Quinn Moves Flores in Senate Confirmation Flap

By Kevin Robinson in News on Mar 1, 2011 2:00PM

Gov. Quinn announced that he would be moving former Manny Flores from Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission to the role of head of the banking division of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Senate President John Cullerton, however, apparently told Quinn that Flores had run into opposition from both the state Senate's Latino Caucus and from utility companies that saw Flores as being too pro-consumer. Cullerton indicated to Quinn that there weren't enough votes to confirm Flores.

Quinn appointed Flores, the former 1st Ward Alderman, to the ICC in January of 2010. Flores had been acting as the chairman, without confirmation, for over a year. When Crain's sought comment from Cullerton, they were referred to state Senator Willie Delgado, who represents the district Flores lives in. “I'd rather this gentleman move on,” Mr. Delgado told Crain's last week. “I think the governor is setting him up for an embarrassing situation next week.” Opposition to Flores among the Latino Caucus is due in large part to a long-standing political dispute over Flores's political allegiances in the Hispanic community.

Flores reportedly hasn't wanted to leave the ICC post, although Quinn seemed left with little choice. This is the second time Quinn has been unable to get an appointee confirmed. Last month Quinn failed to get Jonathon Monken appointed head of the State Police, moving Monken to head the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.