Hollywood is legendary for stories of the “casting couch” in which young starlets were rewarded with acting roles and stardom in exchange for sleeping with studio executives, producers and directors.
Illinois State Senator James Clayborne is no Hollywood executive but seemingly female associates of the majority leader of the IL senate have found great success in landing jobs within IL state government as the result of being his “friend.” And it pays to be a friend of Senator Clayborne.
Take, for instance, Creola Davis of Alton, IL. She is a community and safety liaison for the IL Department of Transportation (IDOT). She was hired back in January of 2011 and makes $72,000 per year.
Davis’ connection to Senator Clayborne was widely publicized on the social networking site Facebook until questions from reporters appear to have made her take down her site.
But prior postings described Davis as being “in a relationship” with someone referred to as “James.” A subsequent photo posted back in July showed Davis and Senator Clayborne looking cozy in what appeared to be a park.
In February, 2011 Davis posted a photo of she and Clayborne under a gazebo in a tropical location which she refers to as Jamaica. That same month, Davis also posted a photo of herself at a White House reception with President Barack Obama. Coincidentally, the White House visitor’s log for the February 25, 2011 reception shows the names of both Sen. Clayborne and Creola Davis as being in attendance.
Another female associate of Senator Clayborne, Vonetta Harris, was appointed by Governor Pat Quinn to the IL Prisoner Review Board, back in November of 2013, and makes $86,000 per year and has a state vehicle and gas card.
Of course, aside from “knowing” Clayborne, she comes amply qualified for the position. Her ex-husband, Korey Rush served a federal prison sentence for misusing a federal grant during his employment with SIUE. He pleaded guilty back in 2010.
Harris’ relationship with Clayborne is less clear than Creola Davis’. However, the BellevilleNews-Democrat recently reported observing Harris’ SUV emerging from the garage of Clayborne’s home one morning at approximately 7:30 a.m. after, undoubtedly, updating the senator on the good work of the prison review board.
What Ms. Harris and Ms. Davis have in common is they both have, coincidentally, attended White House receptions at which Senator Clayborne was, also, present.
According to another White House visitors log, back in December 2013 Vonetta Harris and Senator Clayborne were recorded as having attended a reception for President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama.
But, to be fair, even Senator Clayborne’s ex-wife, Staci Clayborne, may have been the beneficiary of Senator Clayborne’s political connections.
Staci, is the Vice President for Student Development at Southwestern Illinois College and is actually a very competent and qualified professional, with an M.S. in Educational Administration and Supervision from SIUE.
However, the president of SWIC is Georgia Costello, who just happens to be the wife of former U.S Congressman Jerry Costello. Coincidence or hook-up? Whatever the case, one can’t argue that a gainfully employed ex-wife would create fewer headaches for Mr. Clayborne. Well, played senator.
If Senator Clayborne is just a serial “player” who uses his position of influence and power to reward his female associates, he would not be the first politician to do so. The fact that his colleagues in the state senate are silent speaks volumes to that point.
The problem is when such hook-ups are done at taxpayer’s expense; especially when Clayborne is seeking re-election in November, along with embattled Governor Pat Quinn, who is already at the center of an investigation by the state’s executive inspector general, Ricardo Meza.
Meza has revealed that over 200 political cronies were improperly hired at IDOT during the administrations of both Governors Rod Blagojevich and Pat Quinn.
So Senator Clayborne’s issues can’t be good for Quinn’s re-election bid and should be the death knell for Clayborne’s re-election.
Unfortunately, Clayborne is well financed and having a less than stellar opponent in Katherine Ruocco, a Swansea Republican, all but assures that Clayborne will be easily re-elected, which would send the signal to Clayborne that, on so many levels, it pays to be a player.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com; Twitter@JamesTIngram.
