Communications czar to head Illinois tollway system
Facing criticism over a new construction program linked to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's corruption arrest, Illinois Tollway leaders turned to a public relations expert to lead the agency temporarily.
But the appointment of marketing and communications chief Mike King as acting executive director could be permanent, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority officials said.
"We feel Mike has played a critical role in long-range planning," board Chairman John Mitola said Friday after directors voted on the issue.
Former CEO Brian McPartlin's last day was Oct. 24 and directors chose their previous chief engineer Jeff Dailey as his replacement. McPartlin had sought to work at an engineering firm that's received millions in tollway contracts but later changed his mind following questions about conflict of interest.
Then, after just a few weeks on the job, Dailey resigned Dec. 17, leaving Chief of Staff Dawn Catuara to take the helm. Catuara stepped down this week.
The tollway has formed a committee to find a new executive director focusing on internal candidates but is open to casting a wider net by hiring an outside firm to conduct a search, Mitola said.
He added that King was a leading candidate for the job. The revolving door at the agency's top post comes as it faces scrutiny for a controversial plan to start a $1.8 billion new construction initiative including carpool or "Green Lanes."
Federal authorities allege Blagojevich was trying to use the $1.8 billion program to squeeze contributions from a concrete contractor. Recently, federal authorities subpoenaed the tollway for records of a number of contractors in relation to the investigation.
Indicating he may take an active role in the tollway, Gov. Pat Quinn has said he wants to suspend the $1.8 billion project and review it thoroughly.
Mitola said the agency had not talked to the new governor about the appointment but expected to soon.
"We will give great deference to the governor. We will be respectful of his role," Mitola said.
However, he noted that the tollway board of directors, not the governor has authority to chose its CEO.
Quinn spokesman Bob Reed said the governor's office would "withhold comment for now."
King, 39, worked for the Clinton White House previously. He served in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Justice.
Before starting at the tollway in May 2006, King, who has a degree in political science, was a manager with a consulting firm working on communications strategies.
King said he believed he was a "logical choice" for interim chief because of his involvement with the tollway's $6.3 billion Congestion Relief program and the fact he'd been working closely with Catuara while she was temporary CEO. He said he wanted to focus on finishing construction and widening on I-88, the Tri-State and I-355.
As for assuming the position permanently, King said, "I'll take that one day at a time. I'm not so arrogant as to suggest I'm the most qualified ... we'll see if it's the right fit at the right time."
A day before the decision, state Sen. Martin Sandoval, a Cicero Democrat, wrote Quinn asking him to require the tollway to conduct a national search for its chief.
Sandoval said he'd continue to push the issue, noting "some expert in the transportation field would be more effective."