Gov hopeful to grill new DCFS chief

A Republican candidate for governor said Monday that he plans to use the Senate confirmation process to grill the new director of the Department of Children and Family Services over his theft conviction and a paternity battle in his background.

DCFS director Arthur Bishop pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft in 1995 for stealing from clients of a West Side social service agency. He later became embroiled in a 2003 child-support battle over a daughter he said he never knew he had fathered, court records show.

The Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ detailed the court cases in a story Monday.

Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale), a GOP governor candidate, said he “wants a full accounting” from Bishop when he appears before the Illinois Senate Executive Appointments Committee. Dillard is a member of that panel.

“I intend to ask Mr. Bishop and a representative from the governor’s office to give a compete explanation for what transpired and answer why Mr. Bishop should lead this agency at such a critical time,” Dillard said.

The governor’s appointees have 60 legislative session days from the date of their appointments to receive Senate confirmation, officials said. Bishop was hired Jan. 24.

Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat, stands behind his appointment of Bishop. Administration officials lauded Bishop’s 15-year career with DCFS and his leadership of the Department of Juvenile Justice over the past three years.