WHAT:

Obama for America Campaign Manager Jim Messina and Press Secretary Ben LaBolt to hold conference call with Iowa reporters to give a campaign update.

WHEN:

Monday, October 31, 2011 at 10:00 AM CT/11:00 AM ET

CALL INFORMATION:

Please register for the call here and include both your name and outlet with your RSVP. Dial information will be sent after registration is received.

###
Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain continues his straw poll winning streak with victories in Alabama and South Carolina over the weekend.

Cain led the Republican field in the West Alabama straw poll with 50.7% of the votes and 24.5% of the votes in the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women convention straw poll held in Greenville, SC.

"I appreciate the support and vote of confidence from the fine individuals of Alabama and South Carolina.  Together we can win the nomination" said Cain.

The West Alabama and South Carolina straw poll wins follow Cain's successful wins of major straw polls in Florida, Illinois, Kansas City, Minnesota, and Nevada.

We will energize American jobs and national security through executive
orders and executive actions that expand energy exploration all across
America. Key components of the plan include :

Expand energy exploration offshore and on federal and private lands across
the country by executive order, creating over 1.2 million jobs

Eliminate current and proposed activist EPA regulations from the Obama
administration, saving 2.4 million jobs by 2020 and lowering projected
costs by $127 billion

Reduce, rebuild, and refocus the EPA federal regulators, returning
authority to the states

Level the playing field for all energy producers, removing Obama's
practice of picking winners and losers and ending the Obama war on coal
and natural gas production

Governor Rick Perry's plan is based on a simple premise: Make what
Americans buy. Buy what Americans make. And sell it to the world.

For the full plan please visit link below.

http://www.rickperry.org/energizing-american-jobs-html/
Ron Paul Hits the Campaign Trail in Iowa;  November 4th visit includes media, company,town hall meeting and Republican Party fundraiser
ANKENY, Iowa - The Iowa component of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign announced today that Dr. Paul will visit the Hawkeye State again for a series of events and appearances.  The visit will encompass four stops and is set to occur on Friday, November 4th.

Dr. Paul will first appear live with host Jan Mickelson on WHO Radio.  He will then hold an employee town hall meeting with workers at Nationwide/Allied Insurance, a company that employs 4,500 people in the Des Moines area and offers them the opportunity to interact with presidential candidates. 

Next, Dr. Paul will appear live on KCCI (TV) television.  He will then tape a 20-minute segment on AARP issues.  The AARP interview will be conducted by local television personality Dave Price, and includes questions on jobs, the economy, retirement security, Social Security, and Medicare.

The final event of the day is the Republican Party of Iowa's statewide autumn fundraiser, the annual Reagan Dinner, where Dr. Paul will speak and greet party faithful.

The first four events are closed to the public, and the fifth is a ticket-only fundraiser. 

Event details are as follows.  All times Central.

Friday, November 4, 2011

9:05 a.m.
Appears live w/ Jan Mickelson
WHO Radio

3:45 p.m.*
Holds employee town hall meeting
Nationwide/Allied Insurance
1200 Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50391

5:00 p.m.
Appears live on KCCI (CBS) TV

5:30 p.m.
Tapes 20-minute segment
AARP's Video Voters' Guide
2205 Ingersoll Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50312

7:00 p.m.*
Speaks and greets GOP faithful
Republican Party of Iowa Reagan Dinner
Hy-Vee Hall, 730 3rd Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

*Media are invited to cover the Nationwide/Allied event upon Dr. Paul's arrival and as he exits, but the town hall meeting itself is closed to media.  Media are encouraged to attend and cover the Reagan Dinner.

###
Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com
Ron Paul Campaign Issues Statement on Federal Debt News - U.S. debt surpasses Gross Domestic Product
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - Today, Ron Paul 2012 Campaign Manager John Tate released the following statement regarding the news that the federal debt now exceeds the Gross Domestic Product of the United States.
"For far too long, Congress and Presidents have played budgetary tricks on the American people by pretending we could trim around the edges and still afford endless expenditures on entitlements and foreign interventions.   Ron Paul's 'Plan to Restore America' confronts our debt crisis head-on by cutting $1 trillion in his first year and delivering a fully balanced budget by his third year.
"We can no longer afford politicians who play games with America's future.  As President, Ron Paul will treat the American people with the respect they deserve by being honest about our nation's situation and implementing fundamental reforms to return America to prosperity."
###
Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com
Ron Paul to Again Visit Iowa to Meet Manufacturers and Voters, NAM speech, retail stop and town hall meeting round out one-day trip
ANKENY, Iowa - The Iowa component of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign announced today that Dr. Paul will again visit Iowa.  This latest visit will occur on Tuesday, November 1st.

The visit takes place three short days after his October 29th scheduled trip to Des Moines for the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA), and his Carroll Town Hall Meeting in West Central Iowa.

On November 1st, Ron Paul will visit with members of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in south east Iowa.  U.S. loss of manufacturing dramatically affects unemployment in America and has contributed to stubborn joblessness.  Congressman Paul, in remarks reflecting the proper role of government, will share his long-term vision for how to reverse the decline in U.S. competitiveness.

Following the visit with NAM members, Dr. Paul will greet voters at Smokey Row Coffee House in Oskaloosa and hold a town hall meeting in Ottumwa.

Details of the events are as follows.  All times Central.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

10:00 a.m.
Speech
National Association of Manufactures (NAM)
Forum on Manufacturing
Vermeer Global Pavilion
2110 E. Vermeer Road
Pella, Iowa 50219

12:00 p.m.
Meet & Greet
Smokey Row Coffee House
109 S. Market Street
Oskaloosa, IA 52577

2:00 p.m.
Ottumwa Town Hall Meeting
Bridge View Center
102 Church Street
Ottumwa, IA 52501
###
Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com
Ron Paul Easily Defeats Republican Primary Competitors in Iowa Straw Poll
Garners 82 percent of total in NFRA's Iowa-only tally of GOP activists; also wins open-voter tally
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - Earlier today Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul defeated his GOP competitors, winning 82 percent of the vote in a poll of Iowa GOP activists.  Dr. Paul's nearest competitor was pizza baron Herman Cain, who garnered an unimpressive 14.7 percent of the vote.

The poll of Iowa voters took place in Des Moines as part of the National Federation of Republic Assemblies Presidential Preference Convention and Straw Poll.  The victory among Iowa voters demonstrates that Dr. Paul has substantial support among Republican Party activists in the Hawkeye State. 

"In Iowa, Ron Paul continues to engage and inspire concerned voters at town hall meetings and in other settings.  This contest, however, shows that Dr. Paul and his campaign have tremendous organization strength.  Iowa voters are ready for when the opportunity to vote for Ron Paul arises, and today they have done just that quite decisively," said Ron Paul 2012 National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton.

In addition to winning the Iowa-only tally conducted at the NFRA convention, Dr. Paul won the open-voter tally which was not restricted to voters from Iowa.  The open-voter results had Dr. Paul winning by 26 percent, followed by Cain at 25 percent, Perry and Santorum tied at 16 percent, and others with low double- and single-digit percentages.

Below find the straw poll results for the Iowa-only contest:

Ron Paul 82%.
Herman Cain 14.7%
Rick Santorum 1%
Newt Gingrich 0.9%
Michele Bachmann 0.5%
Rick Perry 0.5%
Gary Johnson 0.2%
Mitt Romney 0%
Jon Huntsman 0%
###
Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com
This week's Fox News national poll confirms presidential candidate Herman Cain's staying power with 24 percent of Republican primary voters choosing him as their first choice for the nomination.  Cain's momentum in the polls has quadrupled since late August with a jump of 18 percentage points.

"Herman Cain's solutions and ideas are not just for one segment of America but for the benefit of all Americans.  Herman's message of inclusion and his straight forward problem solving approach are attracting many supporters," said Mark Block, Chief Operating Officer for Friends of Herman Cain. 

The Fox News poll is the second major national poll to be released since last week's CNN debate showing Cain's lead of the Republican field.

2012 Republican Nomination for President
among Republican primary voters

Now

27-Sep-11

31-Aug-11

Herman Cain

24%

17%

6%

Mitt Romney

20

23

22

Newt Gingrich

12

11

3

Rick Perry

10

19

29

Ron Paul

9

6

8

Rick Santorum

3

3

4

Michele Bachmann

3

3

8

Jon Huntsman

-

4

1

Source: Fox New Poll
In Case You Missed It: Ron Paul Offers Relief for Small Business; Allows grace period for regulatory compliance
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - This week, 2012 Republican Presidential candidate, Congressman Ron Paul introduced a bill on the House Floor that would alleviate the onerous regulations the federal government imposes on small businesses, which are the backbone of the U.S. economy.

H.R. 3267, the Protect Small Business Jobs Act of 2011, would grant small businesses a six-month grace period to comply with federal regulations.

Speaking about the bill on the House floor, Congressman Paul said:

"At a time of continuing high unemployment and stagnant growth, doesn't it make sense to give small businesses a reasonable time to comply with federal regulations rather than just hitting them with job-destroying fines and legal bills?

"I hope all my colleagues will stand up for small businesses and their current and potential employees by cosponsoring the Protect Small Business Jobs Act."

The full text of H.R 3267 can be found here.

###
Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com
Ron Paul on the Campaign Trail in Iowa Yet Again
November 4th visit includes media, company town hall meeting and Republican Party fundraiser
ANKENY, Iowa - The Iowa component of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign announced today that Dr. Paul will visit the Hawkeye State yet again for a series of events.  The visit will encompass four stops and is set to occur on Friday, November 4th.

Dr. Paul will first appear live in-studio with host Jan Mickelson on WHO Radio.  He will then tape a 20-minute segment on AARP issues.  The AARP interview will be conducted by local television personality Dave Price, and includes questions on jobs, the economy, retirement security, Social Security, and Medicare.

Dr. Paul will then hold an employee town hall meeting with workers at Nationwide/Allied Insurance, a company that employs 4,500 people in the Des Moines area and offers them the opportunity to interact with presidential candidates.  The last event of the day is the Republican Party of Iowa's statewide autumn fundraiser, the annual Reagan Dinner, where Dr. Paul will speak and greet party faithful.

The first three events are closed to the public, and the fourth is a ticket-only fundraiser. 

Event details are as follows.  All times Central.

Friday, November 4, 2011

10:00 a.m.
Appears live in-studio w/ Jan Mickelson
WHO Radio
2141 Grand Ave,
Des Moines, Iowa 50312

11:15 a.m.
Tapes 20-minute segment
AARP's Video Voters' Guide
2205 Ingersoll Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50312

2:00 p.m.*
Holds employee town hall meeting
Nationwide/Allied Insurance
1100 Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50391

7:00 p.m.*
Speaks and greets GOP faithful
Republican Party of Iowa Reagan Dinner
Hy-Vee Hall, 730 3rd Street
Des Moines, Iowa 50309

*Media are invited to cover the Nationwide/Allied event upon Dr. Paul's arrival and as he exits, but the town hall meeting itself is closed to media.  Media are encouraged to attend and cover the Reagan Dinner.

###
Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com
In Case You Missed It: Ron Paul Polling Top Three in Key Early Voting States; Solid double-digit support in Iowa, New Hampshire,
and South Carolina
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - A CNN/Time poll released yesterday shows Congressman Paul polling third in the key early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Dr. Paul, whose loyal base of support is unlikely to transfer to any of his GOP competitors, polled at a strong 12 percent in all three states.

"The steady, growing support Ron Paul earns in the key early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina is a direct result of his winning message of Constitutionally-limited government, sound money, and a strong national defense," said Ron Paul 2012 National Campaign Chairman Jesse Benton.

Full poll results can be found here.

###
Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com
NAM speech, retail stop and town hall meeting round out one-day trip
ANKENY, Iowa - The Iowa component of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign announced today that Dr. Paul will again visit Iowa.  This latest visit will occur on Tuesday, November 1st.

The visit takes place three short days after his October 29th scheduled trip to Des Moines for the National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA), and his Carroll Town Hall Meeting in West Central Iowa.

On November 1st, Ron Paul will visit with members of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in south east Iowa.  U.S. loss of manufacturing dramatically affects unemployment in America and has contributed to stubborn joblessness.  Congressman Paul, in remarks reflecting the proper role of government, will share his long-term vision for how to reverse the decline in U.S. competitiveness.

Following the visit with NAM members, Dr. Paul will greet voters at Smokey Row Coffee House in Oskaloosa and hold a town hall meeting in Ottumwa.

Details of the events are as follows.  All times Central.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

10:00 a.m.
Speech
National Association of Manufactures (NAM)
Forum on Manufacturing
Vermeer Global Pavilion
2110 E. Vermeer Road
Pella, Iowa 50219

12:00 p.m.
Meet & Greet
Smokey Row Coffee House
109 S. Market Street
Oskaloosa, IA 52577

2:00 p.m.
Ottumwa Town Hall Meeting
Bridge View Center
102 Church Street
Ottumwa, IA 52501
###
From recent Quad-City Times commentary - 'Independents MIA in Iowa Q-C,' there seems to be some confusion as to what SuperLiberty is. Started in December 2008 as a local, non-partisan, Liberty alliance, we promote all groups who support liberty.

We favor no party over another. We are neither Republican nor Democrat, Right nor Left, Conservative nor Liberal. In fact the American two-party monopoly perpetuates a false issue-based division amongst the people and helps to prevent us from uniting under the common cause of personal Liberty.

Our group acts first and foremost to unite all local, state and national Liberty-minded groups on the local level where effective change can take place. We provide our website as a tool for any organizers who wish to keep in touch with their members in the Quad-City area. We have a start-up kit available to anyone who wishes to organize a similar alliance. Secondly, SuperLiberty acts as an educational and political force to mold our local governments into Liberty-protecting forces as they originally were intended and as the law requires.

I helped start the local tea party, but I am also an ACLU member and support the Occupy movement. It can seem confusing, since we don't identify ourselves by party, but rather by issues and principles.
We find the commonality of various factions in order to create positive change for the future of our society. We are opposed to legalized plunder of people's property which is where we come at odds with folks like Mayor Gluba (witness his Communist-inspired rant at the Occupy event: "We need to redistribute wealth" and "...if the private sector can't provide jobs, the public sector should.") When we helped defeat Davenport Promise, he called us "Cultist libertarian nutcases." video link we made is here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyyaWAari-U

Our core members also started Iowans for Accountability - the first Non-Party Politcal Organization in the history of Scott County. We promote the ideals of the Fully Informed Jury Association (seen us at the Courthouse?)

If you believe in personal Liberty - the ability to exercise your natural rights originating from our creator - join us at www.SuperLiberty.com/

For Liberty,
Michael D. Elliott
Davenport, IA
The most recent CBS/New York Times poll confirms Cain's steady rise with 25 percent of Republican primary voters selecting him as their first choice for the nomination, a jump of 20 percentage points from five weeks ago.

"I am delighted with the new poll numbers.  It is a clear indication that the message I have been sharing is resonating with the American people and they believe I can beat President Obama," said Cain after surging to the front.

The CBS/NYT poll is the first national poll to be released since last week's CNN debate.

Cain continued, "According to political 'experts' I am just a 'flavor of the week' and should have faded away by now.  The American people are the real experts.  They understand that it takes real solutions to move this country forward - not Washington promises."
Ann Schneider Continues Leadership at IDOT;  John Holton Appointed Aging Director

CHICAGO - October 24, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced two top appointments to his executive cabinet. Today's actions are the latest in a series of appointments Governor Quinn will make as he continues to fulfill his commitment to creating jobs, fostering economic development, and increasing efficiency and accountability in all areas of state government.

Effective immediately, Governor Quinn named Ann Schneider as secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and John Holton as director of the Illinois Department on Aging. The Governor also appointed two acting directors and one interim director: Jim Larkin as acting director of the Department of Agriculture, Andrew Stolfi as acting director of the Illinois Department of Insurance and John Kim as interim director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

"Effective government requires leadership by talented and motivated public servants, and I am pleased to announce these qualified individuals to lead critical state agencies," Governor Quinn said. "These strong directors will serve the people of Illinois well with their skills and commitment to improving state programs and services."

Directors

Ann L. Schneider has served as acting secretary of IDOT since July 2011. Prior to her appointment, Schneider served as IDOT's chief of operations, responsible for managing and overseeing the department's six offices and four divisions. Schneider also spent five years as director and chief financial officer for IDOT's Office of Finance and Administration. Before joining IDOT, Schneider was the chief fiscal officer for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and in the Governor's Office of Management and Budget. Schneider has a bachelor's degree from Augustana College and a master's degree in public administration from Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois-Springfield).

John Holton will apply his expertise in community and human development to Illinois' unprecedented increase in its older adult population. Holton served from 2007 through 2010 as associate director of the Division of Mental Health at the Illinois Department of Human Services. Previously, he served as site director for the Harvard University School of Public Health's Project on Human Development in Chicago's Neighborhoods, and is a member of the American Public Health Association. Holton's experience addressing domestic violence and other issues impacting older adults and their families will strengthen the department's efforts to help older adults live with comfort and dignity. He holds a Ph.D. in human development from Pennsylvania State University, as well as a master's in urban education from the University of Hartford and a B.A. from Howard University.

Governor Quinn Makes Executive Appointments

 

Fills Terms at Gaming Board, Racing Board, Pollution Control Board, Tollway and More

CHICAGO - October 24, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today made a number of appointments to the state's more than 320 boards and commissions. In addition to university boards, the Governor's actions include filling positions on the state Gaming Board, the Illinois Racing Board, the Pollution Control Board, the Toll Highway Authority and several more.

"I'm pleased to announce a set of talented, qualified individuals who will bring new skills and new energy to our boards and commissions," Governor Quinn said. "After inheriting a backlog of more than 1,000 vacant and expired terms from the previous administration, we continue to make progress in appointing dedicated public servants while continuing to pursue opportunities for boards and commissions reform."

Of Illinois' more than 320 boards and commissions, 23 are compensated: six of which are full-time, paid positions while the remaining 14 are part-time or per diem. The remaining more than 290 boards are unpaid, volunteer boards. Board salaries are set by Illinois statute. Governor Quinn is currently conducting a top-to-bottom review of Illinois' boards and commissions to seek out ways to increase efficiency and save costs. While protecting essential boards in place that are greatly needed, potential future actions may include reducing board size and/or salary, and merging or eliminating some boards.

Today Governor Quinn made appointments to the state's Gaming Board who bring extensive backgrounds and expertise in oversight, regulation, law enforcement and finance to further strengthen the board's ability to keep Illinois' gaming industry scandal-free. Aaron Jaffe, who has chaired the board since 2005, was reappointed to head the board. Under Jaffe's leadership, the board has increased openness and transparency in the gaming industry, notably revoking the 10th casino gaming license in order to rebid the license through a fair and open process. Jaffe has consistently led efforts to hold entities that violate gaming regulations accountable.

Also appointed to the Illinois Gaming Board was Zaldwaynaka Scott, who was Illinois' first executive inspector general. Scott, who holds degrees from Indiana University and UIUC, also served as a criminal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago before joining the private sector as a licensed attorney. Maribeth Vander Weele is a certified Illinois inspector general with a strong financial and oversight background that includes service on the audit committee for Chicago Public Schools and experience in investigative services to the public and private sectors. Also appointed to the Gaming Board was Lee Gould, an attorney with more than 30 years of experience as an auditor and accountant. Gould specializes in forensic accounting investigations, locating unreported or hidden assets and identifying misappropriations. Mike Holewinski, who received degrees from both John Marshall Law School and the University of Illinois at Chicago, is a former Illinois State Representative and now serves as the president of Ace Industries.

Additionally, Governor Quinn made appointments to the state's Racing Board, whose members represent a set of diverse perspectives that will improve the board's ability to effectively oversee horse racing in Illinois. Their combined legal expertise, rural economic development and law enforcement experience will help strengthen the board's oversight. Benjamin Reyes graduated from UIUC, is currently the president of DSR Group, Inc. and has public and private sector experience with construction and program management. William Berry, an attorney who resides in downstate Collinsville, is a former board member of Southwestern Illinois Tourism Bureau and graduate of Millikin University and Washington University Law School.

Governor Quinn also appointed Kathy Byrne, an attorney who owns race horses based out of state. She is a graduate of Saint Mary's College of Notre Dame and the Loyola University School of Law. Patricia Beauvais is a horse breeder who has served on the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation. She also holds an Illinois Horse Racing License. Roger Whalen of Chicago is a retired Chicago Police Department captain, where he was commanding officer of the citywide gambling unit and supervisor in the organized crime division. For the past 35 years, he has also been in charge of off-duty police officers and security for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Governor Quinn announced five new appointments to the Illinois Toll Highway Authority. The new members will bring the important legal, construction and financial expertise that is essential for the Tollway's continued and anticipated growth. Mark Peterson, president of Bridgeview Bank, a former member of the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board and director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, handled transportation matters for former Governor Jim Edgar. Jim Sweeney is president and business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, the state's largest trade union. His technical expertise in construction projects landed him on the Tollway's Strategic Advisory Team in 2010 to assist with its comprehensive capital plan.

Governor Quinn also appointed Mayor David Gonzalez of Chicago Heights who will serve as a strong voice for the south suburbs, an area expected to experience significant growth. Gonzales also owns his own accounting firm. Attorney Jeffrey Redick has served on the DuPage County Board since 2006, where he is chairman of the environmental committee and vice-chairman of the development committee. Terrence D'Arcy is a former chairman of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and the current president of D'Arcy Buick and GMC in Joliet.

Governor Quinn also named William Morris to the Illinois Liquor Control Commission. Morris, a former mayor of Waukegan who was appointed by Governor Quinn to the Toll Highway Authority, will replace Chuck Scholz, the former mayor of Quincy.

In addition, Governor Quinn named Tom Holbrook to head the Pollution Control Board (PCB). Holbrook previously served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives since 1995, where he represented the state's 113th District and focused on environmental and regulatory issues. As chairman of the House Environment & Energy Committee and vice chair of the Registration and Regulation Committee, Holbrook was heavily involved in crafting most of Illinois' environmental legislation for the past decade.

Governor Quinn also named Deanna Glosser to the board. Glosser has a doctorate in urban and regional planning from UIUC and is currently a natural resources planning specialist at Purdue University.

In addition, Governor Quinn appointed Tanner Girard of Chicago as the Executive Director of the Pollution Control Board. He has served on the Pollution Control Board since 1992, filling in as acting chairman in 2005, where he played a key role in shaping environmental rules and regulations in Illinois. Girard received a bachelor's degree in biology from Principia College, a master's degree in biological sciences from the University of Central Florida and a Ph.D. in science education from Florida State University.

As a result of Governor Quinn's unprecedented efforts to make the executive appointment process more accessible and transparent, citizens who are interested in serving on boards and commissions can now apply online. The Governor also signed legislation this summer to reform the appointment process and supports many of the reforms recommended in September by Auditor General William Holland.

For more information on all of the state's boards and commissions, please visit Appointments.Illinois.gov.

Full List of Appointments

Civil Service Commission:

Susan Krey of Des Plaines has been a trustee for Maine Township since 2007 and worked as a real estate broker for 22 years. She holds a degree from Northeastern Illinois University and is a member of the Illinois Library Association.

Chris Kolker of Fairview Heights has served as chairman of the Illinois Civil Service Commission since 2004. He is a private practice attorney and graduated magna cum laude from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, where he served as Law Journal editor.

Garrett Fitzgerald of Chicago is the executive director of the Northcenter Chamber of Commerce.

Education Labor Relations Board:

Michael Prueter of Lisle has served on the IELRB since 2000. He holds a B.A. and an M.B.A. in business administration from Columbia State University.

Employment Security Board of Review:

William McClusky of Harrisburg is a former Saline County Clerk and Recorder. He previously served as president of the Progressive Mine Workers of America Union and is a Veteran of the United States Navy.

William Nolan of Chicago has served on the ESBR since 1998 and spent more than 40 years as a police officer for the City of Chicago. He is also an active member of the Chicago Metropolitan Easter Seal Society.

Executive Ethics Commission:

Gil Soffer of Chicago was appointed to the Executive Ethics Commission by Governor Quinn in 2009. He is a former associate deputy attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice and previously worked in the Chicago U.S. Attorney's Office. He holds a degree from Brown University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

 

Illinois Gaming Board:

Judge Aaron Jaffe of Evanston has served as chairman of the Illinois Gaming Board since 2005. Under Jaffe's leadership, the board has increased openness and transparency in the gaming industry, most notably revoking the 10th casino gaming license in order to rebid the license through a fair and open process. Jaffe has consistently led efforts to hold entities that violate gaming regulations accountable. He sat on the Circuit Court of Cook County for 30 years and served 14 years in the Illinois House of Representatives.

Maribeth Vander Weele of Chicago is the owner and founder of the Vander Weele Group, which provides investigative, security and integrity program services to the public and private sectors. She is also a certified Illinois inspector general with a strong financial and oversight background that includes service on the audit committee for Chicago Public Schools.

Lee Gould of Chicago has more than 30 years of experience as an accountant, auditor and tax preparer. Gould specializes in forensic accounting investigations, locating unreported or hidden assets and identifying misappropriations. Gould holds a degree in accounting from UIUC and a J.D. from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law.

Michael Holewinski of Chicago is the president of Ace Industries and is a former Illinois state representative. He sits on the board of directors for the Illinois Manufacturer's Association and previously chaired the Chicago Mayor's Task Force on Youth Crime Prevention. He holds a J.D. from the John Marshall Law School.

Z (Zaldwaynaka) Scott of Chicago was Illinois' first executive inspector general and previously worked as a criminal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago. She is currently a partner at Kaye Scholer and a commissioner for the Chicago Housing Authority.

International Port District Board:

Dean Maragos has served on the Illinois International Port District Board since 2007. He was previously the assistant director for the City of Chicago Department of Revenue and served in the Legal Division of the Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. He holds a J.D. from the Northern Illinois University College of Law.

Victor Crivello has 30 years of experience in air, water and land regulatory compliance and management for government and private industry. He holds a master's in Public Administration from Roosevelt University and was a Captain in the United States Army reserves.

Labor Relations Board:

Paul Besson of Chicago previously worked for more than 20 years at General Electric Company, rising to the position of global vice-president of human resources. He also served as senior vice president and chief administrative officer at American Commercial Lines. He holds an M.B.A from Cornell University and a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law.

James Brennwald of Chicago has been a labor lawyer for 24 years, and represented both management and union clients before the ILRB and the NLRB in numerous collective bargaining negotiations and labor arbitrations. He was formerly an attorney for the city of Chicago and was the city's chief labor negotiator.

Michael Coli of Chicago has served on the LRB since 2006. Prior to his appointment, he was president of Teamsters Local #727 for 20 years, and was involved in all aspects of contact negotiations, labor changes and grievance proceedings.

Illinois Liquor Control Commission:

Bill Morris of Grayslake was appointed to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority by Governor Quinn in 2009. He was formerly mayor of the city of Waukegan, where he also served as city liquor commissioner and Illinois state senator, representing the 31st District. He earned a master's degree in public administration from Webster University.

Mid-America Intermodal Authority Port District Board:

Charles Hood of Frederick retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after 45 years as lockmaster at the LaGrange Lock and Dam.

Henry Brownback of Ashland is a founding director of the Port District Board and been vice president of Southwestern Illinois College since 1974.

 

Mining Board:

 

David Webb of Raymond has served on the Mining Board since 2003. He has worked and been a manager in the coal mining industry for more than 30 years in nine different mines. He holds a degree in mining engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla.

Don Stewart of Gillespie has served on the Mining Board since 2005. He has worked in the coal mining industry for 31 years and previously served on the Illinois Miners Examining Board from 2003-2006. He has also been the local president of the United Mine Workers in Gillespie since 1999.

Fred Frederking of Coulterville previously served on the Mining Board from 2007 to 2009 and retired after 32 years in the Illinois coal industry. He has also been a member of the Randolph County Farm Bureau for more than 53 years.

George Teegarden of Harrisburg has been a member of the Mining Board since 2003 and is a dozer operator in Equality, Illinois. He is a certified surface mine supervisor and has more than 40 years of experience in the coal industry.

Jerry Cross of Marissa has been a member of the Mining Board since 2003 and has worked in the coal industry for more than 30 years. He was a representative for the United Mine Workers in Benton, Illinois for more than 20 years.

Tim Kirkpatrick of Johnston City was appointed to the Mining Board by Governor Quinn in 2010. He has 35 years of experience in the coal industry and is a certified mine examiner, mine manager and E.M.T.

 

Pollution Control Board 

 

Deanna Glosser is the president of Environment Planning Solutions in Riverton and a natural resources planning specialist at Purdue University. She previously spent 13 years as a manager for the Illinois Department of National Resources. She holds an anthropology degree from Illinois State University and a Ph.D in environmental planning from UIUC's Department of Urban Regional Planning.

 

Tom Johnson of Urbana has served on the Pollution Control Board since 2001. He was a special assistant in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and a special prosecutor in the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State.  He previously served on the Champaign County Board from 1994-1998. He holds a J.D. from Northern Illinois University.

Tom Holbrook of Belleville represented the 113th District in the Illinois House of Representatives since 1995, where he served as chair of the Environment and Energy Committee and was heavily involved in crafting most of Illinois' environmental legislation for the past decade. Holbrook worked in the private sector for more than 15 years, and helped develop state of the art instrumentation that is used for monitoring emissions and quality control.

 

Prisoner Review Board 

 

Charles Bowers of Edwards has served on the Prisoner Review board since 2006. He is a former officer in the Peoria police department where he earned a polygraph examination license. He is a Veteran of the U.S. Army Reserves, where he served from 1966 to 1972.

Edith Crigler of Chicago is the president of the Chicago Jobs Council's Board of Directors and sits on the City Wide Restorative Justice committee. She holds a master's degree in Administration and Social Policy from the University of Chicago and teaches in the criminal justice department at Chicago State University. She was appointed by Governor Quinn to the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission in 2010.

Eric Althoff of Effingham has served on the Prisoner Review Board since 2004. He spent more than 20 years as the Effingham County coroner and a volunteer firefighter. He holds an associate's degree in law enforcement from Lake Land College.

Property Tax Appeal Board:

Jim Bilotta of Lockport has served on the Will County Board since 2002. He has also served on the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and the Zoning Board for the village of Bellwood. He is a certified residential appraiser and operates his own appraisal business.

Illinois Racing Board 

 

Benjamin Reyes of Chicago is president of DSR Group, where he oversees over $100 million in retail in residential development projects. He is a former executive director of the Public Building Commission of Chicago and chief operating officer for the Chicago Public Schools.

William Berry of Collinsville is an attorney and former board member for the Southwestern Illinois Tourism Bureau. He holds a J.D. from the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and has been admitted to the bar for the United States Supreme Court.

Kathy Byrne of Chicago is an attorney and racehorse owner. She is a graduate of Saint Mary's College of Notre Dame and the Loyola University School of Law.

Patricia Beauvais of Des Plaines is a former horse breeder and prior to her appointment, served on the Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation. She also holds an Illinois Horse Racing License. She served as an alderman for the city of Des Plaines from 1993-2007.

Roger Whalen of Chicago retired as a captain in the Chicago Police Department following 40 years of service, where he was commanding officer of the citywide gambling unit and supervisor in the organized crime division. For the past 35 years, he has also been in charge of off-duty police officers and security for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

 

Illinois State Police Merit Board:

A. George Pradel has served as the mayor of Naperville since 1995. Prior to his election, he spent 29 years as an officer with the Naperville Police Department, achieving the rank of lieutenant. He previously sat on the board for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

Illinois State Toll Highway Authority:

Carl Towns of Rockford has served on the board of for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority since 2002. He spent more than 38 years in human resource management at Ingersoll Mining Machine Co. and Chrysler in Belvidere and is a member of numerous Rockford-area community organizations.

David Gonzalez of Chicago Heights is a named partner of Gonzalez and Associates Accounting. He previously served as the superintendent and chief financial officer for the Chicago Heights Park District and as police and fire commissioner for the city of Chicago Heights.

James Banks of Chicago is an attorney concentrating in zoning and land use, and has served on the Toll Highway Authority since 1993, where he is chairman of the audit committee. He holds a J.D. from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Law.

James Sweeney of Chicago was appointed to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's strategic advisory team in 2010, where he assisted with the agency's comprehensive capital plan. He is vice president of the International Union of Operating Engineers and president of Local #150 in Countryside.

Jeffrey Redick of Elmhurst has served on the DuPage County Board since 2006, where he is chairman of the environmental committee and vice-chairman of the development committee. He holds a J.D. from the Drake University School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Eastern Illinois University.

Mark Peterson of Lincolnshire is a former member of the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board and is president of Bridgeview Bank. He is a former director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority and handled transportation matters for former Governor Jim Edgar He holds a degree from the University of South Florida.

Terrence D'Arcy of Shorewood is a former chairman of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and served as chairman of the Chicago Auto Show in 2007. He is a founder and board member of Joliet Community Bank and president of D'Arcy Buick and GMC in Joliet.

Tom Weisner is the mayor of the city of Aurora and was appointed to the Toll Highway Authority in 2009 by Governor Quinn. He is president of the Metro West Council of Government and founding chairman of the Northwest Water Planning Alliance.

 

Inspectors General:

 

Denise Kane (DCFS) of Chicago has served as inspector general for the Department of Children and Family Services since 2003. She previously worked in the Public Guardian's Office of Cook County, Juvenile Division and was a juvenile court probation officer.  She holds a Ph.D. in social service administration from the University of Chicago.

 

Bradley Hart (HFS) of Hillsboro is the deputy bureau chief of Medicaid fraud and nursing home abuse/neglect in the Office of the Illinois Attorney General and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney-Central District. He graduated cum laude from the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale School of Law.

William Davis (DHS) of Palos Hills has served as inspector general for the Department of Human Services since 2006. He previously spent 25 years in the Illinois State Police, where he rose to the rank of commander.  He is a Veteran of the 173rd Airborne Brigade of the United States Army, where he served in South Vietnam from 1963-1966.

Chicago State University:

Adam Stanley of Chicago is global chief technology officer with AON Corporation and former senior vice-president of business transformation and technology for LaSalle Bank. He holds degrees in finance and international business from Washington University in St. Louis and received his master's in business administration in strategic management and management of electronic commerce at the Wharton School in Philadelphia.

James T. Joyce of Chicago was appointed Chicago Fire Commissioner following 34 years of service to the CFD. He graduated from Chicago State University and holds a master's degree in public administration from Governor's State University. He is a Veteran of the U.S. Army.

Anthony Young of Chicago is a former Cook County Circuit Court judge and represented the 17th District in the Illinois House for seven years. He is Veteran of the United State Air Force and earned a M.B.A. from Golden Gate University and a J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law.

 

Eastern Illinois University:

William Dano III of Oswego has more than 20 years of business experience in sales management for Extreme Networks, Avaya, Fujitsu, Lucent Technologies and AT&T. He holds a degree in business administration from Aurora University.

Joseph Dively of Charleston is the president of First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust and is a former chairman of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. He holds a degree from EIU and is a past president of the university alumni association.

Robert Webb of Mattoon was appointed chairman of the Eastern Illinois University Board of Trustees by Governor Quinn in 2011. He has been a teacher, principal, district superintendent and community college president. He holds a doctorate in education from UIUC.

Rene Hutchinson of Chicago is a member of the Eastern Illinois University Board of Directors. She graduated with a degree in business and management from EIU and has worked at Allstate Insurance Company in Northbrook for almost 30 years.

Roger Kratochvil of Mt. Olive was a teacher and principal at Mt. Olive High School for 34 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in education from EIU and master's degrees in educational administration and secondary education from Sangamon State University (now UIS) and Southern Illinois University, respectively. He was inducted into the EIU Hall of Fame in 1998.

 

Kenneth Goetz of Elmhurst has been an attorney for more than 20 years and has served on the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Commission for more than 15 years. He holds a J.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology's Chicago Kent School of Law.

Governor's State University:

Brian Mitchell of Flossmoor is the administrator of the village of Matteson. He was previously a manager for the Cook County Bureau of Human Resources and program director for PSI Services. He holds a master's degree from the Spertus College of Jewish Studies and a bachelor's degree in sociology from Northern Illinois University

Eileen Durkin of Chicago has been president and chief executive officer of Neumann Family Services since 2000. She was previously executive director of the Howard Brown Health Center. She was appointed by Governor Quinn to the Illinois Human Services Commission in 2009 and serves on numerous state and city boards. She holds a M.B.A. from Loyola University in Chicago.

Jack Beaupre of Bourbonnais has served on the board for Governor's State University since 2000. He is a former Illinois House Representative and was a special assistant attorney general from 1977-1987. He was also a nominee to the 1960 Illinois constitutional convention and a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1958 to 1968.

 

Illinois State University:

Rocco Donahue of Tinley Park has over 30 years of experience at Pace, where he rose from an analyst to director of government affairs, and to his current position as deputy executive director for external relations. He holds a master's degree in public administration from Roosevelt University and earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Illinois State University.

Northeastern Illinois University:

Carlos Azcoitia of Chicago is assistant professor of educational leadership at National-Louis University and previously served as an administrator at numerous educational institutions, including as assistant superintendent of the Chicago Public Schools. He is a frequently-published author and holds a doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University.

Barbara Fumo of River Forest is a former middle school teacher and was assistant principal of Hanson Park School for 13 years. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Northeastern University.

Jin Lee of Des Plaines is the director of business planning for the Albany Park Community Center. He sits on the Illinois Secretary of State's Asian Advisory Council and the city of Chicago's Human Relations Council. He holds a degree from UIUC.

Omar Duque of Chicago has served on the Northeastern University Board of Trustees since 2007 and is the president and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

 

Bob Biggins of Wheaton represented the 78th District in the Illinois House for 18 years. He previously served on the board of directors for the Suburban Bank of Elmhurst and worked as a property tax consultant for 20 years. He is a former public school teacher and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from Northeastern University.

Western Illinois University:

Donald Griffin of Macomb was a professor and director at the Institute for Regional and Community Studies at WIU from 1971 to 1993. He was a former military instructor for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. He received a Ph.D. in Geography from Clark University.

Lyneir R. Cole of Chicago graduated from WIU with a degree in law enforcement administration and is president of the Western Illinois University Black Alumni Association and a member of the WIU Alumni Council.

William L. Epperly of Chicago has served on the WIU board of trustees since 2004 and was chairman from 2006-2008. He is the owner and president of Stoneage Marketing and the recipient of the WIU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2002.

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