Tollway interim CEO exits

The man who headed up the Illinois tollway as it transitioned between two different governors and boards left the agency last week.

Michael King, who was the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority's acting executive director from February 2009 to April 2010, resigned Friday.

King, former communications director, remained at the tollway as numerous top-ranking executives departed starting with Executive Director Brian McPartlin in October 2008. McPartlin's replacement was former Chief Engineer Jeff Dailey, who ended up staying only a month. Dailey was succeeded by former Chief of Staff Dawn Catuara, who stepped down after a short tenure in February 2009.

The tollway itself has morphed into a different animal since the arrest of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in December 2008. Accused of corruption, including trying to shake down a highway contractor in connection with tollway projects, Blagojevich was found guilty of one charge of lying to the FBI last week.

Incoming Gov. Pat Quinn vowed to reform state government and clean up the tollway, and criticized agency leaders for picking King as interim leader without consulting him. Quinn also brought in a new slate of board directors.

King would not say if he ever applied for the executive director post, which was taken in April by Kristi Lafleur, a former Quinn deputy chief of staff.

King's annual salary in 2009 was $182,589. Tollway spokeswoman Joelle McGinnis said it did not appear that King had a specific job lined up yet.