Peoria Labor Boss' Wife Among IDOT Employees Hired In Controversial Process
From the Peoria Journal-Star
One of the 103 people still on the job after being hired in a patronage scandal that has engulfed Gov. Pat Quinn’s transportation department is the wife of a top Peoria area labor official, state records show.
Teresa Helfers made nearly $50,000 a year when hired into the “staff assistant” position in District 4 of the Illinois Department of Transportation in December 2011, one of a host of hires made by the Quinn administration that were slammed as improper by an inspector general’s report that found they flouted rules meant to block hiring based on political connections.
Marty Helfers is the executive director of the West Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, and has frequently been singled out by Quinn for praise during the governor’s visits to the region.
IDOT officials said Friday — when the list of employees including Teresa Helfers was released — that no additional employees hired under the controversial process would be fired after the 58 who were let go on Sept. 30 and later sued to keep their jobs.
Through the agency, Teresa Helfers “respectfully declined” a request Monday to be interviewed about her hiring by and work for IDOT. A call to Marty Helfers on the same subject was not returned Monday.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Peoria Journal-Star
One of the 103 people still on the job after being hired in a patronage scandal that has engulfed Gov. Pat Quinn’s transportation department is the wife of a top Peoria area labor official, state records show.
Teresa Helfers made nearly $50,000 a year when hired into the “staff assistant” position in District 4 of the Illinois Department of Transportation in December 2011, one of a host of hires made by the Quinn administration that were slammed as improper by an inspector general’s report that found they flouted rules meant to block hiring based on political connections.
Marty Helfers is the executive director of the West Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council, and has frequently been singled out by Quinn for praise during the governor’s visits to the region.
IDOT officials said Friday — when the list of employees including Teresa Helfers was released — that no additional employees hired under the controversial process would be fired after the 58 who were let go on Sept. 30 and later sued to keep their jobs.
Through the agency, Teresa Helfers “respectfully declined” a request Monday to be interviewed about her hiring by and work for IDOT. A call to Marty Helfers on the same subject was not returned Monday.
Read more in our daily News Update...