Former Daily Herald reporter on gaming board
SPRINGFIELD — Former Daily Herald reporter Maribeth Vander Weele was appointed this week to the Illinois Gaming Board, the panel that regulates the state’s casinos.
Vander Weele covered various local beats for the paper from 1984 to 1990.
More recently, Vander Weele worked as an inspector general for Chicago schools and in 2009 was appointed by Gov. Pat Quinn to a panel that investigated admissions at the University of Illinois.
She now runs Vander Weele Group, which does internal investigations for companies.
Reached by phone Thursday, Vander Weele declined to comment on her appointment, saying she’d been asked to refer questions to the governor’s press office. She has yet to be confirmed by the Senate.
Quinn’s spokeswoman said he picked Vander Weele because her background should help prevent Gaming Board scandals.
“Maribeth Vander Weele is a certified Illinois inspector general with a strong financial and oversight background that includes service on the audit committee for Chicago Public Schools and experience in
investigative services to the public and private sectors,” Quinn spokeswoman Annie Thompson said in a statement.
The Gaming Board regulates Illinois casinos and is trying to finish regulations that would allow for video gambling in bars.
Quinn is making numerous appointments because of a law aiming to clear state government of people appointed by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Aaron Jaffe remains the head of the Illinois Gaming Board.