CHICAGO - Continuing to roll out his staff and transition team, Governor-elect Bruce Rauner announced Friday his new administrative chief of staff would be Mike Zolnierowicz, nicknamed "Mike Z" by campaign familiars. Zolnierowicz was key in the Rauner campaign and has worked for U.S. Senator Mark Kirk in the past.
“I’ve worked closely with Mike Zolnierowicz for more than a year and he has my complete trust and confidence,” Rauner said. “I know he shares my commitment to making our state the most compassionate and competitive in the nation. Mike will be a dedicated public servant whose only focus is on bringing back Illinois.”
“No one has a better understanding or greater love of Illinois than Mike Zolnierowicz,” U.S. Senator Mark Kirk said. “Mike is an outstanding choice who will serve the people well."
Zolnierowicz currently serves as director of the Bruce Rauner Transition Committee. He previously worked as deputy campaign manager for Citizens for Rauner, Inc., overseeing more than 500 paid employees and more than 10,000 volunteers.
Prior to joining the Rauner campaign, Zolnierowicz served as deputy chief of staff for U.S. Senator Mark Kirk. As deputy chief of staff, Zolnierowicz managed the Senator’s Illinois operations, overseeing the Senator’s work with key stakeholders, including community leaders, the Congressional delegation, the state legislature and Constitutional officers.
Zolnierowicz graduated from Downers Grove North High School and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Hope College.
