Illinois Governor appoints new heads of Gaming Board and Emergency Management Agency

Tracy and his 11 siblings own Mt. Sterling-based Dot Foods, which was founded by Tracy’s parents Robert and Dorothy Tracy in 1960 and now is the nation’s largest food distributor. Tracy’s sister-in-law, Jil Tracy, had served as a state representative to the Mt. Sterling area from 2006 until January. She was the running mate of former state senator and Republican gubernatorial candidate Kirk Dillard.

Tracy had been a vocal critic of Illinois’ rapid gambling expansion during Jaffe’s tenure. Tracy replaces Aaron Jaffe, who had been chairman since 2005.

Tracy had supported the Dillard/Tracy ticket through the Republican primary last March, then backed Rauner after he defeated Dillard. Tracy used his own PAC (political action committee), Central Illinois for Responsible Government, to air pro-Rauner ads during the election campaign.

Tracy’s appointment, along with that of new board member Mark Dunn, ends concern that the state’s gambling industry was operating without oversight because the board did not have enough members to function.
Joseph replaces Jonathon Monken, whose appointment to the IEMA post came after former Gov. Pat Quinn initially appointed Monken director of the Illinois State Police. Monken became IEMA director in 2011 after the Illinois Senate rejected his state police appointment.