UPDATED: Governor Rauner shuffles staff again

Posted on October 6, 2017
Bruce Rauner
Gov. Bruce Rauner said Illinois Public Safety Director Rodger Heaton will become his chief of staff, replacing Kristina Rasmussen, who was on the job for just three months.(Photo courtesy Facebook/Bruce Rauner)

 

By Howard Packowitz

SPRINGFIELD – In a week when Governor Bruce Rauner came under fire from fellow Republicans for agreeing to expand taxpayer-funded abortions, he’s parting ways with his chief of staff, who was on the job for only three months.

The Governor announced Kristina Rasmussen will stay on the job for another week, and she will be replaced by Rodger Heaton, who’s the state’s former public safety director, and is currently chairman of the Statewide Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform.

The chief of staff’s position is considered by many to be one of the most powerful jobs in state government.

Rasmussen came to the post in July after serving as leader of the conservative Illinois Policy Institute.

A news release from the governor’s office made no mention of the abortion issue.

Rauner praised Rasmussen for delivering on his directive to “reinvigorate” his staff and advance his goals to improve education, growing jobs, and protecting taxpayers.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].

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