Illinois e-News Release

Cris Cray will serve as a Member of the State Board of Elections.* Cris Cray has a long career serving the residents of Illinois. She is currently a substitute teacher at St. Agnes School in Springfield, Illinois. Prior to becoming an educator, she was a Legislative Services Manager for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Cray also served as Director of Legislation for the Illinois State Board of Elections, where she enacted federal and state mandates pertaining to elections. She assisted in the Hello America Vote Act, which eliminated the use of punch card ballots in the United States and the Federal MOVE Act, which expanded voting opportunities for military and overseas voters. Cray received her Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Quincy University and a Master of Arts in Political Studies from the University of Illinois at Springfield.

Aaron Gurnsey will continue to serve as a Member of the Mid-Illinois Medical District.* Aaron Gurnsey has dedicated his career to working families. He currently serves as the Business Manager for Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 137. He is the Chairman of the Health and Welfare Board and served as President of Illinois Pipe Trades Association. Gurnsey has been an active member of this board since 2021. Gurnsey received a Bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University.

Tim Drea will continue to serve as a Member of the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board.* Drea has served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO since April 2016. He was UFCW Local 881’s Legislative and Political Director for over 11 years prior. Drea also worked a staff analyst for the Illinois Senate Democrats for six years and began his career as a miner for Peabody Coal. He earned his undergraduate degree in Political Studies from Sangamon State University after being honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps in 1979.

Jill Kastner will continue to serve as a Member of the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Board.* Jill Kastner has been serving on this Board since 2019. She has practiced law for twenty years and currently is a partner at Hennessy and Roach, P.C. where she focuses on defense of workers’ compensation. She also has experience at Adelson, Testan, Brundo, Novell and Jimenez and Power and Cronin, Ltd. where she represented employers throughout the State of Illinois in workers’ compensation matters. Kastner received a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Central College and a Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School.

John Brudnak will continue to serve as a Member of the Governors State University Board of Trustees.* John Brudnak has a thirty year sales and general management career. He currently serves as the Senior Account Manager for Ryerson, where he manages new sales territory spanning across the Chicagoland area and in northern portions of Indiana. Brudnak was elected a member of the Orland School District 135 from 2007-2011, where serving as Vice President. Brudnak was also appointed as a member, and was President of the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners from 2011-2013. He coaches in the Orland Youth Association and the Orland Park Pioneers for baseball, football, and hockey. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from St. Mary’s University.

* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.