SPRINGFIELD - Gov. Rod Blagojevich is bidding to remake the state's election board with members who are politically connected to his administration.

At least three of the Democratic governor's picks to serve on the eight-member election oversight panel have ties to his administration, including an attorney whose firm has contributed $127,000 to the governor's campaign fund.

Critics say the Democratic governor has attempted to do an end-run on a process in which both parties have a voice on who is appointed to the bipartisan board.

Republicans have asked Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan for a legal opinion on the matter.

"We want to resolve these issues with the attorney general," said state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.

The governor's office did not respond to numerous requests for information about his choices, who include:

n Bruce Meckler, a Democrat whose Chicago law firm has contributed $127,000 to the governor's campaign fund. Meckler's firm has done more than $550,000 in business with the state in the past two years.

n Mary K. Penn of Bloomington, whose husband, John Penn, is chairman of the McLean County Democratic Party and is a prominent official with the Laborer's International union, which has contributed more than $1.3 million to Blagojevich's campaign fund.

n Nicholas Grapsas of Palatine is an attorney who is a partner in the Chicago law firm of Quinlan & Carroll, which is chaired by the father of the governor's chief legal counsel, William Quinlan. Blagojevich nominated Grapsas as a Republican.

n Keith Fruehling, a Republican attorney from Champaign County.

Potential appointees to the board must be confirmed by a two-thirds majority of the state Senate. Members serve four-year terms and earn $41,000 annually.

Patty Schuh, spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson, R-Greenville, suggested the governor was attempting to "skirt" state law by not including Watson in any discussions about the appointments.

"The governor, once again, has chosen an unusual path," said Schuh. "He is choosing people with ties to his administration, potential financial ties."

Senate President Emil Jones, D-Chicago, declined to comment, but state Sen. Rickey Hendon, D-Chicago, who chairs the committee overseeing gubernatorial appointments, said the governor should make an effort to talk about his prospective appointees with lawmakers.

"I personally think he should discuss it more with the caucuses. But, if he doesn't, we have shown in the past that we will reject people. So he should be prepared to have people rejected if he doesn't communicate with us," Hendon said.

Brady said Republicans also are checking into the credentials of each of the members, as well as their political connections to the governor.

The four possible appointees would replace Republicans Jesse Smart of Bloomington, who currently serves as chairman of the board, and Bryan Scheider, a Chicago attorney who formerly worked for the House GOP caucus. Democrats who would be replaced include John Keith, a Springfield attorney who previously served as a state lawmaker and judge, and William McGuffage, a Chicago attorney.

A Senate confirmation vote for the four nominees has not been scheduled.

Kurt Erickson can be reached at kurt.erickson@lee.net or 789-0865.