Tollway chief search begins with questions

Illinois tollway officials started sizing up resumes of applicants for the position of executive director Thursday.

But the man who holds the job currently would not say if he was one of the applicants.

"I am happy to serve as I have and will continue to serve as the board sees fit," Acting Executive Director Michael King said.

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority board appointed King as acting chief in February 2009.

The board has been without a permanent leader for 14 months. Former Executive Director Jeff Dailey vamoosed in December 2008 after just a month on the job. In between King and Dailey, tollway Chief of Staff Dawn Catuara was acting executive director until she quit after a short stint.

Dailey's immediate predecessor Brian McPartlin exited the agency in October 2008.

Wednesday marked the deadline for people to apply for the opening, according to a posting on the agency's Web site.

Tollway Chairman Paula Wolff said a search committee of board members that includes herself would review resumes and set up a process for conducting background checks and interviews.

The position pays $189,000. Before his current position, King served as tollway director of marketing and communications.

The job can be subject to political winds as the Illinois governor appoints the tollway board of directors and its chairman who chose the executive director.

Numerous board appointees from former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's era, including former Chairman John Mitola, have left or been replaced by Gov. Pat Quinn.

Adding to the uncertainty is the fact that the governor's mansion hangs in the balance with a November election pending.