Rutherford, Radogno on the attack
Thursday, Oct 12, 2006 - Posted by Rich Miller
Dan Rutherford thinks there may be some law-breaking going on at the SoS.
Dan Rutherford, Republican Nominee for Secretary of State, called on Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to take action on the illegal hiring practices of Jesse White who is giving no bid contracts to the spouses of his senior staff.
The Illinois Procurement Code (30 ILCS 500/50 13 “Conflicts of Interestâ€) prohibits the spouse of an employee of state government making 60% of the Governor’s salary from being awarded any state contract. The Governor’s salary is $150,691 and 60 % of that is $90,415.
Published news reports, “Family Business†by Greg Hinz, Crain’s Chicago Business 8/28/06 and “Rutherford Makes Issue of Hiring in White’s Office†by Bernard Schoenburg, State Journal-Register 8/28/06, show that Secretary of State Jesse White’s Chief of Staff, Thomas Benigno makes $139,296, well over 60% of the Governor’s salary, and his wife, Benedetta Benigno, was recently awarded a no bid state contract. It has also been revealed that the wife of Secretary White’s Personnel Director, Steve Roth, who makes approximately $103,500, was also awarded a no bid state contract.
The Procurement Code can be found here
White’s spokesman says the contracts are covered under the “ministerial” exemption to the code.
Ministerial duties. This Section does not apply to a contract for personal services of a wholly ministerial character, including but not limited to services as a laborer, clerk, typist, stenographer, page, bookkeeper, receptionist, or telephone switchboard operator, made by a spouse or minor child of an elective or appointive State officer or employee or of a member of the General Assembly.
Mrs. Benigno is listed as a secretary, and Mrs. Roth’s position also qualifies as “ministerial,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Christine Radogno wants Alexi Giannoulias to return a contribution from a Rezko guy.
State Sen. Christine Radogno, Republican nominee for Illinois Treasurer, today asked her Democratic opponent Alexi Giannoulias to return $14,000 in campaign contributions from Michael Winter, a Chicago businessman who reportedly is linked to indicted Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin “Tony†Rezko.
According to today’s Chicago Sun Times, Michael Winter is a “Rezko business associate. Had allegedly agreed to funnel fees from an investment firm to Rezko but did not want his identity revealed to TRS board.â€
Winter also has received more than $2 million in loans from Broadway Bank, where Giannoulias is a vice president and senior loan officer.
“Until we know all the facts and the level of alleged involvement Mr. Winter has in the Rezko scandal, Giannoulias should return his contributions,†said Radogno. “After all the questions surrounding Alexi’s banking practices and his campaign contributions, the right thing for him is to give back the $14,000.â€
- Walking Wounded - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:02 pm:
Rutherford released a pdf of Benetta Benigno’s business card identifying her as an “Intelligence Analyst” for the Department of Police. Someone should ask Mr. White exactly what qualifications Mrs. Benigno had to earn that title. This issue is further proof that White’s administration is lacking in ethics.
Ms. Madigan, what’s your stance on this problem?
- One Man Can Make A Difference - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:18 pm:
Jesse White knows better!!!!!!!
Asking Attorney General Lisa Madigan for an investigation is a waste of time especially right now.
Jesse White has his own “white knight” Executive Inspector General who should be investigating this information.
However, as he is obliged to Jesse White, he probably doesn’t have a clue!
This is why Illinois needs one (1) Executive Inspector General to oversee all investigations of Inspector Generals into allegations against their constitutional officer and their employees.
- Walking Wounded - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:27 pm:
OMCMAD-Bingo!
- Anon - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:28 pm:
For Dan - 40 points is 40 points ’nuff said.
For Christine - keep at it, this guy is vulnerable, just alert the public to it and get your message out, sooner or later the public will start to pay attention.
- Frustrated Republican - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:34 pm:
First to 3:28: If White were up 40 points, he wouldn’t be on the radio attacking Rutherford, which he is.
On this hiring stuff, anyone else notice Mr. Druker telling one reporter that Mrs. Roth served as a speaker and now, when all of this stuff comes out, she just “schedules” for the speaker. Who ever heard of a $30/hour scheduler?!?!
And Mrs. Benigno is a “secretary” making $25 an hour handing out business cards that show her title as “Intelligence Analyst”? A title they “made up for her.” That’s ridiculous, and even if they did make up the title, why in the world would you SAY that?!
- Wumpus - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:44 pm:
I guess they smell blood in the water. If the GOP was systematically voted out for the allegations against George Ryan. It would seem possible that the same could happen to the Dems…unikely, but possible.
- Little Egypt - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 3:58 pm:
Rutherford needs to donate what campaign money he has left to charity. In fact, that could be said for a lot of candidates.
- DuPage Dandy - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 5:12 pm:
Did Christine ask Tom Cross he got to donate $ he got from the other Levine-Rezko bagman, Sheldon Pekin?
Just asking
- Buck Flagojevich - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 5:31 pm:
As time goes on I think we will find out that old Tony Rezko has had his fingers in a lot of peoples pudding.
- Tom - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 5:34 pm:
As long as Chicago and Cook Co. Democrats reflexively vote for the guy with the magic “(D)” after his name why should Blagojevich, Daley, Stroger, et. al. care about corruption?
- Cassandra - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 6:30 pm:
Sigh.
Maybe Illinois should just secede and declare ourselves a banana republic.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 7:36 pm:
Excuse me, while fingers are being pointed and Bernie’s column is being quoted, please expaain how Blago thug Mark Kolatz can make more than 90k at his State jobs at the ISBe and the Gov’s Office and still own a piece of a business that does work for State agencies? Two sets of rules?
- RealClear - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 7:56 pm:
I’ll be shocked if Rutherford or Rodogno breaks 40%.
The Rutherford Tumblers? I don’t think so.
- Walking Wounded - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 9:04 pm:
Real Clear: And if the zombie voters go with Jesse White, well…..four more years of such spectactular public service.
And for SOS employees…four more years of cover up and nepotism. This administration is as a sorry lot as I’ve seen in over 20 years.
- Blogopster - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 9:19 pm:
One must be careful when leading family members to the feeding trough.
- Muletown - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 9:26 pm:
Real Clear—Prepare to be shocked!!! Mayor Daley is into a federal hiring scandal in Chicago. That will keep the organization on hold Novermber 7. Rod Blagojevich appears to have a serious problem where Mr. Rezko is concerned. Jesse White is beginning to smell like dead fish lying on the beach. Gianoulis appears to be taking from the crooks and giving to the “family”. Stroger Jr. is getting beat in the poles by a Republican in Cook County. Smell the coffee people!!! Blagojevich is going to take the whole ticket with him. Lisa Madigan would need to expand her office 10 fold to investigate all her ticketmates. The Newspaper Editorials are going to start hitting very soon. They will endorse Lisa and Hynes and the rest are in major the dumpster. It will be a long October for the Democrats. The Federal investigations will get hotter than cooler. Get outside of Springfield and you will see how bad it is!!!
- friend of the devil - Thursday, Oct 12, 06 @ 10:02 pm:
“Intelligence Analyst” is the title they made up for Tammy Raynor.
- RealClear - Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 12:54 am:
Muletown, I admire your optimism. I really do.
But trust me on this. It’s going to be the worst year ever for the Republican Party here. It’s Topinka who is dragging down her ticketmates.
Blago has most of his base. Topinka doesn’t. Not to mention the fact that the Dem base is much bigger in IL. Plus add the national problems for Repubs on top of the local woes.
Also trust me on this. Tony Peraica is only winning in polls he’s bought and paid for.
- Scott Fawell's Cellmate - Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 1:32 am:
Radogno is a hypocrite, and a despearate one at that.
She stated, “Until we know all the facts and the level of alleged involvement Mr. Winter has in the Rezko scandal, Giannoulias should return his contributions.â€
Ms. Radogno, do you then agree with the following statement: “Until we know all the facts and the level of alleged involvement Mr. Cellini has in the Rezko scandal, Topinka and the GOP candidates should return his contributions†? Why or why not ?
- Bill Baar's Physician - Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 2:16 am:
Frustrated Republican at 3:34 p.m.:
The most recent poll shows Jesse White with a 40-point lead over Rutherford. Specifically, Rich posted the most recent poll from Copley on 9/25: “Not a lot of surprises in the latest Copley poll. This is essentially the same result as every other poll except that goofy Sun-Times outlier…. Jesse White led Dan Rutherford 65-25.” (The complete post is avialble above at Poll Stories.)
- annon. - Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 5:18 am:
“”MINISTERIAL” Now that’s a stretch even of all “Websters” definitions!! Minister of what ??…. the “Church of Divine Economic Sprituality”.
(ministerial) adj., Of, relating to, or characteristic of a minister of religion or of the ministry. Nothing about laborer, clerk typist ect. Hmmmmmmmm??????
- Jesse the Legend - Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 7:30 am:
Smartest politician in Illinois history. Beat the pants off Cohn the Soup Gal. Will dispatch Danny the Scuba boy with as much ease.
His organization is corrupt, he is less than smart, but white people love the tumblers…it helps them assuage their white guilt over slavery days.
- Skarfeld - Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 7:33 am:
Rutherford has done his duty for state and party and has kept his word to Jesse not to go “negative”. What a waste of a good Republican.
- Anon - Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 8:45 am:
Bill Baar’s Physician:
That poll you’re referring to is the same as the “outlier” you also refer to. Post-Dispatch had the race at 51-31 right before that.
If they were confident they had a 40-point lead, you wouldn’t see White attacking Rutherford, something he apparently just started this week.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens when TV starts and newspapers start endorsing. I’m sure Rutherford’s people are hoping everyone in the White camp is as confident as you.
- whacko - Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 9:41 am:
Help me undertand your point Real Clear, because Rutherford’s poll numbers are way behind White’s, he’s not suppose to point out government graft? I didn’t think you meant that, it only sounds that way.
- cermak_rd - Friday, Oct 13, 06 @ 2:39 pm:
Rutherford doesn’t have a prayer and knows it. Otherwise, he’d actually be running a campaign. True it’s better than Stu’s but not by much.
I kept thinking Radogno would win handily, but she’s simply been unable to get anyone’s attention at all. The only thing we ever hear are allegations against the big G, never positive things about Radogno.
- Walking Wounded - Saturday, Oct 14, 06 @ 4:14 pm:
Rich,
Thank you for removing the previous post, which clearly crossed the line.
WW
- colt 45 - Saturday, Oct 14, 06 @ 6:19 pm:
cermak_rd, you have shown how “out of the loop” you are. the colt man will drink a tall one in your honor with the hopes that what is obvious to all might become obvious to you. rutherford’s outworking topinka. pay attention brother.