The daughter of former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones was recently hired for an $84,000 job with Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s administration, the Current has learned.
In August, Renee L. Rose was hired to work as a legislative coordinator in the office of board secretary Matthew De Leon, says a Stroger spokeswoman.
The position is exempt from oversight assigned by the so-called Shakman Decrees, instituted to counter political hiring, according to the county's hiring monitor.
Rose monitors legislation that could affect county interests, consults with department leaders about new legislation and helps coordinate county commissioners’ budgets.
Rose, who has worked in public affairs as a government employee and lobbyist since 1985, started with the county in August after her predecessor transferred to a position with the Cook County Health and Hospitals System.
From 1985 to 2004, Rose worked for the state’s departments of human services, public aid and human rights, including working as chief of staff for the Department of Human Services’ mental health division.
She has a master’s degree in social service administration from the University of Chicago.
“If you look at her nearly two decades in state government and her experience as a lobbyist, that actually makes a lot of sense (to hire her),” says the Stroger spokeswoman, Chris Geovanis.
Her position requires knowledge of the state legislature and county agencies.
“That was clearly a great strength,” Geovanis says.
Rose’s resume lists her as president of Rose Consulting Service, a lobbying firm, since 2000. The firm’s Web site was active last week but apparently was disabled within the last few days. The company is no longer operating, according to Stroger spokesman James Ramos. Rose is not included in the latest lobbyist list compiled by the Secretary of State’s office.
Insiders say Rose's hiring was based on her political experience and success as a lobbyist.
But critics complain it's another instance of politics as usual in Cook County.
Andy Shaw, executive director of the Better Government Association questioned whether proper hiring protocol was observed and if the position needed to be filled.
“The cash-strapped county should be assessing every job opening and filling only those that are absolutely necessary,” he says. “This has the look and the feel of another unnecessary patronage hire.”
Stroger has been criticized by opponents for a number of hires that have drawn scrutiny. The reemergence of Tony Cole, a former busboy with a felonious past hired to work as a $58,000-a-year employee, is a reminder of political appointments gone bad. Stroger’s cousin, Donna Dunnings, the former county chief financial officer, reportedly bailed Cole out of jail numerous times. She later resigned.
Reports surfaced last month that the grandson of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan was hired for a $61,000 job in the county facilities department. Leonard Muhammad's father, also named Leonard, was among a number of prominent clergy who have lent their support to Stroger.
Stroger has become increasingly agitated about insinuations of hiring misdeeds, calling them “red herrings.” He says his detractors have failed to back up accusations of unethical practices with facts.
Federally-appointed hiring monitor Mary Robinson says things are getting better, thanks to more transparent safeguards and the work of the county’s inspector general.
“There has been a lot of progress in getting systems better designed and working better, and there are still some issues,” she says.
In March, the county’s compliance director, Julia Nowicki resigned after complaining the county was not making significant progress in reforming its hiring practices.