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New DNR Director Named
A day after kicking a political appointee to the curb, Gov. Pat Quinn has named a new director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Marc Miller, 39, grew up near Mattoon and has been on Quinn's staff for 4 1/2 years. He has been liaison to the Illinois River Coordinating Council and before that was watershed organizer for the Champaign-based Prairie Rivers Network.

As to whether Miller's DNR will be able to re-open state parks that closed last year: "That is an issue we will need to look at: look at the finances and then ascertain whether or not it’s possible and go forward. The governor has said we will do it as soon as possible," Miller said.

Quinn says the DNR is important not just to nature-based tourism, but also for public health. "We don’t want any child to be left inside. We want to make sure we get our kids out, in nature, exercising," he said.

Former State Rep. Kurt Granberg spent only two weeks as DNR chief. Appointing him was one of the final acts of Rod Blagojevich's career as governor. It’s not clear whether Granberg's pension will reflect that post. It could mean an extra $40,000 a year to the longtime lawmaker.

(Illinois Radio Network)
02 05 09 by Newsroom
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