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Illinois Board Gets Rid of Lobbyist

ILLINOIS – As reported by the Chicago Tribune: "The Illinois Gaming Board said Thursday it had gotten rid of a politically connected lobbyist forced onto its payroll by the Blagojevich administration over the objections of board members who said they didn't need or want her.

"But Linda Freveletti, sister-in-law of former state Democratic Party Chairman Gary LaPaille, won't have to make do without a state paycheck. The administration quickly installed her in another lobbying job, working for the Gaming Board's parent agency, the Department of Revenue.

"…Gaming Board member Gary Peterlin wrote two letters to state Revenue Director Brian Hamer saying the panel had no need for a lobbyist.

"…Hamer's office placed Freveletti on the gaming board's staff and ordered the board to pay her $55,000 annual salary out its budget. Despite Peterlin's objections, the board was powerless at first to undo her hiring because it lacked a quorum because Blagojevich failed for months to fill several vacancies.

"Freveletti said her political ties played no role in her hiring. Freveletti's sister, Christine Freveletti LaPaille, was once the chief of staff for Illinois House Republicans and in 1987 married her Democratic counterpart in the House, Gary LaPaille. From 1990 to 1998 he was chairman of the state Democratic Party…"

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