Illinois needs an insurrection: Sister-in-law of GOP House leader who last worked in 2001 in furniture sales has high-paying job overseeing tollway construction contracts

Tri-State Tollway

Oh, when I say "insurrection," I don't mean an armed one. These are, after all, delicate times.

Illinois House minority leader Jim Durkin, a bought-and-paid-for stooge for Bruce Rauner, the man who National Review says is America's worst GOP governor, has a sister-in-law who has parlayed her dusty career in selling furniture into a job with the Illinois Toll Authority overseeing construction contracts.

From the Daily Herald:

A politically connected Illinois tollway employee hired last year for an important $80,016 engineering department job last worked in 2001 as an account executive selling office furniture.

Laura Durkin is the agency's general manager of engineering and sister-in-law to Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs. Tollway officials recently released Laura Durkin's resume to the Daily Herald after withholding it for weeks.

She was hired in spring 2017 for the job overseeing multiple engineering, architectural and construction contracts. The position requires a minimum of five years' management experience administering construction contracts, according to the tollway's job description.

Laura Durkin has a degree in interior design. Her most recent position was from 1996 to 2001 working as an account executive for Workspace, an office furniture dealership in Oakbrook Terrace. She previously handled sales accounts for two other office furniture companies.

As for myself, I'm backing Jeanne Ives for governor. This madness must end.