DuPage CEO who blew whistle named to reform panel

Pamela Davis knows a thing or two about the cost of corruption.

The Edward Hospital CEO, instead of buckling to the strong-arm tactics of former Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board member Stuart Levine, went to the FBI when Levine demanded a bribe in exchange for letting her build a facility in Plainfield.

She wore a wire and helped convict Levine, which in turn led to the conviction of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's fundraiser, Tony Rezko. That, in turn, may have helped lead to the arrest of the governor, who is now under criminal charges.

But she still doesn't have her Plainfield facility; it may forever be the price she paid for doing the right thing.

Former prosecutor Patrick Collins hopes that Davis can bring that unique perspective to the Illinois Reform Commission, and named her and 13 others to the commission Friday. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn commissioned the panel, which vowed to have an initial report out in just 90 days.

"This is a real honor, and opportunity," said Davis in a prepared statement. "The commission consists of a talented group of citizens from diverse backgrounds. I think it's going to take voices from outside the system to help demand changes in how government is conducted in Illinois."

Other appointees include: Pat Fitzgerald, football coach of Northwestern University; Hanke Gratteau, former managing editor of the Chicago Tribune; Tasha Green, executive director of High Jump, an organization benefiting poor students in Chicago; David Hoffman, Chicago's inspector general; the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, president of DePaul University; Douglas Johnson, a marine neurosurgeon; Kate Maehr, executive director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository; Brad McMillan, executive director of Bradley University; N. Duane Noland, CEO of the Illinois Electric Cooperatives; Lawrence Toliver, chief counsel of investigations for The Boeing Company; Sheila Simon, law professor at SIU and the daughter of the late Sen. Paul Simon; and the Rev. Scott Willis, a minister formerly of Chicago who lost his six children in a crash involving a driver who obtained his license by a bribe from George Ryan's office when he was secretary of state.

Collins, a Lisle native who put former Gov. George Ryan in prison, said he deliberately left legislators out of the group.

"It's time for someone outside the system to speak a little bit," said Collins.