Quinn names Jack Lavin chief of staff

Gov. Pat Quinn named Jack Lavin his new chief of staff today.

“Jack Lavin has helped my administration accomplish many of our top priorities, and I have full confidence that he has the vision and ability to lead my office into a successful new term and will tackle the many serious issues facing our state,” Quinn said in a written statement.

Lavin has been Quinn's chief operating officer since February 2009, and was deputy treasurer under Quinn when he was treasurer. Before becoming a part of Quinn's administration, he was also appointed as director of the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Quinn's previous chief of staff, Jerry Stermer, resigned after some minor ethics violations during Quinn's campaign for governor. Stermer has since returned to the adminstration as a senior adviser.