Rauner appoints new tollway executive

Gov. Bruce Rauner has appointed a new inspector general for the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, officials said.

TJ Hengesbach of Chicago has nearly 15 years of experience in both the state and city of Chicago's inspector general offices; he's also been a practicing attorney since 1991, according a news release from the tollway. He served as Chicago's deputy inspector general from 2005 to 2015; before that, he worked as general counsel in the state office.

In each of those roles, Hengesbach's duties included providing legal counsel and policy guidance on personnel decisions, investigations and audits.

Hengesbach's predecessor, James Wagner, retired in June after five years at the tollway, according to a spokeswoman. Wagner, a former FBI agent, was selected for the board by Gov. Pat Quinn after the Gov. Rod Blagojevich scandal to ensure independent agency oversight.

Under Wagner, the tollway conducted numerous investigations resulting in arrests and firings for employee misconduct and recovery of stolen money. He also discovered the tollway had transferred more than $33 million to the state's general revenue fund under Blagojevich, which is contrary to Illinois law.

• Daily Herald staff writer Marni Pyke contributed to this report.