Lawmakers reject electing U of I trustees
SPRINGFIELD - A-Republican-led effort to strip the governor's ability to appoint members to the University of Illinois' board of trustees failed in the House of Representatives Wednesday.
The effort, spearheaded by a coalition of U of I alumni lawmakers, would have increased the number of people on the board and require they either be elected by voters or appointed by the university's alumni association. The legislation comes on the heels of last year's admissions scandal that resulted in the resignation of the university's president and seven of the nine trustees.
State Rep. Chapin Rose, a Mahomet Republican, pleaded to lawmakers to "break the University of Illinois of gubernatorial influence." Rose said the decision on who controls the state's flagship university should be in the hands of voters and its 400,000 alumni.
"They will run the University of Illinois better than we have in the last decade," Rose said. The proposal was rejected 44-69 in the 118-member House.
Critics argued the current process in place has worked well, and that putting trustee selection in the hands of voters could put people on the job who aren't knowledgeable or don't have the best interests of the university at heart.
How your lawmakers votedSPRINGFIELD - The state House rejected 44-69 a proposal that would have had University of Illinois trustees elected rather than appointed by the governor. Here's how local lawmakers voted.Suburban representatives voting "yes":Suzanne "Suzie" Bassi, Palatine RepublicanMark H. Beaubien Jr., Barrington Hills RepublicanRobert A. "Bob" Biggins, Elmhurst RepublicanFranco Coladipietro, Bloomingdale RepublicanSandy Cole, Grayslake RepublicanMichael Connelly, Lisle RepublicanTom Cross, Oswego Republican (House Republican leader)Kay Hatcher, Yorkville RepublicanRosemary Mulligan, Des Plaines RepublicanJoAnn Osmond, Antioch RepublicanRandy Ramey, Carol Stream RepublicanDennis Reboletti, Elmhurst RepublicanAngelo "Skip" Saviano, Elmwood Park RepublicanTimothy L. Schmitz, Batavia RepublicanEd Sullivan Jr., Mundelein RepublicanMichael Tryon, Crystal Lake RepublicanSuburban representatives voting "no":Linda Chapa LaVia, Aurora DemocratFred Crespo, Hoffman Estates DemocratKeith Farnham, Elgin DemocratMike Fortner, West Chicago RepublicanJack D. Franks, Woodstock DemocratPaul Froehlich, Schaumburg DemocratEmily McAsey, Lockport DemocratElaine Nekritz, Northbrook DemocratSandra M. Pihos, Glen Ellyn RepublicanDarlene Senger, Naperville RepublicanCarol Sente, Vernon Hills DemocratMark Walker, Arlington Heights DemocratEddie Washington, Waukegan DemocratAbsent or not voting:Sidney H. Mathias, Buffalo Grove RepublicanSource: House roll call, HB 4608