Looks like ole' Foghorn Leghorn will live to fight another day.
News from the Chicago Tribune this morning has Kirk Dillard securing enough votes to be the Regional Transportation Authority Chairman. Seems like a good spot for Senator Dillard to continue on where he can have a seat at the big boy table. There is, in our opinion, some risk here. Metra is fubar'd. Seriously fubar'd. What happens to Dillard if things continue to go sideways there? Does he get some of that stuff to stick to him? Time will tell.
From the Trib:
State Sen. Kirk Dillard, a Hinsdale Republican, says he has enough support to be elected chairman of the Regional Transportation Authority at its meeting Wednesday.
Dillard, who was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination for governor, told the Tribune he believes he has the backing of a supermajority of RTA board members, the bipartisan support of suburban county political leaders and especially Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
“I like a challenge and I think (being RTA chairman) is my way to give back to a state that I love,” Dillard said, when asked why he sought the post. “I think having a world-class transit system is critical to Chicago and all of Illinois.”
Dillard would replace John Gates Jr., chairman of the agency that oversees the CTA, Metra and Pace for the past four years.”
Chairmanship of the RTA board requires a combination of geographic and political support, which Dillard said he has garnered. The post pays $25,000 a year.
