Fired Illinois CU Supervisor Hired Back By State DFI

CHICAGO – Sarah Vega, former director of the Illinois Department of Financial Institutions, who was appointed credit union supervisor by former Gov. George Ryan in the closing days of his administration and who, along with more than 20 other Ryan appointments were subsequently fired by current Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is back working at the DFI after the Illinois Civil Service Commission ruled that her appointment was legal. The public information officer for DFI confirmed that Vega was “reporting to work” and was “being given projects.” The DFI spokesperson would not comment on what Vega’s title is with the agency. Vega, a former NASCUS chairman, was appointed director of DFI by Ryan in 1999. Prior to that she was supervisor of credit unions for the agency. She was reappointed to that position by Ryan, a Republican, as part of a move that was supposed to guarantee her employment with DFI for four years. However when Blagojevich became governor, he fired 27 of the workers – including Vega – who accepted these types of appointments. Since then, Roxanna Nava was named by Gov. Blagojevich to head the department. She started in August.