Quinn, Emanuel Spar Over Governor's Appointee To Sports Board
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Mayor Emanuel and Gov. Quinn are clashing over Quinn's choice to head the agency that finances and runs some major sports facilities.
Kelly Kraft, the governor's pick to head the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, is a former spokeswoman and assistant agency director for his administration.
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Emanuel says he has nothing against Kraft personally, but says his own appointees to the sports agency have had business and financial backgrounds.
"Both the board and the staff are literally the thin blue line protecting the taxpayers of Chicago, and I want the best there," Emanuel said.
Quinn countered that Kraft is a former assistant budget director. He says the mayor and his operatives should stop questioning her credentials.
"I wish the mayor would stop doing this. This is a very good person. Stop assassinating her character – he has operatives doing that," the governor said.
A recent Chicago Tribune report noted Kraft has had financial problems in her personal life.
Quinn administration sources say the disagreement over the governor's choice has more to do with plans to renovate Wrigley Field than about Kraft.
