"From the St. Louis Post Dispatch"

Ryan reclassifies the jobs of some high-level employees
By JOHN O'CONNOR The Associated Press
12/21/2002 12:00 AM

The move offers them protection from being replaced by Blagojevich.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Gov. George Ryan's administration is changing the job descriptions of 10 high-level employees, protecting them from being replaced when the next governor takes office.

The recipients of the extra protection include the acting director of the state economic development agency, former Republican politicians and a lobbyist for the Agriculture Department, according to government documents.

Three have contributed a total of $9,000 to Ryan, a Republican, or to GOP political efforts.

The state Civil Service Commission, which administers hiring laws, has already approved requests by Ryan's administration to change the status of 13 jobs since August, with another on the agenda for January. Because some of the jobs are vacant, only 10 employees are involved.

The commission's approval means the employees can be fired only for cause. Without the new status, Gov.-elect Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, would be able to fill these positions with people of his own choosing when he takes office next month.

"These kinds of moves appear to be among the reasons why people are so eager for new leadership in Springfield," said Blagojevich's spokesman, Billy Weinberg.

Ryan's office could not be reached for comment.

"The governor is packing his termites into the woodwork," said Mark Samuels, spokesman for Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. "If any of them had a shred of self-respect, they would offer their resignations to the governor-elect."

Ryan earlier took other actions that protect or reward his aides and political allies. He has appointed two dozen people to paid positions on state commissions, appointments that will last long after his departure.

He also has changed hiring rules to make it easier to award state jobs that last four years. Ryan's office will not say how many people have been given these jobs under the new rules, which cover more than 1,000 positions.

And now Ryan's agencies are having a handful of jobs reclassified so the people who hold them have more protection from being replaced by the new governor.

The affected employees include:

Joseph Hannon, who helped organize Ryan's visit to Cuba and now is acting director of the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.

Flora Ciarlo, a failed legislative candidate now working for the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs.

Candice Trees, the former Sangamon County circuit clerk and current candidate for Springfield alderman, who heads the Equal Employment Opportunity Office at the state Revenue Department.