Who's on first at tollway? Board starts executive director search

Sixteen months since tollway Executive Director Brian McPartlin exited the agency and 14 months after his replacement Jeff Dailey left, the search for a new chief is warming up.

There's been a leader exodus at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority since McPartlin left, reflecting in part the changing political winds.

The most permanent fixture has been Acting Executive Director Michael King, who was appointed in February 2009 by the tollway board. But King has not indicated yet if he wants the top job, which pays about $189,000 a year.

Tollway board members on Thursday will start discussing resumes from candidates who responded to a posting on the authority's Web site.

McPartlin and Dailey's departures sandwiched the arrest of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in December 2008 on corruption charges including allegations he tried to extort donations from highway contractors in connection with tollway work. Blagojevich says he is innocent.

Gov. Pat Quinn, who took office in January 2009, criticized the authority board for selecting King without consulting him and promised reforms at the agency.

Later, former board Chairman and Blagojevich appointee John Mitola resigned in August 2009. Quinn's new pick for chairman, Paula Wolff, started shortly after.

The tollway posted the executive director listing Feb. 8 with an application deadline of today.

Wolff said she and a committee of other board members would evaluate the applicants Thursday and go from there. Wolff said she needed to consult with her colleagues before deciding on whether to broaden the search.

The job description requires a minimum of five years supervisory experience and knowledge of the transportation industry. Although it doesn't stipulate the level of education required, Wolff said a bachelor's degree at minimum is crucial but that real-life experience could be just as valuable as a graduate degree.

Asked if she would give preference to someone with an engineering background, Wolff said she was looking mainly for a competent manager because tollway staff had technical expertise.

"I'm just one member of the committee but my primary concern is to have someone with really capable leadership skills and who has demonstrated a set of experiences as manager," she said.

Whatever happens, it's likely that lawmakers will take an interest in the proceedings. In addition to Quinn, state Sen. Martin Sandoval, a Cicero Democrat who chairs the Senate Transportation Committee, said last year he wanted a nationwide search conducted.

Muddying the waters is the fact that the governorship is up for grabs until the Nov. 2 election, which could have an impact on potential candidates. The governor appoints tollway directors and the chairman.