Top posts filled: Revenue, Public Aid, Mines & Minerals, Savings & Loans

Gov. James R. Thompson named new directors to the departments of Revenue, Public Aid, and Mines and Minerals and appointed a new savings and loan commissioner. All the appointments require Senate confirmation. The only one that may get a little flak is that of Revenue director Roger D. Sweet, who did not endear himself to downstate Democrats with the campaign ads put out by Senate Republicans (see Illinois Issues, p. 2 December 1986).

Sweet of Springfield was named director of the Department of Revenue February 17. Chief of staff for Senate Minority Leader James "Pate" Philip since 1981, Sweet joined the Senate Republican staff in 1974. A Vietnam veteran, Sweet has served as a trustee of Lincoln Land Community College since 1972 and served on the Sangamon County Board from 1972-1976. He will receive an annual salary of $67,925. Sweet replaces J. Thomas Johnson, who left the department to join the Chicago-based accounting firm of Grant-Thornton as its director of state and local taxes.

Edward T. Duffy of Arlington Heights was named director of the Department of Public Aid March 3. The governor's deputy chief of staff since January 1986, he was director of the Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA), 1985-86. Duffy will receive an annual salary of $67,925. A veteran of the Chicago Police Department, Duffy's first job with state government was with the Dangerous Drugs Commission, 1974-1981. He left to become vice president of operations of the L&L Provisions company. In 1982 he returned to the commission as a deputy director shortly before it became part of the new DASA. Public Aid acting director Michael Taylor, who filled in after Gregory Coler resigned to head Florida's welfare department, will resume his responsibilities as executive deputy director.

Richard Shockley of Benton was named director of the Department of Mines and Minerals February 27. A mining engineer, he worked for Inland Steel Corporation for 35 years as an executive in coal operations and was manager of administration from 1979 until his retirement in 1986. Since then he has been a consultant in the mining industry. Shockley will receive an annual salary of $47,025. He replaces Bradley N. Evilsizer, who resigned.

James D. Seymour of Springfield was named Savings and Loan Commissioner March 2. Executive director of the Illinois Task Force on Financial Services since 1985, he previously was vice president and director of government affairs for the Illinois Bankers Association. His state government experience includes serving as a legislative liaison and administrative assistant to the director of the Department of Savings and Loan Commission and Department of Financial Institutions from 1979 to 1982 and service as acting director of the Department of Financial Institutions from October 1982 to January 1983. Seymour will receive a salary of $55,000 annually. He replaces acting director Paula Hiza, who will return to her job as chief deputy commission and general counsel of the commission. Former Savings and Loan Commissioner Paul Downing of Glenview resigned in February. He had served as commissioner since 1982.                           

Donenfeld named to Chicago Transit Authority Board

J. Douglas Donenfeld of Chicago was appointed by Gov. James R. Thompson in February as a member of the Chicago Transit Authority Board, replacing Nick Ruggiero. The seven-member board is the chief governmental and administrative body for the Chicago Transit Authority, with three of the members selected by the governor and the other four by the mayor of Chicago. Donenfeld is an attorney and partner at Sidley & Austin Law of Offices and was involved in the passage of the Regional Transportation Authority reform legislation of 1983. His appointment was effective immediately and requires Senate confirmation. His term expires September 1, 1993. The position pays $25,000 annually through the Chicago Transit Authority.

Burris reorganizes Comptroller's office

Comptroller Roland W. Burris announced the reorganization of several departments within his office effective in January when he started his third term.

The Department of Special Audits, head-quartered in Chicago, has been divided into two — the department of cemetery and burial trusts and the department of local government fiscal programs. Thomas Pekras of Arlington Heights serves as director, and Robert Williams of Chicago as deputy director, of the cemetery and burial trusts department. Carolyn Kleamenakis of Northfield is the new director of local government fiscal programs, and Gary Koch of Springfield is the new deputy director.

In a move to consolidate some functions, Burris announced that the record center is now a section of the comptroller's department of administrative services and budget under director Thomas Langford of Springfield. Perry Davidson, also of Springfield, serves as manager of the records center.

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Alfred Cain of Chicago was named special assistant to the comptroller. Cain, who serves as Burris' speech writer, was director of the comptroller's communications department. He will also serve as acting communications head until a new director is named.

The "CUSAS II" computerization project office is moving into the Bicentennial Building in Springfield and will be taking on 25 new employees by the end of June. Jimmy Voss of Springfield is project director. CUSAS II is an extremely sophisticated computer program for keeping up to date with the state's fiscal transactions.

Department of Public Health opens AIDS unit in Chicago

Dr. Bernard J. Turnock, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, announced in February the appointments of Chet Kelly of Chicago as executive director of the agency's new AIDS Unit in Chicago and Dr. Barbara Stevko, also of Chicago, as the unit's medical director. Stevko and Kelly will develop and direct a comprehensive AIDS prevention and education program for Illinois with particular attention given to AIDS education in the schools, according to Turnock. They will also work with other state agencies, community groups and health care providers to stimulate the development of community-based services for persons with AIDS and their families. Before the Chicago unit was created in February, the department's AIDS control activities were based in Springfield as part of its division of infectious diseases.

Kelly directs a staff of 11 persons in the Chicago and Springfield offices. He was director of the AIDS activity office with the Chicago Department of Health since November 1986, and he had earlier served as its project coordinator, responsible for developing and maintaining a citywide reporting and surveillance system to August 1978.

Stevko had been under contract with the Department of Public Health as an AIDS coordinator conducting seminars for public health workers, physicians, college students, medical societies and the public. She also did AIDS research involving high- and low-risk AIDS populations.

As of February 1987, Illinois has had 799 AIDS cases, with 345 new cases in 1986; 445 of the state's AIDS patients have died.

Richards heads Alton Mental Health and Developmental Center

Thomas Richards of Alton was appointed facility director of the Alton Mental Health and Developmental Center in February by Ann Kiley, director of the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (DMHDD).

Richards replaced Joseph Gruber, who retired January 31 after almost three-and-a-half decades of service.

Richards had been assistant facility director at Alton since January 1986. He also was an administrator at the Anna Mental Health and Developmental Center, working in labor relations, facility liaison with legal services and as supervisor of training and payroll. In 1984 he became the department's regional training coordinator for southern Illinois.

Advisory Committee on Tourism

Gov. James R. Thompson appointed three members to the seven-member Advisory Committee on Tourism effective in January: Gerald H. Brosnan of Joliet, executive vice president, Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau; Thomas Rivera of Palatine, president, Greater Woodford Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Gene Rupnik of Springfield, general manager and partner, Days Inn. All three appointments fill existing vacancies on the committee, and terms expire August 21, 1988. The positions pay expenses only; no Senate confirmation is required.

Hazardous chemicals: State implements federal planning and right-to-know law

Gov. James R. Thompson named the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (IESDA) as the State Emergency Response Commission in January in accordance with the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986. That act will complement Illinois' existing chemical safety programs, according to Thompson, and will give communities an opportunity to plan for emergencies by providing the knowledge of what hazardous substances are used in their areas.

As the State Emergency Response Commission, IESDA will be required to identify local planning districts by July 17 and name members to local commissions by August 17. The local commissions will then have approximately two years to develop chemical safety emergency plans that meet the federal requirements.

The act, which was part of the federal Superfund reauthorization legislation, also regulates businesses that deal with at least one of the more than 400 extremely hazardous substances listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The deadlines for regulated businesses to notify the IESDA of the hazardous chemicals they handle is May 17. After that date they may be fined up to $25,000 per day for noncompliance.

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In order to provide public access to information about hazardous chemicals, the agency must develop procedures to assure public access to the information obtained. According to IESDA director Charles D. Jones, the public access procedures will be published by June. An ad hoc committee made up of representatives from business, industry, other state agencies and local responders will help develop the procedures.

Jayne Thompson hired by governor's PAC

Jayne Thompson, wife of Gov. James R. Thompson, was hired February 16 to serve as a fundraiser for her husband's political committee, Citizens for Thompson. As a staff member, she will be paid $45,000 a year to serve in a fundraising capacity in charge of programs for the governor's long-time political supporters, according to the governor's office. Thompson quit a similar position at the Mid-America Committee of Chicago late last year in order to spend more time with her family (the Thompsons' daughter Samantha is in grade school in Chicago). In that part-time position, Jayne Thompson received a $65,000 annual salary. An attorney, she also serves on the Board of Trustees at the National College of Education in Evanston and as co-chair of the governor's task force on day care needs in Illinois.

Other Appointments

Judith S. Liebman of Urbana became the highest ranking woman ever to serve as a University of Illinois administrator on the Champaign-Urbana campus when she was appointed vice chancellor for research and dean of the graduate college February 12. The appointment was made by the U of I Board of Trustees on the recommendation of Thomas E. Everhart, chancellor of the Urbana-Champaign campus. Liebman joined the University of Illinois faculty in 1972 and is a professor of operations research.

Glenn E. Yard of Springfield, director, Elkhart Community Bank, was named senior member of the advisory board to the Department of Conservation. Gov. James R. Thompson announced Yard's and two other appointments in February: Victor R. Lindquist of Thornton, associate dean and director of placement. Northwestern University, and Bonnie W. Noble of Peoria, president, Pleasure Driveway and Park District. Yard replaced Paul Andricopoulas as the senior member. Lindquist assumed Yard's position and Noble replaced Harry Wirth. All appointments were effective immediately and require Senate confirmation. The positions pay expenses only. Yard and Noble's terms expire in January 1991 and Lindquist's in January 1989.

Connie Peters of Arlington Heights was reappointed state sanitary district observer by Gov. James R. Thompson in February. She is a commissioner of the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Chicago. Peters' reappointment is effective immediately and expires in January 1989. The position pays $15,000 annually and requires Senate confirmation.

Alberta Solfisburg of Aurora was hired in February to head the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy's Fund for the Advancement of Education. She replaced interim director Borden Mace, who left in November to return to North Carolina. Before starting her new position, Solfisburg served as associate in development for Aurora University for 10 years, raising funds and administering federal grants. According to Solfisburg, the Advancement for Education Fund plans to raise $15 million over a three-year period for endowments, operations expenses and special projects for the state-funded special high school academy. So far the fund has raised almost $200,000 in contributions since its inception in November.

The academy itself has been in existence since September 1986 with 205 students currently in attendance at its Aurora campus. Students should apply by March 1 during their ninth grade. Students, parents or teachers who want more information should contact the academy located at 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora 60506-1039; telephone (312) 801-6033.

Retirements

Alice Korthauer of Chicago, executive secretary to Illinois Atty. Gen. Neil F. Hartigan. was feted at a retirement dinner February 26 at the University Club in Chicago. In her 33 years of service, Korthauer was personal secretary to six attorney generals.

Seniors honored for promoting physical fitness

Five senior citizens were honored in October for promoting physical fitness and healthy lifestyles. They are winners of the 1986 Illinois Governor's Senior Leadership Award for Health and Physical Fitness and were honored at the 1986 Governor's Conference for the Aging Network.

• Gean Dentino of Pekin is a retired physical education and dance teacher. A certified Body Recall instructor, Dentino has started a "Keep Active" non-aerobic fitness program for adults at the Gene Miller Senior Citizens Center in Pekin.

• Shizu Sue Lofton, 72, of Chicago is a retired assistant dean for continuing education at Roosevelt University. Along with teachers she has trained, Lofton leads more than 400 Chicago seniors in "Tai Chi for Elders," a form of Chinese exercise.

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• Edward Shea, 72, of Carbondale was a physical education professor at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale for 31 years before retiring in August 1985. During his tenure at SIU, the university's physical education department was ranked one of the top 10 nationwide. Shea is a world and national record holder in competitive swimming.

• Clarence Skinner, 75, of River Forest is project director for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program of DuPage and Western Cook County. Skinner was recently awarded 16 medals at the Illinois State Senior Olympics in Springfield and will be participating in the U.S. Senior Olympics in St. Louis this summer. An author-publisher of exercise booklets for seniors, Skinner is also a nutrition and exercise consultant and an instructor for health and fitness classes for seniors.

• Lucille Thompson, 90, of Danville holds a Black Belt in the martial arts and teaches karate to other senior citizens. She has appeared on the David Letterman and Johnny Carson shows to demonstrate her art and is known as "Killer" by her grandchildren.

Freeman's Industry Mine nominated for reclamation award

The Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals has chosen Freeman United Coal Mining Company's Industry Mine, south of Macomb, to represent Illinois in the first federal surface mine reclamation awards program. The U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement is sponsoring the "Excellence in Surface Mining Award" for outstanding reclamation efforts by mining companies. Up to three mining companies from those submitted by states will receive awards.

At the Industry Mine the reclamation operation goes on simultaneously with the mining, and special measures are taken to prevent soil compaction. These include the use of low ground pressure bulldozers instead of scrapper's when it is time to spread the topsoil over replaced subsoil. Initial productivity checks of the reclaimed soils have been excellent.

A 20-minute videotape on the reclamation process is available to individuals and groups. To borrow the videotape, write to: Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals, Sue Laue, 227 S. Seventh St., Springfield 62701, or call (217) 782-4970.

Grade schoolers' posters illustrate DENR calendar

Thirteen grade school children were chosen as winners of a poster contest sponsored by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. The winning posters, featured in a 1987 calendar, illustrate the theme "Invest Now for Our Energy Future" and were judged on how they related to energy conservation and alternative energy resources. As part of American Energy Month last October, 567 fourth through sixth graders from public and private schools participated in the contest.

Sixth graders whose posters were chosen for the calendar include: Angie Foster, East Side Elementary School, Harrisburg; Amy Kula, St. Michael School, Radom; Caroline Peters, St. Peter Catholic School, Itasca; Michael Remy, McCleery Elementary School, Aurora; Eric Roberson, West Side Elementary School, Harrisburg; Shelly Roznowski, St. Ann Elementary School, Nashville; Anna Shilov, Hawthorne Scholastic Academy, Chicago; and Becky Wahlstrom, S.E. Gross Middle School, Brookfield.

Fourth graders include: Salina Gamboa, Cassell Elementary School, Chicago; Kathleen Gems, Hawthorne Scholastic Academy, Chicago; Julie Pallach, Round Lake Beach Elementary School, Round Lake; Ben Talley, Big Prairie Elementary School, Carmi; and Lisa Webb, Calumet Elementary School, Calumet Park.

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