Gov. Rauner names Hawaii's former 'superstar governor' Linda Lingle as Illinois COO

Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday announced that former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle will join his administration — calling the trailblazing Hawaiian “a superstar governor.”

In remarks at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, Rauner said Lingle will come on board in what appears to be the newly created position of chief operating officer.

“We’ve got a former governor,” Rauner said. “She was a superstar governor for eight years and led a major turnaround. She’s ready and coming to do similar things here.”

A Rauner spokesman confirmed that Lingle, who is a Republican, will join the administration in the spring. Read more in the Chicago SunTimes.