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* I told subscribers about this earlier in the week…
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is excited to announce that more than 500 resumes were collected at the first ever Open House Job Fair held at the Illinois State Capitol on Tuesday. Multiple applications were submitted for each of the open positions and interviews are in the process of being scheduled.
“This job fair was all about attracting the best and the brightest, but it was also about opening our doors to those who may not have always felt like they had a place working in Illinois government and politics,” said Speaker Welch. “I’ve fought hard for diversity and equity inclusion my entire career and that is something I’ll continue to advocate for in my position as Speaker. I want to thank the staff that made this event possible and worked hard to ensure a diverse group of qualified job seekers from across this state applied for these open positions.”
Nearly 100 applicants attended the in-person event at the Capitol, traveling from all corners of the state. They were able to meet with Speaker Welch and other members of the House Democratic staff. Applicants ranged in age from young college students to retirees looking to reenter the workforce. In addition to the in-person event, 100 people registered for the virtual option.
“We’re a growing staff and it’s important that we are doing everything we can to recruit a diverse staff that reflects our state and can help our caucus and our office take the work we’re doing out to the next level,” said Tiffany Moy, Chief of Staff. “There is nowhere else in this state where you can get the experience that you will get working on House Democratic Staff. You come out of this experience with a skillset that nobody else in this state, nobody else in this country has, and that’s invaluable.”
* The Question: Should all legislative staff hiring be done as openly as this? Why or why not?
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 2:55 pm
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We don’t want nobody, nobody sent.
If they get people with relevant knowledge and experience, fine. Even the interns who show up for their first legislative job have A fair amount of knowledge of the process.
Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:01 pm
Yep. That is how hiring should work. Transparency and accessibility.
Comment by Montrose Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:09 pm
I’ve met people who spent years in the political world who struggle with the basics of applying and interviewing for jobs out there in the “real world.” Opening this up is better for the public, yes, but is also better for the politicians (they might find better people than they have within their network) and the more political staffers (who can get perspective on management and HR outside of their bubble).
Comment by NIU Grad Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:12 pm
I think this is great, but let’s not pretend every single legislative staffer is someone’s kid or connected. There are many, many legislative staffers who got their positions by sending resumes and going through interviews. Not everyone is connected or had someone vouch for them.
Comment by DaBlues Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:17 pm
Speaker Welch is missing the opportunity to hire based on who you know and who will return favors - strange.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:19 pm
I think it’s a great idea. I think electeds should hire people they really trust and have experience with if they want. But anyone who is honest and has some experience knows the issues nepotism can cause. This is a good way to open government up to people without having to rely overly on connections.
Comment by Three Dimensional Checkers Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:27 pm
They should be entitled to hire one person who they can trust no matter what. Everyone else should be public hiring. Hire people who qualify for the jobs.
Comment by Unionman Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:39 pm
Diversity in politics is good…for everyone.
I like Speaker Welch’s open door style…letting in some fresh air refreshes the room.
Comment by Dotnonymous Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:41 pm
For me…
I start and end with this thought.
Staff, be it truly governmental to the branches, or the political to parties or campaigns…
… it’s a trade.
You can hire whomever, clouted, no clout, green or proven, these jobs, they are learning a trade type of jobs.
As with any trade, you learn. How bills are actually crafted, cobbled, to the wonk aspect, to the political dynamic. It’s a trade. Lawyer? Well, now learn your trade to the process of legislation and intent. Research? The what and why. The skills honed that’s what makes good Staff.
You can have talent, but like any trade you need to expand the talent to practice the trade. Raw talent, working and learning, it’s not a usual job, forget the hours, personalities, it’s learning to have the valuable tools that make Staff indispensable, being good at the craft, exceptional at the trade.
So, yeah, hire the best people. No matter from where.
The best people willing to practice the trade, hone the craft, and both side of any hire will benefit.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:41 pm
It’s fine so long as the applicants know what they’re getting themselves into - the long hours and a culture that, despite the positive spin, retains many of the old ways of doing things. Transparency is good, but working for the ILGA is and always will be worlds apart from a private sector 9-5 gig.
Comment by The South Springfield Shoplifter Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:43 pm
Getting people involved who don’t have a burning desire to work on the campaign side might not be a bad thing.
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:48 pm
== So, yeah, hire the best people. ==
It also gives an insight into what that legislator considers the best.
For example, Having an jan sixth insurrectionist on staff would say a lot about such a legislator.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 3:55 pm
Not all, but definitely some to a lot of it. For a lot of kids, this is a world/sector they do not know exists or could be a career path (their parents may not know either). I’m just thinking what if people like my old civics teacher at East St. Louis Sr. High, the great Mr. Irv Solomon, knew this was a potential avenue for some of his students down the road. Even if a kid doesn’t make the first time, they can do whatever to make another run at it. I think this is a great example of inclusion for everyone, not just the kids of the connected.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:11 pm
Welch does this and then got Thad Jones thinking he’s Tony Soprano of Cal City. Good on Welch, Jones needs to get with the program.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:15 pm
This makes me wonder if the HDems had this kind of system way back when, could Mapes have endured or would be have been exposed as a toxic jerk years ago?
A closed system protects people like that. And Mapes wasn’t the only jerk in that shop over the years, just the biggest one.
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:27 pm
Yes. In my dealings with legislative staff there is Groupthink that infects in a bicameral bipartisan geographically dispersed manner. Some fresh blood and eyes can’t hurt. And the “new blood” can inform their pre-legislative friends Bismarck was right. And in addition to possibly preventing a Mapes, amend the list to include Tristano.
Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 4:39 pm
If Rich’s question were on an advisory referendum, it’d win by, what, 95 - 5%? And half of the 5% would have filled in the wrong oval.
Comment by lake county democrat Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 5:00 pm
just like in administrative government, a few jobs should be exempt from civil service type hiring. it helps to have close people who are there because of relationships.
Comment by Amalia Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 5:09 pm
OW is on target about learning the trade.
I don’t see every hire being done in this manner. A partisan staff needs some experienced political hands to mentor the youngsters. But it would be refreshing process.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 5:26 pm
The more open the hiring process is the better. Whether or not that can occur in the long run is largely dependent on how willing people are to hire people who can do their current or aspirational job better than they can.
OW is right about politics and governing being a trade that takes expertise, but the feed in process for getting into the trade shouldn’t rely on a process that revolves around someone’s clout or influence.
We aren’t a hereditary monarchy.
Comment by Candy Dogood Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 6:41 pm
I like how he thinks, outside the box, and found more staff. They are going to need good walking shoes and be ready to work longs hours and be sure to take notes of what works and what doesn’t.
Comment by Mama Thursday, Oct 14, 21 @ 10:38 pm
In theory it’s a good idea. In practice I believe it will cause a lot of frustration for members. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done.
Comment by Now I’m down in it. Friday, Oct 15, 21 @ 5:51 am