Roland Burris or Kurt Granberg:
Kurt Granberg’s tenure as the state’s conservation chief might be short, but it will be lucrative. The former state representative started work Thursday as director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, a move that will likely boost his eventual retirement pension by $40,000 a year.
Granberg was appointed by an impeached Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who faces a Senate trial over his ouster starting Monday.
A 55-year-old lawmaker from Carlyle who spent 22 years in the General Assembly, Granberg did not seek re-election last fall and resigned his seat before the House voted to impeach Blagojevich, who is charged with mismanagement and political corruption.
Governor to be Quinn commented on this without committing, but strongly suggesting he would make a change. The only question then is whether Quinn should keep Granberg on so he at least has to show up from time to time to get that extra 40 grand a year.