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Resignations Have RTA Head Pleading For New Appointees To Metra Board

CHICAGO (CBS) -- After, another resignation from the Metra Board, the head of the Regional Transportation Authority is pleading with suburban official to appoint members to fill all the empty seats. WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore has the story.

Resignations Have RTA Head Pleading For New Appointees To Metra Board

The resignation of Cook County's Stanley Rakestraw leaves the Metra Board of Directors with only six of its eleven members . That is quorum, enough to take official votes but not enough to elect a new chairman and if one member is late or absent, the board cannot act.

The situation has prompted John Gates, Chairman of the parent agency the RTA, to ask the appointing of officials like the various Cook County Board Chairmen, to quickly replace the people who have quit.

Gates says the system must be able to continue to provide service to its riders, but some officials said they would hold off making any new appointments until controversies over patronage and a former executive director are resolved.

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