Mays stepping down as director of administrative services at end of February but says ‘I will work again’

QUINCY — Don’t say he’s retiring.

Jeff Mays, 72, has spent 45 years in public service, but just because he’s stepping down at the end of February from his position as the director of administrative services for the City of Quincy doesn’t mean he’s finished working.

He said after Monday’s Quincy City Council meeting that he left his position as the director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) in February 2019. He wanted to leave the city at approximately the same time.

Asked why he isn’t staying on until after Quincy elects a new mayor in April, Mays said, “I’m tired, and I don’t have any major health issues right now. I’ve had a few things that have made me realize that my pull date is coming, so I just want to enjoy it.”

Shortly after he left IDES, Mays was selected by then-Mayor Kyle Moore as the interim director of administrative services to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of John “Skip” Bright. He said Monday that he was particularly proud of getting the food and beverage tax passed during his time with the city.

“We have a dedicated fund for Quincy’s growth, and then seeing how we’ve been able to use that over the last several years to virtually fill every vacant major storefront that was open and seeing how we’ve used it for other stuff, it’s just been an awesome thing,” he said.

“Also, look at all of the capital improvements that we’ve been able to put together, such as streets and sewer and water. It’s been millions of dollars we’ve been able to allocate for that, and at the same time, we reduced property taxes when we could. There’s been a lot of nice little things that I think has helped turn this city around. I didn’t do it. It’s these guys (pointing toward the aldermen) and the mayor. I’m just glad to have been a part of it.”

Mays served five terms in the Illinois House after he was first elected at age 27. He later served as president of the Illinois Business Roundtable for 16 years and vice president of human resources and executive vice president of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. When he was at the IDES, Mays had a $195 million annual budget and 1,150 employees. Mays also served two four-year terms on the Quincy School Board. 

Mays said his only plan after he leaves the city is to spend a week with his wife in Mazatlán, Mexico, followed by three to four weeks camping with his son.

“I haven’t had a break in years,” he said. “I left the roundtable on a Friday, and the following Monday, Gov. (Bruce) Rauner calls me (to take the IDES job).  Then I leave the state gig after Pritzker gets elected, and a week later, I get a call from Kyle. The same thing happened with the chamber job when I went to the roundtable. It’s just a break I’m looking for.

“I’m going to work. I don’t know what it’s going to be, but I will work again. I’m older now, and I don’t know that I’m as patient. I don’t know that I’m as empathetic. It’s just time, and I’ll be open to something else after March.”

Mayor Mike Troup said he would not fill Mays’ position until after the election.

“It wouldn’t be fair to bring somebody on, and we’ve asked department heads to freeze hiring,” Troup said before Monday’s City Council meeting. Then with a grin, he added, “Unfortunately, I made that decision before I knew what Jeff was going to be doing.”