E. Stevenson III announced March 30 that he will not seek reelection in 1980. Stevenson was elected to the Senate in 1970 to fill out the unexpired term of the late Sen. Everett M. Dirksen. He was state treasurer from 1966-70 and state representative from 1964-66. A recent critic of national policies who has talked of heading a third party, Stevenson had no immediate plans but did not rule anything out of his political future.

On April 2, Secy, of State Alan J. Dixon declared his candidacy for the 1980 Democratic nomination to fill Stevenson's vacated seat. Dixon served 12 years in the Illinois House and eight in the Senate. He was elected state treasurer in 1970 and 1974 but resigned after being elected secretary of state. If Dixon should win in 1980, Gov. James R. Thompson would appoint a secretary of state to fill Dixon's unexpired term.

Woodyard named to House seat

Harry "Babe" Woodyard (R., Chrisman) was named by the Republican county chairmen of the 53rd District to fill the seat vacated by Rep. James Edgar (R., Jacksonville). Woodyard, who was sworn in March 12, is a farmer and also president and board chairman of the Ridgefarm State Bank. A Republican precinct committeeman for 18 years and Edgar County Republican chairman for 6 years, he has served on the board of trustees, Danville Junior College; the board of directors, Paris Community Hospital; and the Edgar County Board. Rep. Woodyard said that at present he is learning the job and does not have plans to sponsor legislation. His main goal is to represent his district well. He said he will probably make his decision about running for election sometime this fall.

House Republican staff

House minority staff members appointed over the last six months by Minority Leader George H. Ryan and their assignments include: Sherwin Swartz, Chicago, Elections and Executive committees; Rick Larison, Springfield, Revenue Committee; Cheryl Runyon, Springfield, budget analyst for Appropriations I Committee; Charli Coon, Springfield, budget analyst for Appropriations I and II committees; Kathy De Telia, Springfield, Transportation and Education committees, and Don Etchison, New Berlin, Cities & Villages and Counties & Townships committees. Swartz was Cook County campaign coordinator for Sen. Charles H. Percy; Larison worked as an analyst for the Illinois Fiscal and Economic Commission, and Runyon was a science intern at the Illinois Legislative Council. Coon, De Telia and Etchison are all former legislative interns.

Other appointments

Vincent A. Toolen Jr., Springfield, as director, Department of Administrative Services (DAS), by Gov. James R. Thompson in March pending Senate confirmation. A data processing and computer expert, Toolen worked in the motor vehicle division, Secretary of State's Office, from 1971 to 1972. In 1972 he became president of a Springfield management consultant firm which he headed until he was named deputy director of DAS in 1977. He became acting director in December 1978.

Michael V. Hasten, Chicago, as chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, by the governor effective March 16 pending Senate confirmation. Hasten fills the unexpired term of Charles P. Kocoras who resigned; the term ends January 17, 1983. Previously chief legal counsel and later deputy director of the Department of Insurance, Hasten became Thompson's special assistant to implement the Cost Control Task Force in July 1978. Thompson said Hasten would represent consumers and taxpayers on the commission and urged him to strengthen the commission's policy analysis group which is concerned with rate reform.

David Howell, Evanston, as chief of the

31 / May 1979 / Illinois Issues

inheritance tax division, Office of the Attorney General, by Atty. Gen. William J. Scott effective March 1. Howell had been deputy chief of the division since 1970. He succeeded Thomas J. Downs, Chicago, who retired as division chief after nine years of service.

Peter J. Censky, Wheaton, as director, and Carson Gallagher, Morton Grove, as assistant director of the Small Business Information Office in Chicago by Robert P. Goss, director of the Governor's Office of Manpower and Human Development. The recently created information office is helping small businesses understand government regulations, job programs and training programs. Censky, who was appointed in February, was manager of civic affairs, Illinois Retailers Association. Gallagher, whose appointment became effective in March, owned a small business in Niles and held management posts in Montgomery Wards and other companies.

Kent Haag, Jacksonville, as assistant to the deputy administrator of the Young Adult Conservation Corps, by program administrator Scott Fisher effective in March. Haag was formerly an assistant to Jacksonville Mayor Milt Hocking. The YACC is administered by the Department of Conservation and provides year-round jobs and training for some 400 unemployed persons, aged 16-23. The work involves maintaining and developing recreation areas and other state properties. The program was to be fully funded by the federal government for its second year which began this April. But recent cutbacks in CETA funding mean that YACC will need supplemental money from the state in fiscal 1980.

David L. Fields, Springfield, as manager of United Press International's Capitol bureau in Springfield, in March. A state-house reporter for UPI since 1975, Fields had been acting manager since August. He replaced Tom Laue who is now working in Frankfort, Ky., as UPI state editor.

Honors

For their work on behalf of senior citizens, Carl and Evaline Renshaw, Springfield, received the national meritorious service award in March from the National Retired Teachers' Association and the American Association for Retired Persons. The Renshaws were key figures in the passage of the state's circuit breaker bill, the generic drugs bill and the increment in pensions for state workers. Carl Renshaw is legislative liaison for the Department of Aging. Both Renshaws are active in civic groups and organizations for retired teachers.

36 / May 1979 / Illinois Issues