By DEANA STROISCH (deana.stroisch@sj-r.com), THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER
Posted May 10, 2011
Springfield aldermen on Tuesday agreed to hire Rianne Hawkins as the city’s deputy clerk. Hawkins’ appointment was approved by a vote of 9-2. Mayor Mike Houston voted to hire Hawkins. Hawkins, a past president of Illinois Democratic Women, will replace Veronica Bigley, who took a job with the Illinois Air National Guard. Hawkins will be paid $45,500 a year and start work this morning.
Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner and Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin voting against her selection. Turner questioned why an African-American employee with 20 years experience in the office wasn’t told about the position.
City Clerk Cecilia Tumulty said everyone in her office knew of the opening, and no one expressed interest in the job.
McMenamin said he voted against the appointment because it was on the council’s emergency passage agenda, a practice he said is overused. Items on emergency passage require eight votes to pass.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 