Illinois governor nominates 2 for SIU board

Gov. Pat Quinn is nominating a former history professor and the retired head of the state’s National Guard to the Southern Illinois University system’s frayed board of trustees.

The selections of former Illinois Adjutant General Randal Thomas and former SIU-Edwardsville professor Shirley Portwood come three months after the Illinois Senate rejected three of Quinn’s previous candidates. But one of those lawmakers, Democratic Sen. Bill Haine of Alton, says he expects Senate confirmations of the latest nominees.

Quinn’s newest picks were a compromise between him and members of the Illinois Senate. In February the Senate overwhelmingly panned Quinn’s appointments to replace three SIU board members whose terms expired.

Thomas and Portwood are expected to join the board at its meeting next Wednesday.