Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday named a local CEO to head up the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and outlined a series of reforms for the often-maligned organization.
John Mitola, chief executive officer of Electric City Corp., an Elk Grove Village-based developer of energy saving technologies, becomes the toll authority's new chairman on May 1, replacing Art Philip whose term expires then. Mr. Mitola, 38, will not collect a salary or receive benefits as chairman.
The governor also named four other board members to serve four-year terms at the agency: David Andalcio, 42, CEO and president of Interface Computer Communications Inc.; Frank Clark, 57, president of Commonwealth Edison Co.; Donald Gasparini, 60, retired Winnebago County sheriff; and Naperville Mayor A. George Pradel, 65.
Mr. Pradel is the only member with previous experience on the board. He was appointed in October 2001 to fill a term that expires April 30.
The four new board members also will take on their new responsibilities without pay. Previously, the board chair collected benefits and an annual salary of $31,901, while board members were paid $27,788, plus benefits.
"We have been able to find five highly qualified, dedicated individuals who are committed to serving in this important position without any compensation," Mr. Blagojevich said in a statement.
The toll highway authority has been the object of much criticism for its wasteful spending and poor management. Last year, a state audit found that the agency failed to deposit millions of dollars in a timely manner in 2001, resulting in the loss of valuable interest payments. The report, issued by Illinois Auditor General William Holland, added fuel to concerns that the toll authority needs to be reined in (Crain's, July 8, 2002).
During his gubernatorial campaign, Mr. Blagojevich vowed to increase accountability and to scrutinize day-to-day operations at the agency. In addition to the board appointments, the governor also announced today the creation of an independent inspector general's office to "investigate allegations of waste, fraud and mismanagement" at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.
The governor said reform of the agency is "long overdue" and "with these new authority members, an inspector general and a new management team in place we intend to quickly make up for lost time."
Mr. Blagojevich also reiterated a plan to sell the toll highway authority's Downers Grove-based headquarters as a way to ease the state's massive $5.2-billion deficit. He also mentioned plans for a $94-million reconstruction of the tollway's seven oases -- at no cost to users -- an evaluation of the agency's vehicle fleet and usage and a review of all major service contracts now in place.
"The initiatives I have outlined and begun to put in place will make the toll authority more open and accountable and will improve services to customers," Mr. Blagojevich said.
Mr. Mitola was not available to comment on his appointment or the governor's planned reforms. Electric City, which posted 2002 revenues of $11.8 million, referred all calls to the toll highway authority.
The world-champion Chicago Bulls, having just clinched a playoff berth the night before, were back on their Deerfield practice court Wednesday making those moves their fans love most: signing autographs, posing for pictures and just taking time to say hello.
And one that's well-appreciated. This year, the $150-per-ticket FestaBulls '94 attracted nearly 500 devotees and raised about $140,000 for the team's charity arm, the CharitaBulls.
"This is our No. 1 fundraiser of the year, a chance for fans to mingle, have dinner and bid on valuable sports memorabilia," said Steve Schanwald, the Bulls' vice president of marketing and broadcasting and the CharitaBulls' president.
"It also gives fans a chance to see our (Sheri L. Berto) center. This is where the players hang out during the season," Schanwald said.
"Bottom line, it's a fun event that raises money for a good cause," said Sara Kalstone Salzman, the Bulls' director of community services.
"This allows us to turn around and give to other worthy charities in Chicago," she said, including the Illinois Special Olympics, Off the Street Club and the Little City Foundation.
Among the more than 100 items on the block: autographed basketballs from 24 NBA teams, along with nets, uniforms and shoes.
"Actually it's the only auction in the country where you can get a Bulls game-worn uniform," Salzman said. "That's the big thing, game-worn."
Steve Berg, though, couldn't have cared less. The Michael Jordan-anything collector from Chicago wanted No. 23's autographed jersey, with or without a locker-room aroma.
Having the highest bid ($1,750) with less than an hour to go before the silent auction closed, Berg looked anxious but sounded hopeful.
"If it goes for less than $2,000, I'll probably take it home," he said. "Last year, one went for $8,250. So this is a steal.
"He's the greatest basketball player of all time. Ten or 20 years from now, he'll still be the greatest player ever known. That's why I want it."
Asked if he also wanted the perhaps less-than-revered Jordan-autographed baseball, Berg shook his head, saying, "Heck, no. I already have four."
Gordon Hayward's destination was supposed to be Purdue. His apparent destiny was tennis. But his love was basketball.
For Butler, locating an overlooked basketball player who experienced a sudden growth spurt late in his high school career worked out pretty well.
Hayward, a 6-foot-9 guard/forward, is delivering on his promise. Last season he was named Horizon League newcomer of the year and became the first Butler freshman to record 400 points and 200 rebounds. Now he's known well beyond the Horizon League, where the Bulldogs (16-4, 9-0) sit in first place.
He helped Butler tear through Chicago the last few days, scoring 25 points Saturday in an 84-55 victory over Illinois-Chicago (5-14, 1-8) on the heels of tallying 12 points Thursday in a 48-47 victory at Loyola.
"He doesn't get consumed with anything but what's important in the game," Butler coach Brad Stevens said. "He doesn't have to score for us to be successful. His aggression and assertiveness has been huge for us."
UIC was outscored 47-29 in the second half Saturday and is struggling to find its way out of the bottom of the league and to snap a six-game losing streak.
"Not only will they beat a lot of people, but we're going to lose to a lot of people," UIC coach Jimmy Collins said. "It is what it is."
Hayward's versatility is certainly a bonus for Butler. He connected on two 3-pointers against UIC, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots while shooting 10 of 16. He leads the Bulldogs with 15.6 points and 8.2 rebounds per game and connects on 46.3 percent of his field-goal attempts.
"It's been different," Hayward said of the boost in attention he's receiving. "Honestly, I'm not even worried about that stuff."
Hayward excelled in basketball and tennis as a high school senior, winning the Indiana 4A state tournament in basketball and losing in the state tournament in tennis.
He chose to sit out his final AAU basketball season to concentrate on tennis, in which he participated with his twin sister, Heather, who plays on the Butler tennis team. She was his training partner growing up, and now they're each other's cheerleaders.
Despite being chosen to the Indiana all-star team in basketball, Hayward was lightly recruited by Purdue and Northwestern, but Butler was on him from the start.
Growing up in Brownsburg, Ind., his Purdue-graduate parents "kind of brainwashed" him into being a Boilermakers fan, he said laughing.
"I grew up playing all sports, and I just loved to compete," he said. "I played a lot of tennis, but basketball was my first love."
Last season as a freshman, after the Bulldogs lost all but one starter, Hayward helped guide them to the NCAA tournament. It seems like a logical conclusion that Butler will be back and advance farther than the first round, which they exited last season with a loss to LSU.
Jacob Vandenberg gets sworn in as Tinley Park's Village President. Monday, May 1st, 2017, in Tinley Park.
Jacob Vandenberg said it is the "beginning of a new chapter and bright future" in Tinley Park after taking the oath of office Monday as the village's new mayor.
He encouraged residents to "stay engaged, join a (village) commission and continue to ask questions" of village government, calling citizen involvement an "unbelievable tool in the advancement of this town."
The ceremony at the Tinley Park Convention Center also included the swearing-in of Clerk Kristin Thirion and Trustees Cynthia Berg, William Brady and Michael Glotz, who were elected with Vandenberg on the Concerned Citizens for Tinley Park ticket.
"Our work begins now," he told the rest of the board after all had taken the oath of office, administered by Cook County Circuit Court Judge Brian Flaherty.
Jacob Vandenberg gives a speech after being sworn in as Tinley Park's Village President. Monday, May 1st, 2017, in Tinley Park.
Vandenberg's youngest son, Logan, who turns two in July, softly said "Daddy!" as his father stood to take his oath, then Vandenberg flashed a thumbs-up with his right hand to the crowd after being sworn in.
Afterward, Vandenberg said his initial priority was to "get everybody on the (village) board comfortable and acclimated to village business."
Official vote totals from the Cook County clerk show Vandenberg garnering 61 compared with 39 percent for Dave Seaman, a veteran village trustee appointed in 2015 to serve out the remainder of Ed Zabrocki's term after the longtime mayor stepped down due to health reasons.
Of the 41,570 registered voters in Tinley Park, 22.3 percent cast ballots in the recent election, according to the clerk's office.
Vandenberg, 32, is chief executive officer at Vandenberg Funeral Home, which has locations in Tinley Park and Mokena. He and his wife, Carrie, have two sons, Oliver and Logan.
Tinley Park Village President Jacob Vandenberg holds his 2 year old son Logan after the Tinley Park Inauguration Ceremony. Monday, May 1st, 2017, in Tinley Park.
Thirion, a teacher at Reavis High School in Burbank, received 60 percent of the vote for village clerk compared with 40 percent for Clerk Pat Rea, who has held elected office in the village since 1972.
Berg is a nurse at Bloom Trail High School in Chicago Heights, Brady a retired business owner and Glotz a union steward with Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.
Berg and Brady each received just under 20 percent of the votes cast for trustee, while Glotz received just under 19 percent, according to the certified results.
Running with Seaman and Rea on the Tinley First ticket were Trustee Kevin Suggs and trustee candidates Jeff Ficaro, a banking executive, and Mark Moylan, an insurance agent in the village and a member of the Tinley Park Plan Commission.
Moylan received 13 percent of the vote compared with just under 12 percent for Ficaro and a bit more than 11 percent for Suggs, according to official election results.
Vandenberg previously served as an Orland Township trustee from 2009 until his election two years ago as a village trustee. Elected with him on the Concerned Party ticket in 2015 were Michael Pannitto and Brian Younker. Pannitto and Younker had served 10 years as board members for the Tinley Park-Park District, with Younker holding the position of the board president, before being elected village trustees.
In the 2015 election, the three defeated the Zabrocki-backed incumbent trustees Greg Hannon, Patricia Leoni and Tom Staunton.
Not seeking re-election on April 4 were trustees T.J. Grady and Brian Maher. Maher, an attorney, completed his fifth term on the board, and Grady, a former longtime Tinley Park police officer, had been a trustee since 2010.
Vandenberg's election as mayor created a vacancy on the Village Board, and at Tuesday's Village Board meeting, trustees will be asked to approve Michael Mangin to fill that vacancy.
Up until March 2016, Mangin had served for several years as an executive vice president with Marquette Bank in Orland Park, and founded mortgage brokerage Oak Lawn Financial in June 1980 and had that business until February 1997 when he joined Marquette, according to his resume. He is studying toward his master's in business administration from Governors State University, according to his resume.
Vandenberg said Monday that several potential candidates for the trustee position were considered, and "we think we found the best fit."