Chicago lawyer seeks Amtrak Board seat

0 Comments | Milwaukee Journal, The, Feb 28, 1995 | by PHIL NERO

The Journal staff

Chicago attorney James E. Coston came to Milwaukee on Monday to muster support for a seat on the Amtrak Board and left town a few hours later with Mayor John O. Norquist and others on his side.

"The Midwest hasn't had representation on the Amtrak Board since Gov. Tommy Thompson was replaced last year, and it shows," said Coston, an equipment-leasing attorney who heads the Coston Law Group.

"I think he's an honorable person and deserves a spot on the board," Norquist said. "I encouraged him to talk to Gov. Thompson. It wouldn't hurt to have him on his side either."

Coston, 39, said he would take the mayor's advice.

Thompson was a four-year Republican appointee of former President Bush. When Delaware Gov. Tom Carper replaced Thompson in June, Thompson predicted Midwest rail service would suffer. Recent Amtrak service cuts and fare increases proved him correct.

Norquist said he would write to Wisconsin Sens. Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold, as well as President Clinton and US Transportation Secretary Federico Pena, in support of Coston.

Four positions on the nine- member board will be up for reappointment this year. In May, two of them will be Clinton appointments for two-year seats; Pena will make two one-year appointments.

Amtrak announced in December that it would cut passenger service between Milwaukee and Chicago. The seven round trips a day were to be eliminated effective April 1. The state gave Amtrak an additional $150,000 to keep four round trips in service until June 30. Negotiations to maintain service until June 1996 are ongoing.

The cuts were part of Amtrak's plan to save $173 million in the current fiscal year and more than $360 million in 1996 and succeeding years.

Amtrak also announced last week that it would raise fares on the Milwaukee-Chicago runs by about 50%.

"Service here was cut because we have no board representation," Norquist agreed. "Naturally they take care of their own and stick it to places who aren't on the board."

Sue Martin, Amtrak senior director of public affairs in Washington, said the Midwest was represented by two appointees from Ohio Don Pease, a former congressman, and Dan Collins, a former executive with the United Transportation Union.

While in Milwaukee, Coston also was promised support from the New Transportation Alliance and Citizens for a Better Environment.

He already has the support of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Illinois Sens. Paul Simon and Carole Moseley-Braun and Illinois Reps. Cardiss Collins and Richard Durbin.