Quinn appointee to CTA board withdraws from post

An influential Cook County Democrat whose appointment to the Chicago Transit Authority board sparked controversy for Gov. Pat Quinn is withdrawing from the post.

In a letter to Quinn, Thornton Township Supervisor Frank Zuccarelli says he was looking forward to serving Chicago’s South suburbs. But he says he doesn’t want “political grandstanding” to distract from critical issues or stand in the way of South suburban needs.

Quinn appointed Zuccarelli to the $25,000-a-year position in June.

Last week former White House chief of staff Bill Daley blasted the appointment. Daley is challenging Quinn in the 2014 Democratic primary. Daley called it political patronage and said it violated at least the spirit of a law prohibiting CTA board members from holding government jobs.

Quinn denied the appointment was improper.