News and Music Discovery
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Illinois Governor's Chief of Staff Resigns After 3 Months

Henryk Sadura/123rf Stock Photo

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is replacing his chief of staff after just 13 weeks. Kristina Rasmussen resigned Friday. 

Rauner's public safety director Rodger Heaton will replace her. The 34-year-old Rasmussen was appointed July 10 in a summertime shake up of the Republican's office.

Rasmussen had been executive director of the conservative Illinois Policy Institute and came after legislative Democrats ended a two-year stalemate with Rauner by approving a budget over the governor's vetoes. She was paid $170,000.

A news release from Rauner's office says she is leaving "to pursue other interests."

The 58-year-old Heaton has been public safety director since Rauner took office in January 2015. Heaton was U.S. attorney for the central district of Illinois under President George W. Bush from 2006 to 2009. He makes $167,000.

Related Content