Dan Proft

Dan Proft, who’s been filling in as guest morning host at WIND AM 560 since John Howell signed off last month, spilled the beans Thursday night: He’s getting the job permanently.

Proft, who was emceeing the annual Northwest Suburban Republican Lincoln Day Dinner in Rolling Meadows, preceded his introduction of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie by telling the crowd of 900 that he’d accepted the WIND gig. “So do a fellow conservative a solid and listen in,” he said, "because I only get paid if you listen."

Bosses of the Salem Communications news/talk station could not be reached, but sources said they were hoping to keep their deal with Proft under wraps until next week. A Republican political commentator, consultant and onetime gubernatorial candidate, Proft, 42, had been considered a front-runner for the job from the start.

In teaming Proft with morning co-host Amy Jacobson, WIND completes the game of musical chairs that began when Howell left to join Cumulus Media news/talk WLS AM 890, where he replaced Proft and Bruce Wolf in the morning slot. Odd man out at this point is Wolf.

In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, mornings on WIND are tied for 31st place with 0.9 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 71,300.