A 29th cabinet member, State Fire Marshall Tom Armstead has announced his retirement. Gov. Ryan is nominating Peoria Fire Chief Ernest Russell to serve as the state's top fire service executive. Chief Russell, a more than 33-year veteran of the Peoria Fire Department, has been the chief since 1993. He has a master's degree in public administration from Sangamon State University.

"That the entire cabinet sought reappointment is a testament to their commitment to the work this administration has begun," Gov. Ryan said. "I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to continue to work together to build better, stronger communities for the people of Illinois."

Under Public Act 91-25 passed by the General Assembly in 1999, the Governor can set salaries of up to 85 percent of his salary, currently $145,877 annually. After a comprehensive review of compensation for the cabinet positions, Gov. Ryan proposed increasing the salaries of the department heads commensurate with the mid-range of comparable state, county and municipal agencies. The proposed cabinet salaries were reviewed by the state's Compensation Review Board, which approved the schedule of increases last year.

"We are fortunate to retain these dedicated, diverse and experienced individuals considering that the state's compensation lags behind comparable states and other government agencies," Gov. Ryan said. "This comprehensive compensation restructuring will keep Illinois competitive in attracting the best and brightest people to public service."

Gov. Ryan is also restructuring the compensation of Governor's office senior staff employees, bringing those top executives to the mid-range of comparable state and municipal executives.

The names of the cabinet members, listed below, have been filed for reappointment with the Illinois Senate for advice and consent. The list includes a comparative salary survey of agency directors with similar responsibilities in other states and large units of government.

Department	Director	Salary	Comparable Job Title in Chicago or Cook County or Other States	Salary
Aging	Margo Schreiber	$85,809 Proposed $95,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Commissioner Chicago Department of Aging STATES: New York Florida California Pennsylvania Connecticut Michigan	$100,000 $109,800 $107,900 $104,500 $103,000 $96,500 $94,900
Agriculture	Joe Hampton	$102,972 Proposed $109,500	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: No Counterpart STATES: California Florida Colorado Michigan New York New Mexico	$126,358 $120,800 $116,056 $108,000 $104,003 $104,080
CMS	Mike Schwartz	$107,262 Proposed $117,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Chicago General Services person Cook County Human Resources & Benefits person Cook County Risk Management & Benefits person (CMS Director does all of the above) STATES: Arizona Arkansas Florida	$111,900 $130,306 $116,769     $118,100 $109,945 $107,940
Corrections	Don Snyder	$120,270 Proposed $123,500	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Cook County Dept. of Corrections Director Chicago Police Superintendent STATES: Texas New York California	$114,000 $136,000 $150,000 $136,000 $126,358
DCCA	Pam McDonough	$102,972 Proposed $117,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Chicago Commissioner of Planning & Development Chicago Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Chicago Commissioner of Environment Chicago Technology person (DCCA Director does a mixture of all the above) STATES: Kentucky (Economic Dev.) Virginia (Economic Dev.) Arizona (Commerce) West Virginia (Community Affairs)	$124,998 $106,032 $103,260 $91,068     $140,000 $116,113 $107,133 $105,000
DCFS	Jess McDonald	$108,938 Proposed $123,500	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: No Counterpart in Chicago or Cook County Private Agency executives salaries provided: RANGE Catholic Charities Executive Director Private $7M Agency Director makes Private $8M Agency Director makes Private $10M Agency Director makes Private $12M Agency Director makes STATES: Los Angeles County, California Cayahoga County, Ohio	$100,000-250,000 $100,000 $140,000 $130,000 $156,000 $187,000   $157,000 $130,000
Employment Security	Gertrude Jordan	$111,554 Proposed $117,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY : No Counterpart STATES: California North Carolina Texas	$118,514 $117,520 $120,000
EPA	Tom Skinner	$102,972 Proposed $109,500	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Chicago Commissioner, Dept. of Environment STATES: New York California Arizona Texas Michigan Florida Alabama	$103,260 $136,000 $126,358 $115,000 $112,500 $108,054 $107,940 $104,500
Financial Institutions	Sarah Vega	$85,809 Proposed $95,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Chicago Commissioner of Dept. of Consumer Services STATES: Minnesota Arizona Kentucky	$108,852 $97,300 $92,664 $91,163
Human Rights	Carlos Salazar	$89,243 Proposed $95,000	STATES: Michigan New York Pennsylvania	$114,000 $109,800 $102,631
Human Services	Linda Renee Baker	$120,270 Proposed $123,500	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Chicago Commissioner of Health & Human Services Chicago Deputy Managing Commissioner STATES: Texas Florida New York Wisconsin	$117,432 $101,544   $150,000 $138,268 $136,000 $135,101
IEMA	Mike Chamness	$83,238 Proposed $95,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Chicago Fire Commissioner STATES: New York Georgia Michigan	$136,000 $100,253 $95,178 $84,543
Insurance	Nat Shapo	$94,392 Proposed $109,500	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: No Counterpart STATES: Texas New York California New Jersey Florida Virginia Ohio North Carolina	$157,500 $127,000 $118,000 $115,000 $112,895 $107,458 $101,774 $97,388
Labor	Robert Healy	$94,392 Proposed $102,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: No Counterpart STATES: New York Pennsylvania Colorado Florida Washington	$127,000 $108,448 $108,000 $107,940 $103,000
Lottery	Lori Montana	$94,392 Proposed $102,000	STATES: Kentucky Georgia Virginia Massachusetts Texas	$165,000 $150,000 plus bonus $110,000 plus bonus $110,000 $105,000
Military Affairs	David Harris	$83,238 Proposed $95,000	STATES: Georgia Michigan Pennsylvania Arizona South Carolina Tennessee	$123,857 $122,040 $97,368 $95,000 $92,007 $84,540
Natural Resources	Brent Manning	$102,972 Proposed $109,500	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Chicago Park District Chief Executive Officer Cook County Forest Preserve General Superintendent STATES: California Pennsylvania Colorado Michigan	$135,000-155,000 $130,810   $126,358 $108,448 $108,000 $104,003
Nuclear Safety	Tom Ortciger	$89,243 Proposed $95,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Commissioner of the Environment Office of Emergency Communications STATES: Texas South Carolina Ohio Washington California	$103,260 $109,596   $126,000 $118,000 $106,683 $100,800 $98,540
Professional Regulation	Leonard Sherman	$94,392 Proposed $102,000	STATES: Texas California New York Florida	$104,800 $102,350 $101,000 $82,300
Public Aid	Ann Patla	$111,554 Proposed $117,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Cook County Director Health Services & Operations Director of Public Health Regional HCFA Administrator Regional Child Support Administrator STATES: California Arkansas Rhode Island	$250,000-260,000 $170,00-180,00 $123,283-133,700 $123,283-133,700   $118,514 $113,877 $113,901
Public Health	Dr. John Lumpkin	$111,554 Proposed $123,500	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Chicago Commissioner Department of Health Director of Cook Department of Health STATES: New York Director of Public Health Alabama Director of Health Texas Director of Public Health	$125,000 $147,000   $180,000 $175,000 $145,000
Revenue	Glen Bower	$111,554 Proposed $117,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Chicago Director of Revenue Cook County Revenue Director STATES: Virginia New York Rhode Island Connecticut California South Carolina	$120,108 $115,552 $143,256 $127,000 $120,063 $119,228 $118,500 $117,925
State Fire Marshal	Ernest Russell	$83,238 Proposed $95,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Chicago Fire Commissioner Chicago First Deputy Fire Commissioner Other Chicago Deputy Fire Commissioners STATES: New York Michigan North Carolina	$136,104 $126,396 $120,012   $90,000 $89,000 $85,000
State Police	Sam Nolen	$102,972 Proposed $109,500	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: Superintendent Chicago Police Department Cook County Sheriff STATES: New York California Arizona Massachusetts Michigan Washington	$141,612 $138,000 $127,000 $126,358 $110,988 $109,937 $103,982 $103,000
Transportation	Kirk Brown	$111,554 Proposed $123,500	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY; Chicago Aviation Commissioner Cook County Superintendent of Highways Chicago DOT Commissioner STATES: Georgia Texas New York Oklahoma Maryland South Carolina Washington Arkansas Arizona New Jersey Michigan Florida California	$139,393 $125,571 $118,944 $150,000 $145,000 $136,000 $133,203 $123,340 $120,000 $119,298 $118,740 $115,788 $114,996 $113,963 $113,484 $112,782
Veterans Affairs	John Johnston	$83,238 Proposed $95,000	CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY: No Counterpart STATES: Florida Michigan California	$120,000 $104,070 $98,652

As with the analysis done for cabinet compensation, the senior staff changes in compensation were based on comparisons with the pay for other executives in other states and large municipalities like Chicago and Cook County. For example, the Governor's staff compensation restructuring means the chief of staff, who runs the day-to-day operations of state government and manages the more than 65,000 employees reporting to the governor, will now earn $125,000 annually, up from $114,996. That is 85 percent of the Governor's salary, but still less than the salaries earned by government executives with relatively less responsibility, such as the Cook County Forest Preserve District Superintendent who earns $130,810, and less than comparable jobs in other large units of government.

The restructuring includes the following changes: deputy chief of staff from $105,000 to $117,000; general counsel from $105,000 to $117,000; policy director, from $105,000 to $117,000; deputy governor, from $105,000 to $117,000; press secretary, from $95,000 to $107,500; director of communications, from $97,500 to $107,500; senior policy advisor, from $97,500 to $107,500; performance review director, from $97,500 to $105,000; strategic planning director, $95,000 to $105,000; chief technology officer, from $80,004 to $90,000.