SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois Senate committee gave its approval to two of Gov. Pat Quinn's appointees Thursday but didn't act on a controversial appointment to the state Prisoner Review Board.

The Senate Executive Appointments Committee OK'd the appointment of Doug Scott to the Illinois Commerce Commission and Manuel Flores (formerly of the ICC) as head of the banking division of the Department of Professional Regulation.

But the more controversial appointment of Careen Gordon, a former Democratic state lawmaker who was defeated for re-election last fall, went unheard for the third consecutive meeting of the panel.

Committee Chairman Sen. Antonio Munoz, D-Chicago, said Gordon's nomination would be heard next week. Her nomination could be in trouble with members of both parties, Munoz said.

"Right now, we don't know. I'd have to talk to the rest of our caucus members," he said.

Republicans, including Sen. Dale Righter, R-Charleston, oppose the nomination because Gordon campaigned against an income tax increase but voted for it in January as a lame-duck lawmaker. Days later, she was nominated by Quinn to the prisoner review panel.

"Right now, based on what I've seen and what I've read, there's nothing that would make me vote yes," Righter said. "I'm not the only one who has deep concerns about everything that surrounds this appointment."

Some Democrats are concerned, Munoz said, because of her background as a former assistant state's attorney.

"Her being a former prosecutor, being on the prisoner review board, that would be a problem that some of our members have," said Munoz, a former Chicago police officer. "You have to have a balance on that committee. My understanding is that you already have a couple of prosecutors."

Of the other appointments considered Thursday, Scott was approved unanimously.

But Flores' nomination to the $136,000 position was opposed by Righter and Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon.

Under questioning, Flores admitted he had no background in banking.

"I cannot point to any specific banking experience," said Flores, an attorney and former Chicago alderman. "I have not worked at a bank. And I don't in any way want to mislead anyone."

Righter deadpanned that he had a lot in common, as an attorney and a public official, with Flores.

"I'm not qualified for this job that you have right now," Righter said. "I think there has to be at least some direct connection between an individual's professional experience and the enormous responsibility with which he or she is being saddled. And it's not here."