An Illinois judge dealt Gov. Pat Quinn (D., Ill.) a blow by appointing a monitor to oversee hiring at state agencies following accusations that his administration was filling positions based on politics rather than qualifications, the Chicago Tribune reports.
A federal judge has granted a request by a Chicago attorney to appoint a monitor to oversee hiring at the Illinois Department of Transportation, dealing a blow to Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn less than two weeks before Election Day.
The transportation agency came under fire in April after Chicago attorney Michael Shakman, who has long crusaded against patronage, argued the Quinn administration was filling positions based on political considerations rather than job qualifications.
A subsequent report by the state Executive Inspector General Ricardo Meza outlined how Quinn had failed to rein in patronage abuses at IDOT after replacing ousted ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Meza maintained hundreds of people were hired into so-called "staff assistant" positions without having to go through strict personnel procedures under rules designed to keep politics out of most state hiring.
The decision comes just weeks before what is expected to be a close battle with Republican Bruce Rauner. Rauner has attacked Quinn for his ethical lapses for months now, and says that the court's decision validates his attacks.
"Pat Quinn is a phony reformer and a federal judge just confirmed it," said Rauner. "I applaud today’s decision and commit that my administration will work closely with the federal hiring monitor to root out Pat Quinn’s patronage and corruption."