Kirk names several suburbanites to chair advisory boards

Sen. Mark Kirk Thursday named several suburban residents as chairs of his five newly formed advisory boards.

Kirk, who was sworn into the Senate on Nov. 29 to fill the remainder of President Barack Obama's expiring term, formed similar advisory boards during his five terms as congressman of the North suburban 10th District.

Chairs, Kirk said, were selected from across the state in order to provide “geographic balance.”

Darlene Ruscitti, DuPage County regional superintendent of schools, and Schaumburg High School teacher Kathi Griffin will serve as co-chairs of his education advisory board.

Jay Alexander, a partner at North Shore Cardiologists in Lake County, will chair Kirk's health care advisory board.

Former U.S. Army Capt. Carrie Hoza, of Winnetka, who was awarded a Bronze Star for service during an 11-month tour in Iraq, will chair the Veterans Advisory Board.

Gurnee resident Allen Lynch, an Army veteran who won the Congressional Medal of Honor for service in the Vietnam War, will serve as an honorary chair.

Kirk will be sworn in to a regular six-year term Jan. 5.