Eric Krol has a must-read story today about a prominent DuPage County Republican who might be engaging in some quid pro quo with the Chicago Democrats…
One of the most powerful Republicans in DuPage County is using his Democratic ties to enrich his private law practice on bond deals while awarding allies of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Gov. Rod Blagojevich taxpayer-funded lobbying contracts.
DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom is drawing fire from some county officials who question the intersection of public and private interests.
“I think that it’s extremely disappointing. It generates a perception that Bob’s support for these matters of important public policy have been determined perhaps by less than just good government terms,” said Brien Sheahan, a DuPage County board member from Elmhurst. “That perception is very damaging.”
DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett said he found the situation “troublesome.”
Read the whole thing then come back here to discuss. [The original link was changed at the DH website, but it’s updated now.]
- VanillaMan - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 8:52 am:
“As the area becomes Democratic, I’m dealing with more Democrats than I have in the past.”
As he deals with more Democrats, he should reconsider his role in the Republican Party and make it clear to Republicans where his loyalties lie. He doesn’t have to be a county chairman. He can just be another government businessman.
The basic problem is that he is holding two sometimes conflicting roles. He needs to drop one of them, and I recommend dropping the Chairmanship.
- Stuck with Sen. CPA - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 8:57 am:
Bad link, Rich. You can find the story on the DH’s Animal Farm blog. Here’s a tinyurl link to the story.
http://tinyurl.com/3b4m5d
Good work by Krol.
- Patriot - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 9:11 am:
The future of Illinois lies with moderate Democrats at the present time.
- Wumpus - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 9:22 am:
Thwe future of the dems lies with Moderate dems at the present time? Besides my confusion over the use of future..present time, moderate is a relative term. I don’t consider most of this states public higher ups moderate..maybe Madigan the elder…but he is all about power. Obama, Durbin, the congressional delegation from Chicago, none are what I consider moderate. The future lies in being an establishment politician from the city. Durbin may have run as a moderate years ago, but has long shed that disguise.
The only dems who would be considered moderate are some suburban Chicago dems and downstate dems. This is my opinion of course, but the power is held by establishment dems.
- Team Sleep - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 9:36 am:
Why is anyone surprised? He’s a politician and a lawyer. After last year’s results in DuPage County, shouldn’t the current county GOP brass look at his role within the party? Maybe it’s time they look at running someone against him.
- Ole Prof - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 11:27 am:
Ole Prof knows Bob from his college days and thinks he has all the right makings for a moderate dem (and that is a compliment).
- annoyed all the time - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 11:39 am:
So what if DuPage has the thinking power of how to continue to function is a changing society. I don’t think that the chairman is shifting his allegiance he is learning how to work with all sides and continue to keep DuPage functional. Truth is DuPage is changing and they get no support. They can’t raise taxes, and they are cutting services yet they are getting to be almost as large as Cook COunty and in need of providign services to their county. I think it’s a great idea the Chairman has sought out help to help keep the growing population of DuPage County ont he minds of the powers that be. The State is looking at a cigarette tax yet thye wouldn’t pass legislation that would allow DuPage to increase their tax on cigaretts. I think we need to stop looking at DuPage as the step child and realize that the Chairman has doen a great job with DuPage’s changes over the year and if and when he gets the recognition and support from those around him can continue to do the same. At the same time, his position there is not considered fulltime and for that he needs other employment - you blame him for needing income? I continue to think if positions of that standing are scrutinized like this they shoudl be full-time positions.
- Anon - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 12:35 pm:
Years ago, the Tribune said it best (I am paraphrasing a bit here): “When you are a lawyer in politics, you don’t solicit a bribe; you send them a bill.”
- richard - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 2:50 pm:
Paul Rosenfeld, the fundraiser lobbyist, has a contract with the DuPage Forest Preserve
is that because he knows a lot about birdwatching, Boy Scouts and Wetlands
OR
is it because he is perceived as having the ear of the corrupt Blago administration
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 3:25 pm:
annoyed:
DuPage isn’t near as big as Cook County. Last I checked, Cook County had 5 mil residents whereas DuPage only had 1 mil or so.
- Ted - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 4:50 pm:
Democrats control the entire government in Illinois, how do you not work with them? They certainly can’t work together though.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 8:07 pm:
Be careful about reading too much in to doing bond work at IFA. The IFA is nothing more than a conduit bond issuer (it issues bonds on behalf of private colleges, non-profit hospitals, non-profits, and other entities that could not obtain tax-exempt financing on their own). In general the IFA and the Illinois Development Finance Authority before it allowed the borrower (for example the University of Chicago, etc) to choose their own financing team (investment bankers and attorneys). While not commenting on the other units of government his firm (which by the way has a very good reputation through out the midwest) did work for, let’s not read to much in to Ice Miller doing work at IFA. The real value may have been relationships with board members of the various borrowers (for example U of chicago, Elmhust College, etc… you get the point).
- Two faced - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 8:27 pm:
Sheahan works at a law firm, how much business have they received from the County? Might be worth looking into me thinks.
- Squideshi - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 8:40 pm:
I mentioned a few days back that there were some strange things going on in DuPage County; albeit, not specifically this. There’s also some good news in DuPage County, however.
- Out of bounds - Thursday, Jul 19, 07 @ 9:17 pm:
So allegations by what look to be a bitter County Board employee makes for “must read” news? It all sounds like much ado about nothing…more “gotcha” journalism really.