Sunday, July 3, 2011

A Round-Trip Ticket to Pookaville

Like Brenda Starr, Star Reporter -- not since the dew point broke 75F, has Lake County gotten this moist over a mystery man. The mystery man in question is Kent Gaffney, who was chosen by local GOP kahunas to complete Mark Beaubien's term in the 52nd Rep District. Gaffney is such a complete unknown that your LakeCountyEye was convinced that this was an occurrence of a pooka, a mythological creature that is never observed, like the invisible rabbit Harvey in the movie of the same name:
Another Pooka from Pookaville
The Daily Herald was able to track Gaffney down, plausibly debunking the pooka rumor ...
Gaffney may not be widely known in the area — having moved to Barrington from his native Springfield only a few years ago
Gaffney talks about succeeding friend Beaubien
Records indicate that Gaffney moved to a Lake Barrington gated-community in 2008. The Herald story does not say why the long-time Springfield resident moved to Lake County, and in particular to Beaubien's 52nd Repesentative District. Not, apparently, to change jobs. Despite moving to Lake Barrington, Gaffney remained on the Illinois House payroll as a well-paid research analyst. According to the State-Journal Register well-paid to the tune of $106,000 annually:

Salaries - State of Illinois
Nor, apparently, is a research analyst a work-from-home job either. Despite moving to Lake Barrington, Gaffney lodged at the Springfield State House Inn during House session -- and on the taxpayer's nickel:

STATE OF ILLINOIS OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER AGENCY CONTRACT REPORT FOR BUDGET FISCAL YEAR 2011 THROUGH ACCOUNTING PERIOD 10/11 FOR PERIOD ENDING 04/29/11
The State House Inn comes highly recommended. By no means the least expensive luxury hotel in Springfield, it does have the best view of an easy-to-walk-to State Capitol:

The State House Inn
Now that Kent Gaffney is Lake County's newest State Rep, there is presumably an opening in Springfield for a research analyst, one with travel and lodging expenses paid. Your LakeCountyEye wants to know where they hide all the research analyst job application forms.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your douchery floors me. So typical. Wow! What a finding! People involved with the legislature who live outside of a certain mileage circle of Springfield actually get a stipend or prearraged lodging at a contracted rate. Great work - I wait in great anticipation for your solving of the Lindbergh Baby caper! Maybe you can track down some juicy tidbits on the other people that are in that lease amount such as what type of corn is in their stool or somthing of that nature.

Anonymous said...

Apparently, the Eye has seen the Pooka too clearly and has agitated it's acolytes. I hope the Eye has powerful medicine to ward off the curses. Though if "douchery" is all they have in their quiver maybe you won't need it.

Barney Baxter said...

Sticks & stones ...

-BB-

Anonymous said...

Nothing in the quiver really. Douchery is quite fitting. Me thinks the "eye" may need to get the strength of its cataract prescription cream bumped up a notch or two.

Barney Baxter said...

hi Anon,

Perhaps I got the story wrong? As I understand it, Gaffney -- a long-time Springfield govt staffer & resident -- in 2008 moves from Springfield to Lake Barrington, into Beaubien's district 52. And Gaffney then gets a $2000/mo per-diem to live & work in Springfield. All on top of his $100K+ salary.

Did I miss something?

-BB-