Witter replaces Etchison at Energy & Natural Resources

Karen Witter, assistant to the governor for natural resources since 1985, will become director of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) on October 16. Appointed to the post by Gov. James R. Thompson in August, she replaces Don Etchison who has held the post since 1984.

Witter says she plans to continue many of Etchison's efforts, particularly the drive to locate the superconducting super collider in Illinois. She also believes that it is important for DENR to continue its strong research role regarding the state's energy and natural resources.

In the governor's office, Witter has served as liaison to eight state agencies, including DENR, assisting in policy and budget development. From 1982-85 she was director of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission and from 1978-82 was a resource planner with the Department of Conservation. A member of The Nature Conservancy, Witter received that organization's Cyrus Mark Conservation Award in 1985. She holds a master's degree in ecology from the University of Wales in Great Britain and a bachelor's degree in zoology from Iowa State University.

Witter's appointment must be confirmed by the Senate. Her annual salary will be $57,057. Etchison is leaving state government after 11 years to become president of a consulting group specializing in U.S./Canadian business and government affairs. The group will be affiliated with the Business Council of British Columbia in Vancouver.

Ortciger new ESDA director

Gov. Thompson appointed Flossmoor's Thomas Ortciger as the new director of the Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA) in August. Ortciger, a disaster expert, has been deputy director of the State Fire Marshal's Office for the past nine years. Prior to that he was an assistant director with the Department of Professional Regulation from 1977-79 and, from 1976-77, served as Gov. Thompson's assistant campaign manager.

Ortciger, whose appointment to the $40,598-a-year position requires Senate confirmation, replaced Chuck Jones who left state government to form his own consulting firm.

October 1988 | Illinois Issues | 25

Tryloff new executive director of Illinois Arts Council

Robin Tryloff, executive director of the Nebraska Arts Council (NAC), will assume the same post with the Illinois Arts Council (LAC) on October 16. She comes to the IAC in the wake of former executive director John P. Riley's forced resignation after it was revealed that he falsified his resume.

Tryloff has headed the NAC since 1979 and was its associate director for administration from 1978-79. During her tenure with the NAC she was also a site visitor for the National Endowment for the Arts (1980-87). From 1976-78 she served as director of the Oklahoma Museums Association. Tryloffs annual IAC salary is $55,000.

Appointments, reappointments to Health Care Cost Containment Council

As the cost of health care continuously skyrockets, the Health Care Cost Containment Council is trying to keep these costs corralled in Illinois.

Recently reappointed to the council were Donald C. Ames of Elmhurst, assistant general counsel for CNA Insurance Companies; Robert Kevin Burger of Wilmette, assistant administrator of health care finance for the Illinois State Medical Society; William Frayser of Broadview; Charles R. Goulet of Geneva, executive vice president of HMO Illinois Inc.; Larry Lawler of Decatur, office manager for Kelly & Associates Inc.; Johanna M. Lund of Rockford, executive vice president of Robco Sales Inc.; Edward Herbert Mazur of Wilmette, president of E.H. Mazur and Associates; Kenneth J. Morrisey of Naperville, employee benefits manager for FMC Corporation; Ruth M. Rothstein of Chicago, president and chief executive officer of Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center; Charles B. Van Vorst of Champaign, president and chief executive officer of Carle Foundation; and Raymond B. Wertz of Chicago, employee benefits manager for IC Industries Inc.

All terms expire September 5, 1990. The positions pay $150 per diem.

The council collects and publicizes hospital financing and cost data and monitors price increases at Illinois hospitals. It also advises the General Assembly on health care cost containment and counsels the public on effectively finding and using health services.

Boards and commissions

Gov. Thompson announced appointments and reappointments to a number of boards and commissions earlier this year. All were effective immediately, require Senate confirmation and pay expenses only unless otherwise indicated.

• Board of Agriculture Advisors — Newly appointed members of the board, which advises the director of the Department of Agriculture, are Stuart H. Mueller, a farmer from Taylor Ridge, replacing Kenneth Bush; and Floyd A. Schlueter, a farmer from Belleville, replacing Wayne Herberer.

  Reappointed were John R. Campbell of Champaign, dean of the College of Agriculture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Harold W. Dodd of Loami, president of the Illinois Farmers Union; Leland Glazebrook of Sullivan, a commodity training adviser; James P. Monier of Princeton; Ernest Robinson, a farmer from Cameron; Dean Roy of Rockford, marketing manager for Cole/Growers Service; Enid Schlipf, a farmer from Gridley; Duanne M. Smith, a farmer from Allendale; Russell Stauffer of Springfield, executive secretary of the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association; Lowell K. Swalve, a farmer from Forreston; and John Peter White of Elburn, president of the Illinois Farm Bureau. All terms expire January 16, 1989.

• Agricultural Export Advisory Committee — New appointments include Robert T. Bernat of Chicago, a partner with Katten, Muchin & Zavis, replacing John E. Twomey; John J. Haynes of Bloomington, president of Specialty Grains Inc., replacing Herman Kloppman; Jeffery Idleman of Carlock, director of the Illinois Farm Bureau, replacing Ben Liu; Richard F. Rost of Chicago, regional manager for the DuPont Company, replacing Dale E. Butz.

  Reappointments to the committee include Gary L. Benjamin of Wheaton, vice president of Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; A. Bard Boand of Barrington, district manager for the Flying Tigers; Richard E. Burket of Blue Mound, vice president of Archer Daniels Midland Company; David Y. Chang of Elk Grove, president of Pacific Enterprises; Bruce D. Culver of El Paso, president of AG World Exports; John R. Felver of DeKalb, associate director of the Office of Student Housing at Northern Illinois University; Ginnie Hartman, a farmer from Mounds; Ronald Havekost of Peoria, an assistant manager with Caterpillar Company; and Satoru Takemoto of Morton Grove. All terms expire January 16, 1989.

  The committee works with the departments of Agriculture and Commerce and Community Affairs to establish policies and practices governing the export of Illinois agricultural products.

• Capital Development Board — Reappointed to the board was Robert B. Oxtoby of Springfield, an attorney with Van Meter, Oxtoby & Funk. Oxtoby's term expires January 20, 1992. The CDB builds or otherwise provides physical facilities for the state. It also advises state and local agencies in the preparation of annual long-range capital expenditures plans.
• Court of Claims — Reappointed as chief justice was James S. Montana of Highland Park, an attorney with Pierce, Lydon, Griffin & Montana. The appointment expires January 14, 1994, and pays $34,125 annually. The court, which is administrative in nature, hears claims against the state, including those for time unjustly served in Illinois prisons and for crime victims. It does not hear claims involving Workers Compensation.
• State Board of Elections — Appointed to four-year terms were John D. Dailey, a banker from Dunlap, and John R. Keith, a Taylor Springs attorney. Wanda L. Rednour of DuQuoin was appointed to fill a vacancy for a term that ends June 30, 1989.

  Reappointed to four-year terms were Theresa M. Petrone of Chicago and John J. Lanigan, a banker from Berwyn.

  Members receive $19,750 annually plus expenses. The board oversees elections in Illinois.

• Illinois Jobs Training Coordinating Council — Leonides Aviles of Chicago, owner of Pepe's Hair Studio, replaced Pedro Galva. Aviles' term expires July 1, 1989. The council helps integrate state employment and training programs, fosters cooperation between the state and the private sector and ensures that the state is meeting the federal requirements of the Job Training Partnership Act of 1982.

Continued on page 29

October 1988 | Illinois Issues | 26

• Liquor Control Commission — Reappointed to the commission was former state Rep. Virgil C. Wikoff (R-52, Champaign). Wikoff's term expires February 1, 1994; the position pays $13,167 annually. The commission adopts rules and regulations governing the sale, manufacture and distribution of alcoholic beverages, including the issuance and revocation of liquor licenses.
• Advisory Board of Livestock Commissioners — Richard Jurgens of Towanda, president of the Interstate Livestock Producers Association, replaced Art Barnard. Jurgens' term expires January 16, 1989. Commissioners advise the Department of Agriculture on rules and regulations pertaining to the prevention, elimination and control of animal and poultry diseases.
• Illinois Local Governmental Law Enforcement Officers Training Board — Newly appointed to the board was Champaign County Sheriff Joseph T. Brown of Rantoul, replacing Jerry H. Dall.

  Reappointed to the board were Roger W. Dettro, mayor of Mattoon; Donald Doneske of Stickney, chief of the Riverside Police Department; and Edward Hogan of Carbondale, chief of the Carbondale Police Department.

  All terms expire August 6, 1990, and do not require Senate confirmation. The board assists local governments in their efforts to raise the level of professionalism among law enforcement personnel through training programs.

• Radiation Protection Advisory Council — Reappointed to the council were Herman Cember of Evanston, a professor of environmental health engineering at Northwestern University; Thomas L. Gilbert of Palos Park, senior physicist at Argonne National Laboratories; and George H. Miley of Champaign, professor and chairperson of the nuclear engineering program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. All terms expire August 9,1991; the positions do not require Senate confirmation. The council provides technical advice and assistance to the Department of Nuclear Safety.
• Rehabilitation Services Advisory Council — Newly appointed to the council was Jerry Strom of Arlington Heights, treasurer of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, replacing Celia Warshawsky. Strom's term expires January 8, 1990. The council advises the director of the Department of Rehabilitation Services in matters concerning disabled persons and the provision of services to these individuals.
• Savings and Loan Board — New members of the board include William R. Drevant of Libertyville, chief executive officer of WRD Consulting, replacing Joseph F. Prola; Manny Hoffman of Homewood, an insurance agent with State Farm Insurance Company, replacing Thomas N. Jacob; and Egidio V. Silveri of River Forest, president of Go-Tane Service Stations Inc., replacing J. Ron McLeod.

  Reappointed to the board was Robert Lindstrom of Galesburg, an attorney with West, Neagle & Williamson.

  All terms expire January 15, 1991. The positions pay $50 per diem and do not require Senate confirmation. The board hears appeals of any decisions or actions by the Commissioner of Savings and Loans, advises the governor and the commissioner on appointments in connection with the supervision of S&Ls and advises the governor on legislations relating to these institutions.

• Surface Mining Advisory Council — Wendell R. Clark, a farmer from Victoria, was reappointed to the council. His term expires August 10, 1989; the post pays $50 per diem. The council advises the Department of Mines and Minerals and its land reclamation division and reviews proposed changes in rules and regulations governing surface mining in Illinois.

Davis new director of 'Lincoln Legals' project

Cullom Davis, chairman of the Illinois Humanities Council and professor of history at Sangamon State University, has been appointed project director for the "Lincoln Legals" project. Supported by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, the Abraham Lincoln Association and the University of Illinois' College of Law, the project will analyze Lincoln's years as a lawyer (1836-61). Davis will direct the preparation of a "comprehensive, multi-volume indexed edition" of the more than 3,000 cases tried by Lincoln and the 75,000 documents that relate to them. Davis replaces Roger D. Bridges, former assistant state historian, who recently accepted the post of director at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Freemont, Ohio.

Eight appointed to Illinois Humanities Council

Eight new directors joined the 29-member Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) board in July.

New directors include Luz Maria N. Berd of Westchester, an associate professor of modern language and director of the Language Immersion Program at Illinois Benedictine College; James C. Carey of Urbana, dean of the College of Communications at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Gerald Graff of Chicago, a professor of humanities and English at Northwestern University and director of the university's press; Don Haider of Chicago, head of the public management program at Northwestern University's Kellogg Graduate School; Morris Kaplan of Highland Park, a retired businessman with a life-long involvement in the arts and humanities; Rev. John Pawlikowski,

Continued on page 31

October 1988 | Illinois Issues | 29

a professor of social ethics at the University of Chicago's Catholic Theological Union; Charles Kirkham Rhodes of Chicago, a physics professor and director of the Laboratory for Atomic, Molecular and Radiation Physics at the University of Illinois at Chicago; and Carlos Tortolero of Berwyn, executive director of the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum.

The IHC is an independent grant making and operating foundation that is affiliated with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Directors are appointed by the governor (six) and by the council's board of directors (23). Haider and Kaplan were appointed by Gov. Thompson; the rest by the board. Each director is limited to two six-year terms and receives no compensation.

Employee's suggestion nets a $5,000 award

Fiscal officer Gerri Polley of the state Treasurer's Office was awarded $5,000 — the largest award in the State Employees Suggestion Award program's history — by the program's board in late July. Polley's suggestion makes a technical adjustment in the way the Treasurer's Office calculates interest on the Teachers' Retirement Fund. Her idea does not reduce the yield to the retirement fund, but it does save the state nearly $1 million annually by shortening the time that funds are held prior to investment in financial instruments.

Three other state employees also received checks from the board for their money-saving ideas:

• Bennie L. Horton Jr., a stores clerk for the Illinois Industrial Commission, received $450 for his idea to reduce the commission's postage and paper usage to save $4,000-$5,000 annually.
• A check for $575 went to William Seman, a division chief of physical plant services at the Secretary of State's Capitol complex, for his suggested method of reflagging the Capitol's flagpole.
• Leslie Talbott, a highway maintenance worker for the Department of Transportation at Biggsville, received $25 for his suggestion on how to increase the usable life of mud flaps on state trucks.

The State Employees Suggestion Award Board, chaired by Sen. John A. Davidson (R-50, Springfield), accepts suggestions from about 120,000 employees throughout state government. Ideas can be submitted to the board, Stratton Office Building, Room 503, Springfield, 62706 (telephone (217) 782-6125).

The Judiciary

Appointments, assignments and retirements announced recently by the Illinois Supreme Court are reported below:

Judicial Inquiry Board
Appointed as member: Harold L. Jensen of Urbana, a 6th Judicial Circuit judge, replacing 2nd Judicial Circuit Judge Philip Benefiel. Jensen's term expires in July 1992.

Reappointed as member: Cook County Circuit Judge Edward H. Marsalek of Chicago. His term ends in November 1990.

1st District Appellate Court

• Appointed to fill vacancy: Edward J. Egan of Chicago. He replaced John Stamos who was appointed in May to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court. Egan previously served as both a circuit and appellate judge (1964-75).

2nd District Appellate Court

• Appointed to fill vacancy: Marvin D. Dunn of Batavia. Dunn, who has been serving by assignment on the appellate court, was a 16th Judicial Circuit judge. He replaced William Hopf.

  Resigned: William V. Hopf of Wheaton, effective July 10. A judicial officer since 1973, Hopf is a former chief judge of the 18th Judicial Circuit.


5th District Appellate Court

• Appointed clerk: Louis E. Costa of Mount Vernon by the appellate judges of that court. Costa, who had been the 5th District's research director, replaced Walter Simmons who retired in July after serving in the post for nearly 20 years.

Cook County Circuit Court

• Appointed circuit judge: Bernard Carey of South Holland, replacing George M. Marovich, who resigned in May to accept appointment as a federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
• Assigned to duty: Retired Circuit Judge Joseph Gordon of Chicago, effective July 1988 to January 1989.
• Withdrawal of candidacy: Richard L. Samuels of Flossmoor. A judicial officer since 1968, Samuels will not seek retention in office in November. His present term expires December 5.
• Resigned: Jacques F. Heilingoetter of Chicago, effective July 31. Heilingoetter had been a judicial officer since 1964.

  Adam N. Stillo of River Forest, effective August 1. He had been a judicial officer for 24 years.


7th Judicial Circuit
• Appointed associate judge by the circuit judges: Morgan County State's Atty. Tom P. Olson of Jacksonville.

18th Judicial Circuit

• Appointed circuit judge: Michael R. Galasso of Wheaton, effective August 1, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Robert Nolan. Galasso had been appointed in January to fill the vacancy created by Helen Kinney's resignation.

  Assigned to duty: Robert Nolan of Warrensville, effective August 1 through December 5. Nolan, a judicial officer since 1963, resigned July 31.

• Appointed associate judge by the circuit judges: Brian F. Telander of Glen Ellyn, assistant state's attorney for DuPage County.

Continued on page 33

October 1988 | Illinois Issues | 31

Chicago Bar Association creates committee to study juvenile court system

The Cook County Juvenile Court is the focus of study for a new panel created by the Chicago Bar Association. The committee is chaired by Catherine M. Ryan of Ryan & Miller.

The panel consists of four subcommittees. Carol M. Amadio of Whitted & Spain is chairing the subcommittee studying the availability and accountability of resources; Richard A. Lifshitz of Mandel, Lipton & Stevenson Ltd. chairs the group studying court administration; Asst. State's Atty. Teresa A. Maganzini, who works in the Juvenile Division, is chairing the group studying related jurisdictions; and T. Geanine Smith of the Jewish Family Community Services chairs the subcommittee studying pre-court processes and procedures.

The committee has drawn criticism from Cook County Public Guardian Patrick T. Murphy, not only because most of its members come from within the court system, but because "out of 22 people, only one member is a minority, a black judge. None are Hispanic. Since minorities represent a large percentage of the people that come through the juvenile court system, it doesn't make sense." Ryan countered Murphy's statement by saying that it is her understanding that the Chicago Bar Association "will confirm some new members who are minorities."

Other appointments

Susan A. Leonis was named assistant secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation by Gov. Thompson in July, replacing Hugh Murphy who retired in June. Leonis has been an assistant to the governor for the past two years. She was director of statewide field operations during Thompson's most recent election campaign. Leonis has also served as Thompson's liaison to the House of Representatives and as Illinois field director for the Reagan-Bush campaign in 1984. She will be based in the department's Chicago office and will be paid $60,349 annually. Her appointment requires Senate confirmation.

Michael Baise was appointed by Gov. Thompson as assistant director of the Department of Agriculture, effective October 1. He had been superintendent of the department's marketing division since 1986. Prior to that he spent three years as an assistant to ag director Larry Werries. The Jacksonville resident, a cousin of Illinois Transportation Secy. Gregory Baise, holds a master's degree in agricultural economics. He will be paid $54,852 annually. Baise replaced Mike Williams of Pawnee, who had been assistant director since 1983. Williams accepted a senior position with United Community Bancorp of Greenfield.

Kevin Wright, Gov. Thompson's legislative liaison to the Illinois House from 1984-1987, was appointed deputy director of the Governor's Office of Legislative Affairs and liaison to the Illinois Senate on July 27. He replaced Marcia Erixson who left the post on July 22. A Springfield resident, he has held a variety of posts in the governor's office since 1980. In his new position, Wright will be paid $55,500 annually.

Barry Hickman has been appointed by Gov. Thompson as his assistant press secretary in Springfield. He replaces Vincent Petrini who has been operating Thompson's Chicago press office since September 1987. Hickman was public information officer for the Department of Revenue for two years (1986-88). Prior to that he spent four years as a reporter for WICS-TV in Springfield. Hickman's annual salary is $30,000.

The Institute for Illinois' Council of Advisors in August selected Karl J. Jacobs, president of Rock Valley College in Rockford, to serve as a member. The institute, under the direction of Egils Milbergf, is an aggregation of Illinois academic, business, civic, government and labor leaders. The advisory council works to identify opportunities, strategies and programs that will increase economic growth and competitiveness in Illinois.

The Dirksen Congressional Center's board of directors recently appointed John J. Kornacki as its new executive director. He replaced Frank H. Mackaman who left the post in September 1987 to become curator of the Gerald R. Ford Museum. Kornacki comes to the Pekin-based center from Resources for the Future, a multidisciplinary, nonprofit research and educational institute located in Washington, D.C., where he was involved in the area of food and agricultural policy. A Wisconsin native, Kornacki previously worked with Michigan's Cooperative Extension Service, and from 1981-85 he was a program associate with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

State Comptroller Roland W. Burris was reelected vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee at the party's national convention in Atlanta, Ga., in July. He is one of five national vice chairmen. His term expires in early 1989.

Richard M. Daley, Cook County state's attorney, was the unanimous choice of the 7,000-member National District Attorney's Association for president in 1989. Daley, past chairman of the group's drug control committee, reportedly will use the association's resources to combat illicit drug dealing and abuse.

October 1988 | Illinois Issues | 33

Women in Government hold elections

Illinois Women in Government, an organization that encourages women to take part in politics, recently held elections. Succeeding Sangamon County Clerk Maralee Lindley as president will be Rock Island City Clerk Margery Benson. Elected to the group's board of directors were Rep. Jane Barnes (R-38, Palos Park); Jeanne Blackman, consumer advocate for the state Department on Aging, Springfield; Sen. Joyce Holmberg (D-34, Rockford); and Alesia McMillen, Schuyler County state's attorney.

History award winners announced by ISHS

The Illinois State Historical Society (ISHS) awarded its annual Superior Achievement Awards in the spring. The awards honor professional and amateur historians for their efforts to promote Illinois history.

Receiving awards were: James R. Barrett of Champaign for his book Work and Community in the Jungle: Chicago's Packinghouse Workers, 1894-1922; Ruth and Harold Blackwell of Lake Zurich for their special project, "The One-Room School," a collection of 5,000 educational artifacts collected over the last 50 years and recently donated to Northern Illinois University at DeKalb; Larry A. McClellan of Homewood for his work on the South Suburban Cultural History Project and for his substantial contribution to Local History South of Chicago: A Guide for Research in the Southern Suburbs; the family of the late Herman R. Muelder of Galesburg for his A Hero Home from the Civil War, a collection of essays dealing with Afro-Americans returning to Galesburg at the end of the war; and Mark A. Plummer of Normal for Robert G. Ingersoll: Peoria's Pagan Politician.

Illinois' 'best science students' honored

Fifty-eight high school honor students — including six from Illinois — were selected from among their state's "best science students" for two weeks (starting July 24) of study at one of six national laboratories. The high school honors program was started three years ago by U.S. Secy. of Energy John S. Herrington. Students were selected by the states' governors.

Chosen in Illinois by Gov. Thompson were Richard P. Harmon of Granite City who studied high-temperature superconductors at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois; Jeff Jensen of Decatur who studied supercomputers at California's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Robert Narske of Rock Island who studied environmental science at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee; Denise Nelson of Montgomery who studied material and other sciences at New York's Brookhaven National Laboratory; Russell Surrat of Medina who studied light sciences at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in California; and Jason Yong of Niles who studied particle physics at Illinois' Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.

Former GOP Congressman McClory dies

Former 13th District U.S. Rep. Robert McClory died July 24 after collapsing at church. He was 80. McClory, a Republican, served one term in the Illinois House (1950-52) and 10 years in the Illinois Senate (1952-62). Elected to the U.S. House in 1962 he represented Chicago's north shore for 20 years. Although known as a conservative, McClory pushed for voting rights legislation and was a House manager of the Equal Rights Amendment. In 1974, he experienced a brief and unwanted dose of national exposure when he supported an article of impeachment against fellow Republican and then-President Richard M. Nixon.□

October 1988 | Illinois Issues | 34