Change is looming at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
The Bulls have a better chance of winning the NBA title than director Brent Manning does of staying on the job following last week’s election of Democrat Rod Blagojevich as governor. It is not impossible, but you would get 100-1 odds in Las Vegas.
This makes outdoorsmen nervous. No one agrees with a state government agency all of the time–talk about long odds–but Manning, as a hunter and fisherman himself, is considered a friend of hunters and anglers.
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Manning, who has served only Republican governors during his 12 years on the job, admitted to me a few weeks ago that he would love to stay. But Manning said he had “never spoken to Mr. Blagojevich.”
After the election I asked if he and Blagojevich had spoken, and he said no. So even though Blagojevich has said he wants to include some Republicans in his administration, come January, when the governor-elect becomes governor, it appears Manning will be out and Blagojevich will install a new IDNR leader.
Perhaps it will be Joel Brunsvold, the Democratic state rep from Milan who has been active in the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and was mentioned as a possible successor four years ago. Or maybe somebody worthy with passion and experience from inside the department.
For the record, the Blagojevich camp says no decision has been made.
“That’s the purpose of the transition period, to review current and prospective personnel,” said Billy Weinberg, press secretary for the governor-elect’s transition team.
Regardless, IDNR turnover will occur throughout the ranks. Manning said there are roughly 2,200 department employees.
Only 10 percent serve at the whim of the governor. But under a state government program being offered through December, some 400 are eligible for a buyout.
Manning said the best guess is that 200 IDNR workers will take it. So there may be more holes in the IDNR lineup than the Bears’ and Cubs’ combined.
There is much trepidation about what Blagojevich’s election means for sportsmen, particularly hunters. As a congressman and as a member of the General Assembly, Blagojevich sponsored several gun-control bills.
The Illinois State Rifle Association’s 2002 Voter’s Guide pictured Blagojevich on its cover with a red circle enclosing a slash over Blagojevich’s face. The words “The Blagojevich Nightmare” and “Today He Wants Your Vote; Tomorrow He’ll Want Your Guns” appeared nearby. This was not an endorsement.
Blagojevich soft-pedaled gun-control issues during the campaign, suggesting in the closing days, “Let’s get a few people together, and let’s go hunting.”
Rod, what will it be, deer, pheasant, turkey, ducks? I’ll be glad to keep you company in the field.
Meanwhile, as she addressed cheering supporters Nov. 5, Attorney General-elect Lisa Madigan said she would work for “sensible gun laws.”
The definition of “sensible” is open to interpretation. Many gun owners don’t believe there should be any gun-control laws. Other people think there should be strict gun control banning just about any type of firearm. And others believe in certain types of control and registration programs like a ballistic fingerprinting plan.
Hunters are specifically targeted by gun-control advocates less frequently but are understandably edgy about how government policy may disrupt their hobby and lifestyle.
Weinberg says hunters have nothing to fear from the Blagojevich administration, and it would be wrong to assume that chief executives can simply impose their wills on the legislature. Blagojevich and Madigan may find resistance even within their own party, since Downstate Democrats traditionally oppose gun-control proposals.
Still, can Blagojevich propose a gun-control program for Illinois that will impact hunters drastically? Yes. Will he? Hunters will watch closely.
Even if he wanted to, no Illinois governor could afford to eliminate hunting. According to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife survey, hunting is a $450 million industry in the state. Try cutting that in difficult economic times.
The future of IDNR was not a major campaign issue. Yet in an interview with the Illinois Parks & Recreation magazine, Blagojevich was asked what criteria he would use in choosing a department director.
“I will seek the best, brightest and most professional candidate,” Blagojevich responded. “I will look for appropriate education and experience, in both recreation and open-space issues. I will look for a person who has proven that they can get things done and understands how to provide value for the public dollar.”
If that’s the criteria, then Blagojevich should keep Manning on.
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