Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker promotes Jerry Costello II to new position
After less than a year, a former metro-east lawmaker is leaving his post at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to lead the state Department of Agriculture.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed Jerry Costello II the director of law enforcement for the IDNR in May 2019. On Friday, Pritzker announced he was appointing Costello the director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the agency that oversees the state’s cannabis programs.
Costello replaces interim director Jeremy Flynn, who Pritzker named in January to hold the post temporarily.
Pritzker said “there’s no better person” to lead the program than Costello, who comes from a family history in farming, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
“I’m honored to continue serving the people of Illinois and excited to take the helm at the department I once oversaw in the state legislature,” Costello said in a prepared statement.
From 2011 to 2019, Costello represented the 116th district, which stretches from Cahokia to south of Chester. Nathan Reitz, D-Steeleville, was appointed to Costello’s seat after Pritzker chose him for the IDNR.
Costello’s father, Jerry Costello, served as a U.S. House representative for the 12th Congressional District from 1993 to 2013. Jerry Costello is now a lobbyist in Illinois.
This story was originally published February 28, 2020 at 4:04 PM.
