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Liz Gorman named to Regional Transportation Authority Board

Former Cook County Commissioner Elizabeth “Liz” Doody Gorman was appointed Wednesday to serve on the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) board of commissioners representing Cook County’s suburbs.

Gorman, was praised as “someone who can work with all elected officials and governments,” received the overwhelming support of the Cook County Board sub-committee that oversees RTA appointments.

Members voting for Gorman included Sub-Committee Chairman Peter Silvestri, Sub-Committee secretary Deborah Sims, and members Larry Sufferdin, Sean Morrison, Scott Britton and
Kevin Morrison. Gorman also received words of praise from other commissioners including Commissioner Bridget Degnen who is not on the sub-committee but supported the appointment.

Sub-Committee members described Gorman as “someone who can represent the interests and transportation needs of taxpayers for the RTA region” and described her “one of the most liked” officials in Cook County.

Former Cook County Commissioner and taxpayer advocate Liz Gorman

“Liz Gorman knows how to work with people to get things down for our taxpayers and constituents,” said Sims.

The RTA was created to oversee finances, to secure funding, and to conduct transit planning for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace. The 16-member board chaired by former Illinois legislator Kirk Dillard, who is appointed by the board.

The RTA’s 15 serving trustees are appointed from within the six-county region: five by the Mayor of the City of Chicago; four by the suburban members of the Cook County Board; one by the President of the Cook County Board; and five by the Chairman of each collar county each from DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. The Chairman of the RTA Board, its 16th member, and is elected by at least 11 of the 15 appointed members.

Gorman’s term is effective from July 1, 2021 through June 30. 2026 and the vacancies created by the retirement of John Frega who was elected to represent suburban Cook County.

“I am honored by the strong vote of support that I received to my nomination, and I am excited to be able to use my expertise to support the region’s transportation needs representing suburban Cook County,” Gorman said.

“As a Cook County Commissioner, I dedicated much of my time championing the rights of Cook County taxpayers and fighting for improved transportation services in the region.”

Suffredin praised Gorman saying that she was instrumental when she was on the Cook County board to get the rules changed to create the County board committee that today ensures a public process for appointments to the RTA board.

Gorman said she received congratulatory messages from nearly every elected official in the Orland Park region including Township Supervisor Paul O’Grady, Orland Hills Mayor Kyle Hastings and Senator Mike Hastings, and several members of the Illinois legislature.

Gorman’s appointment is the first time that Orland Park has had a representative on the RTA board and Gorman said she plans to ensure that the area’s transportation issues will be addressed fully.

Gorman was first elected to the Cook County Board in 2002 and served until 2015. In 2018, Gorman was appointed to serve as Executive Director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority by former Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Although many believed she would run for Orland Park mayor last April, she decided not to run anticipating the RTA board appointment. Had she run many believe, she would have easily won.

Gorman is a graduate of Mother McAuley High School and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota where she received her B.A. in marketing. Gorman graduated from the University of Notre Dame Executive MBA program with a Master of Business Administration on May 18, 2008.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter and political columnist. This article was originally published in the Southwest News Newspaper Group in the Des Plaines Valley News, Southwest News-Herald, The Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers. For more information on Ray Hanania visit www.Hanania.com or email him at rghanania@gmail.com.)

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