By Eric Timmons, etimmons@qconline.com

Newly elected Rock Island County Board Chairman Phil Banaszek has appointed Don Jacobs, D-East Moline, as chairman of the county's finance committee.

The finance committee is the most powerful county committee, and the chairman's spot was occupied by Mr. Banaszek before he became county board chairman this week.

Mr. Banaszek said he views the 80-year-old Mr. Jacobs as a safe pair of hands to oversee county spending with a deep knowledge of the county's budget.

Mr. Jacobs served as finance committee chairman under the late Bill Armstrong, who served as Rock Island County Board chairman until 2002 when Jim Bohnsack took over.

First elected to the county board in 1998, Mr. Jacobs retired in 1996 after 20 years as the county's auditor.

The county has seven standing committees. Proposed ordinances and ordinance amendments move through the committees before being voted on by the full county board.

Committee chairmen and members are appointed by the county board chairman.

Aside from the finance chair, Mr. Banaszek also appointed several other committee chairmen on Wednesday.

John Brandmeyer, D-Rock Island, was named as chairman of the county's administration committee, a position previously held by Gary Freeman, D-East Moline.Mr. Freeman unsuccessfully ran for chairman, losing during Monday's county board meeting to Mr. Banaszek.

Nick Camlin, D-Rock Island, has been appointed as chairman of the human resources committee, where he will replace Lauren Loftin, who did not seek re-election.Steve Meersman, D-Moline, has been reappointed as chairman of the health and human services committee, which oversees Hope Creek Care Center.

Mr. Banaszek said Wednesday he was not yet ready to announce chairmen for the public works, executive and governmental affairs committees.

The 25-member county board was sworn-in for a new term at Monday's organizational meeting, during which Mr. Banaszek was elected chairman.

A drawing was held earlier this year to determine term lengths for the 25 districts.

Thirteen districts will have two-year terms and then two four-year terms. The other 12 districts will have two four-year terms and then one two-year term up to 2022, when the next census will be conducted.

Mr. Banaszek drew a four-year term, as did Mr. Jacobs.



Rock Island County Board district terms

2 years

Gary Freeman, District 2

Michael Burns, District 3

Patrick Moreno, District 4

Virgil Dueysen, District 5

Don Johnston, District 11

David Adams, District 12

Ginny Shelton, District 14

Nick Camlin, District 15

Rod Simmer, District 18

Kim Calloway-Thompson, District 19

Scott Terry, District 21

Ken “Moose” Maranda, District 23

Bob Westpfahl, District 25

4 years

Chris Filbert, District 1

Don Jacobs, District 6

Steve Meersman, District 7

Brian Vyncke, District 8

Phil Banaszek, District 9

Steve Ballard, District 10

Richard Brunk, District 13

John Brandmeyer, District 16

Ed Langdon, District 17

Mia Mayberry, District 20

Drue Mielke, District 22

Ron Oelke, District 24