CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has nominated James Dimas as the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services and Anna Hui as the Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Labor. He has also appointed the chairman of the Illinois Housing Development Authority

Name: James Dimas

Position: Secretary - Illinois Department of Human Services

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected James Dimas to become the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Dimas is an experienced leader in transforming human services departments at the state and local level, including Illinois. He was a primary architect in the consolidation of the current agency.

Dimas worked in a number of roles at IDHS including the Acting Director of Community Operations. He also led strategic planning and performance management, as well as, the welfare-to-work system. As the Acting Director of Community Operations he led one of the nation's most successful welfare-to-work initiatives by increasing the monthly job retention rate among TANF clients to 96 percent. He also decreased the TANF caseload and food stamp error rate. Dimas also led IDHS' move to performance-based budgeting and oversaw the transformation of using performance knowledge to improve program quality.

Dimas began working for the State of Illinois in 1995 on the Governor's Task Force on Human Services Reform under Governor Edgar. He led the development and marketing for the consolidation effort into the agency's current organizational structure. IDHS was consolidated into the state's largest agency in 1997 from seven previously separate health and social services agencies.

Currently, Dimas is the owner and CEO of Dimas Consulting, Inc. It provides performance management, and human services policy, programming and administration consulting services. He is one of two accountability agents appointed by a federal court to oversee major reforms of Georgia's child welfare system. He also has designed reform campaigns for the Chicago Housing Authority.

Dimas is a graduate of Knox College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in political science. He holds a master's degree from the University of Texas in public affairs. Dimas also attended Harvard University's Executive Program for government performance.

Name: Anna Hui

Position: Assistant Director - Illinois Department of Labor

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Anna Hui as the Assistant Director to the Illinois Department of Labor. She brings years of experience at the state and federal level to the position.

Hui worked for the U.S. Department of Labor from 2002-2009 as an Associate Deputy Secretary and as a special assistant to the CFO. In her role as Associate Deputy Secretary, Hui worked on outreach programs for people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and other historically underserved communities. She was also a member of the senior executive service on the management team for Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. As the special assistant to the CFO, she oversaw legislative review and proposals, the procurement process, human resource matters, accounting compliance and the CFO's activities in the Asian-Pacific American communities.

Hui is an Illinois native, and has previously worked for the State of Illinois under two governors. She worked for Governor Edgar for two years as the special assistant to the governor on Asian-American affairs. For Governor Ryan, she was a senior-member of the Washington, D.C. policy management team.

Currently, Hui is a senior adviser and policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation. She also serves as the chief of staff to former Secretary Chao. She oversees planning, preparation, research, and activities for the secretary.

Hui earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois. She holds a law degree from Loyola University of Chicago. Hui also has a master's degree in management and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Name: Joseph P. Galvan

Position: Chairman - Illinois Housing Development Authority

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Joseph P. Galvan to serve as chairman of the Illinois Housing Development Authority. He brings more than 30 years of public and private sector experience to the position.

Galvan currently serves as Principal of Galvan and Associates, LLC, which is a housing development and consulting practice located in Chicago and Washington, D.C. His prior work includes eight years at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). President George W. Bush appointed him to oversee HUD operations in the Midwest region. He was a liaison to elected officials at every level of government and oversaw a $16 billion federal budget. Under his direction, the Midwest was consistently the best performing region in the country.

Galvan's other work includes consulting with Olmeca Planning Consultants and city planning for the City of Country Club Hills, the Village of Franklin Park and the Village of Maywood.

Galvan received a bachelor's degree in economics and a graduate's degree in urban planning from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also received a graduate's degree in philosophy from Loyola University Chicago. Galvan lives in Elgin.

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Event Date: Saturday May 30^th, 2015

The Davenport Public Library's Summer Reading Program offers FREE programs for all ages all summer long! This year's Summer Reading Program runs from May 30 through August 1, and our theme is Every Hero Has a Story. Kids, teens, and adults can sign up for the Summer Reading Program at any of our three Davenport Public Library locations starting on May 30^th for a chance to win fabulous prizes, just for reading!

To get a jump start on summer, join us for our Summer Reading Program Kickoff Party on Saturday, May 30^th from 1-4 pm at the Fairmount Street Branch Library (3000 N. Fairmount Street) for tons of superhero-themed fun.  We'll be practicing smashing with our Hulk hands, planting Baby Groots, pinning the star to Captain America's shield, and more!

Local Iowa officials and activists urge Vice President Joe Biden to jump into 2016 Presidential Race

Prominent Iowa elected officials have come forward to publicly endorse the Draft Biden movement and have planned to sign onto a letter urging Vice President Joe Biden to jump into 2016 Presidential Race.

"Despite all the recent political activity and announcements regarding the presidential elections, it is exciting to see that there are people still urging Joe Biden to get into the 2016 race," said Draft Biden 2016 Executive Director Will Pierce. "Joe is busy performing his duties as the Vice President and has said publicly that he has time to make a decision. Building a base of strong support among Iowans and other key early states for a Biden candidacy will allow the Vice President to jump into the race with an infrastructure and organization already in place."

Draft Biden 2016 Executive Director Will Pierce visited Iowa last month to meet with local officials, activists, and media. As a result of the meetings, prominent Iowa elected officials have come forward to publicly endorse the Draft Biden movement and have planned to sign onto a letter urging Vice President Joe Biden to jump into 2016 Presidential Race.

Headlining the list of initial endorsers include State Senator Tony Bisignano (17th District), State Representative Jim Lykam (89th District), State Representative Mary A. Gaskill (81st District), and Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz.

Excerpts from the letter that will be sent on behalf of the elected officials urging Vice President Biden to run for the Democratic presidential ticket in 2016:

"Everything you and President Barack Obama have done for this country during the last two terms will be on the line. Will we continue the great work that has been done or let this country take a sharp turn onto the wrong path? There are so many accomplishments and yet so much left to be done."

"We also believe that we hold elections in this country, not coronations. No candidate is "inevitable;" Democratic primary voters deserve a choice. All voters deserve a choice."

"We as elected officials, organizers and leaders of the great state of Iowa, are strongly endorsing the efforts of Draft Biden 2016 and urging you to enter the 2016 Presidential Race."

Local supporter of the Draft Biden 2016 movement and Regional Field Organizer on Vice President Biden's 2008 Presidential campaign, Sharon Holle of Davenport, IA, highlighted the strong relationship the Vice President enjoys with Iowans, "Since the 2008 election, Vice President Biden has kept in touch with his 2008 campaign staff.  Each time that he comes to Iowa he makes sure that he gets to see us in person; he calls us his family."

Holle further articulated the growing anticipation for his announcement, "Now it's 2015 and another Presidential election is near. Every one of our 2008 Biden staffers continue to wait for his announcement and are anxious to open a new Biden for President office when he does. There are thousands of Iowa volunteers and counting who can't wait to get to work for Joe, he just needs to announce."

With Iowa being the first true test of a candidate's organization and support, Draft Biden will soon have Iowa staff and a field office up and running within the next month.  Draft Biden's Executive Director, Will Pierce, also attended the South Carolina Democratic Convention last month as well as the South Carolina Jefferson-Jackson dinner the night before with base-building already underway in the "First in the South" primary state.