From the SouthtownStar
 
Tollway chief hits the road
September 26, 2008
BY GUY TRIDGELL Staff writer
Continuing a trend in Illinois, another top transportation official has left his post and found work with a private firm doing big business with the state.
Brian McPartlin, executive director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, resigned Thursday. He will start Oct. 24 as a vice president with McDonough Associates Inc., a Chicago engineering firm with offices in Orland Park
McPartlin's chief of staff, Dawn Catuara, of Oak Lawn, was named interim executive director. She formerly was the chief executive officer of the Cook County court system.
McPartlin's permanent replacement will be named by the governor.
Chief of the 286.5-mile tollway system since 2006, McPartlin will be joining one of the top contractors with his agency. Since 2002, McDonough Associates has pulled down $39 million in contracts from the tollway authority, second only to the design-and-planning firm HNTB.
As part the state's "revolving door" policy restricting public employees from getting jobs with private firms that receive government business, McPartlin is prohibited from working on tollway matters for one year. His new employer, though, can still seek tollway business.
McPartlin expressed confidence he has avoided any conflict of interest.
"We live in Illinois. People have skepticism about things all the time. They criticize all the time," he said. "The reality is I'm moving on in my career."
McPartlin's predecessor, Jack Hartman, left for job with the Rise Group, which specializes in overseeing large transportation projects statewide.
Last year, state Transportation Secretary Tim Martin jumped to a new position with a firm that was a major player on the Dan Ryan Expressway reconstruction.
Jay Stewart, executive director of the Better Government Association, said such moves raise questions about public employees in charge of doling out contracts funded by the taxpayers.
"Is he or she making decisions in the public's best interest?" Stewart said. "Or are they trying to curry favor with a future employer."
After 25 years in the public sector, McPartlin said he wanted a change to something more lucrative. He was earning $189,000 a year.
"I have a 17-year-old that is going off to college," he said. "I have got to be able to effectively support my family."
One of McPartlin's biggest accomplishments with the tollway authority was the opening of the 12.5-mile, $730 million Interstate 355 south extension last year.