DiCenso looks forward to being 'double public servant' again

Kristin DiCenso may be in the public eye again if she is approved next Wednesday by the full Springfield City Council as Chair of the local liquor commission.

But DiCenso pointed out that she's been a public servant for the better part of two decades as a state of Illinois employee. She is the current Chief of Staff for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

"For six years, I was a double public servant and now I'm a double public servant again," said DiCenso, pointing to her tenure as Ward 6 Ald. from 2017 to 2023.

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"Once you have that in your heart, I don't think you stop being a public servant. It is a calling. I'm happy to do whatever I can do to help the city, to help the state, to help the county, whoever it is. I'm here to help."

DiCenso appeared briefly before Tuesday's committee of the whole meeting, her first time back in council chambers since exiting in the spring.

There was no discussion by members about her appointment by Mayor Misty Buscher, who DiCenso backed against incumbent Mayor Jim Langfelder.

Some members had questioned Corporation Counsel Greg Moredock about the timing of DiCenso's appointment so soon after leaving the city council.

"It can go through with council approval," Buscher said after the meeting.

Buscher said earlier she had had a conversation with Chair Mark Ginster about her wanting to bring on DiCenso. Ginster was the treasurer of Langfelder's mayoral campaign.

The other members are Steven Nardulli and Ellen Bruce.

The liquor control deputy commissioners review licenses, permits and certificate applications for establishments and provide recommendations to the mayor, who serves as liquor control commissioner.

"One of the things I like about Kristin is that she is a very strong, independent female voice, (like me)," Buscher said. "She will take a no-nonsense approach and be fair to everyone and that's what I'm looking for."

"I know a lot of people who own bars and I have a lot of experience with bar owners," DiCenso said afterwards, "so I think I can handle it."

The commission meets at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

Fireworks fizzle?

Springfield Fire Chief Ed Canny confirmed he has been in contact with operators of the professional fireworks displays in the city about concerns with dry conditions.

Canny will meet with the operators again Wednesday before meeting with Buscher later in the afternoon, but he didn't rule out canceling those displays.

"A lot of our situations are low risk, but we're studying it," Canny said. "We are each day checking weather reports to make sure we can safely do these professional displays. It is something the shooters have had concerns about."

Buscher said she didn't want to take people's fireworks displays away, "but I'm also worried about safety first, which is why I called the fire chief. Safety is first and foremost."

Still searching

Buscher still has three city directors to name, hinting she might be close on one front.

Buscher met Tuesday with interim human resources director Debbie Thompson "about ideas of what we will do with someone I have an idea to put in there." Thompson, the former Ward 7 alderwoman, doesn't want a full-time job, Buscher said.

Val Yazell, Buscher added, also didn't want a full-time job when she came back as interim director of the Office for Planning and Economic Development.

"Now she's trying to decide what she would like," Buscher said. "I think she's doing a great job leading that department."

Meanwhile, the search for a new Lincoln Library director continues.

Interim Director Kathryn Harris has been involved in the national search, Buscher said.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Kristin DiCenso will be up for a vote as liquor commission Chair