Blagojevich Administration: "favored" candidates

The Blagojevich administration's case against former personnel employees Dawn DeFraties and Michael Casey focuses on 28 state-job applicants who Blagojevich's inspector general says got favorable treatment from the pair. Casey, a deputy to former Department of Central Management Services personnel director DeFraties, allegedly kept a log of all "favored" candidates, showing how many initially were rejected for jobs but, just weeks later, resubmitted applications and got top grades in CMS evaluations.
The government submitted the log as evidence. It is a printout of a computerized database. DeFraties and Casey’s lawyer wants the electronic version; the government says it doesn’t have it.

An Associated Press analysis of the printed log shows that each line is numbered chronologically but there are 46 numbers missing, along with 21 blank lines. The administration won’t comment on what information is omitted.
Below are the findings of an Associated Press analysis of the 28 cases, including names of candidates, the jobs they were seeking and the date, and what appear to be weak spots in the government's case:

1. Ascaridis, Beverly, 56, Chicago, applied for Senior Public Service Administrator on 4/12/04: Resubmitted application doesn't appear on Casey's log, so it's unclear how the government believes Casey or DeFraties knew about it or intervened improperly; never promoted to SPSA; now a public service administrator for the Department of Natural Resources. News reports in September revealed that Ascaridis got the job shortly after her husband, a lifelong Blagojevich friend, gave a $1,500 gift to one of the governor's daughters.

2. Baksys, Mary, applied for Public Service Administrator on 11/29/04: Never appears on Casey's log, never hired.

3. Bigler, Michael, 27, Springfield, Staff Development Specialist I, 3/17/04: Resubmitted application doesn't appear on Casey's log; now a Staff Development Specialist I for the Emergency Management Agency.

4. Brewer, Colm, 36, Springfield, PSA, 9/8/04: Did not become a PSA until his job duties were re-evaluated 10 months later, after DeFraties and Casey had left CMS; now an SPSA for Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

5. Casey, Michael, 38, Chatham, PSA, 12/6/04: No relation to defendant Casey; initial application marked "incomplete;" second application does not appear on Casey's log; now a PSA for Department of Healthcare and Family Services.

6. Clark, DeAnna, 38, Springfield, PSA, 9/23/04: Initial application marked "incomplete;" never became a PSA; now a Human Resources Specialist for the Department of Human Services.

7. DeWitt, Justin, 38, Jacksonville, SPSA, 3/11/04: Second application doesn't appear on Casey's log; now an SPSA for the Department of Public Health.

8. Dirksen, Julie, 65, Springfield, SPSA, 2/4/04: Initial application marked "incomplete;" awarded a job exempt from all hiring rules, so never needed CMS evaluation; now an SPSA for the Historic Preservation Agency.

9. Geppert, Peter, 60, Coulterville, Site Superintendent, 7/1/03: Got "A" grade nine months after initial application; now a site superintendent for the Department of Natural Resources.

10. Johnson, Etta, Administrative Assistant I and II, 4/13/04: Got "C" on new application for office aide, not a resubmitted application for administrative assistant, as claimed by the inspector general; never hired.

11. Kamath, Gayatri, Accountant Advanced, 3/24/04: Initial application marked "illegible;" second application does not appear on Casey log; final grade was a "C," lowest grade short of rejection; never hired.

12. Kelly, Wendy, Social Services Career Trainee, 11/16/04: Initial application marked "lack of signature;" never got a grade for position; never hired.

13. Konneker, Doreen, 40, Carlinville, PSA, 12/8/04: Never hired for agency under governor; went to work for the State Board of Education; no longer a state employee.

14. Leibenguth, Donald, PSA, 8/25/04: "A" grade awarded more than a year after initial application, not three weeks after, as the inspector general claims.

15. Luehr, Terry, PSA, 2/11/04: Never hired.

16. Marlow, Beth, Child Welfare Specialist, 4/1/04: Resubmitted application does not appear on Casey's log; never received a grade for a state job.

17. Mullinax, Greg, 51, Parkersburg, Executive I, 6/22/04: Neither application appears on Casey's log; never hired for job requiring CMS evaluation; now a technical manager II for the Department of Transportation.

18. Murphy, Amanda, Social Services Career Trainee, 10/26/04: Never received a grade for any job.

19. Owen, Jared, 28, Springfield, Internal Security Investigator I, 4/1/04: Ultimate grade was "C;" never promoted to position; now a staff development specialist I for Emergency Management Agency.

20. Petty, Eugene, 32, Peoria, Industrial and Community Development Representative I, 3/1/04: Government claims his grade was changed from "B" to "A" for this position, but internal documents show it was always an "A," currently an industrial and community development representative I for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

21. Rockett, Garry, 63, Salem, Fire Prevention Inspector II, 1/13/05: Initial application marked "needs more info;" now a fire prevention inspector II for the State Fire Marshal.

22. Schildman, Rolf, Social Services Career Trainee, 6/28/04: Never hired.

23. Schmeckel, Thomas, 58, East Moline, Manpower Planner III, 5/17/04: Doesn't appear on Casey's log; already a manpower planner II, he was promoted to manpower planner III in January 2005.

24. Schwarm, Ann, Site Superintendent, 2/24/04: Resubmitted application doesn't appear on Casey's log; never hired.

25. Shupe, Gloria, 53, Ullin, PSA, 7/21/04: Got an "A" three weeks after initial rejection; approved by name in memo from governor's office for a job supposedly protected from political influence.

26. Thomas, John, PSA, 3/24/04: Resubmitted application doesn't appear on Casey's log; never hired.

27. Venecia, Nelly, Human Services Case Manager, 6/30/04: Resubmitted application doesn't appear on Casey's log; never hired.

28. Walker, John, 67, Oak Lawn, Storage Tank Safety Specialist, 8/24/04: Initial application was rejected because he had no certification as a boiler inspector, but the State Fire Marshal's office confirmed such a certification isn't necessary; left state employment in February 2005.
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Sources: Illinois Civil Service Commission filing, Illinois state comptroller, internal government documents.