Erasing all signs of former governor
SPRINGFIELD - Rod Blagojevich might be gone from the governor's office, but his name is still costing taxpayers.
The exact price of removing the former governor's name from across the state isn't likely to break the multibillion-dollar budget, but the state must now go about the process of replacing his name on everything from "Welcome to Illinois" signs to Web sites, nameplates and stationery across myriad state agencies.
Blagojevich's name was on almost every page of the state's Web site. State tech officials said they had already put together a plan and with seemingly a touch of a few buttons a new Web template would wipe away his identity.
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has already started removing the ex-governor's name from Open Road Tolling signs.
Workers could place an overlay covering up the Rod Blagojevich part and identifying the toll plaza instead, tollway spokeswoman Joelle McGinnis said Thursday.
The agency is waiting for word from Gov. Pat Quinn, who last week called the signs an "irksome manifestation of imperial government." There are 33 signs on the tollway system, costing about $15,000 each. McGinnis did not have an estimate for the overlays but said it would be far less expensive than removing them.
Antioch parent Scott Frillman was outraged a few years ago when his son came home from school with bookmarks touting the governor's AllKids program and advertising the governor's name. And count Frillman among the people angry over the tollway signs. He said he offers up a profane gesture to Blagojevich every time he passes beneath one and hopes lawmakers and the new governor will put an end to all the self promotion with taxpayer resources.
"Through legislation, Gov. Quinn, the House and the Senate need to make sure this never happens again. It needs to be a priority," Frillman said.
As for the voluminous quantities of state stationery, purchasing officials also said most agency stationery is digital and will be easy to change, but labels will be printed to place over any preprinted documents with "Blagojevich" on them.
There are also 68 "Welcome to Illinois" signs at state borders bearing the name Rod Blagojevich. In 2003, it cost $600 to make signs with the former governor's name at the Illinois Department of Transportation. The signs were then shipped to the nine road districts and installed during regular maintenance to avoid excess costs, a department spokeswoman said.
Now, road crews may need to go out on unscheduled trips to remove the former governor's name, which could cost the state extra money. The crews could also need to place Quinn's name on the signs if he so chooses.
Governors have the choice of putting their names on the signs. Blagojevich chose to do so, but four of the last eight governors have chosen not to. Gov. Samuel Shapiro finished Gov. Otto Kerner's term when he took a judicial appointment and he chose not to put his name on the signs. Govs. Jim Edgar, George Ryan and Daniel Walker also did not put their names on the signs.
Daryl Vermillion of the Secretary of State's office checked the Capitol and nearby office building recently and did not find any printings there that will need to be removed. Blagojevich's name was never on his Capitol office. There are, however, small pictures of him and other state officers at the main Capitol entrance that now need updating.
One agency that won't need to do much updating is the tax-collecting Illinois Department of Revenue.
Think about it.
What governor would want his name on tax forms?
• Daily Herald staff writer Marni Pyke contributed to this story.