NEWS

from the Illinois Senate

State Senator Susan Garrett
State Senator Jeff Schoenberg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2011

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Susan Garrett (847) 433-2002
Jeff Schoenberg (847) 492-1200

State Senators Garrett and Schoenberg Applaud
Kane County Board Chairman
Karen McConnaughay requests resignation of Van Overmeiren from Metra

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – Two top-ranking suburban State Senators, Majority Whip Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest), and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), applauded Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay on requesting that a new board be installed at the beleaguered Metra Rail transit agency. McConnaughay also asked for the resignation of her current county’s appointee to the Metra Board.

“Chairman McConnaughay took a proactive and politically risky stance by asking for the resignation of her own appointee on the Metra Board,” Schoenberg said. “And she paved the way for a much-needed open and transparent process for re-appointing Caryl J. Van Overmeiren’s replacement.”

Additionally, McConnaughay, in a letter to her county board members, set up a task force to determine the job criteria and responsibilities for the next appointee, as well as developing a process to interview interested candidates for the Metra Board position.

“We are asking other county chairs to follow the lead of Chairman McConnaughay by replacing their appointment to the Metra Board,” said Garrett. “It is critical the Metra moves beyond the problems of the past into a new era of reform,” she added.