Trouble ahead
Thursday, Aug 8, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Bill Daley called today for Gov. Pat Quinn to withdraw his possibly illegal appointment of Thornton Township Supervisor Frank Zuccarelli to the CTA board. Quinn has so far refused to do so, claiming a loophole allows Zuccarelli to bypass laws prohibiting local government officials from drawing a paycheck while serving on a transit board.
From Daley’s press release…
“We all thought Pat Quinn, the self-styled reformer, would rise about this kind of politics, but when a powerful Cook County pol needed a paycheck, Governor Quinn was there for him. Today I call on the Governor to rescind this blatantly political and possibly illegal appointment, and if he continues to refuse to do the right thing, then the Senate must act to vote down this appointment,” said Daley.
Zuccarelli, who also serves as Thornton Township Democratic Committeeman, is expected to vote to endorse Quinn for re-election as governor at next week’s Cook County Democratic Party slating committee.
If and (most likely) when Zuccarelli votes for Quinn, this story could get a lot more intense.
…Adding… WLS Radio…
But isn’t a patronage allegation from a Daley dripping with irony?
“You may think it’s ironic. I’m talking about what I believe, not about what others may have done or believed about patronage,” Daley said.
But in a nightmare for Daley’s image-makers, a garbage truck backed into the alley behind Daley to pick up a load when he said it.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:04 am:
Does Emanuel want to weigh in? From the CTA website:
–The governing arm of CTA is the Chicago Transit Board. Terry Peterson serves as Chairman. The board consists of seven members, four appointed by the Mayor of Chicago and three by the Governor of Illinois.
The Mayor’s appointees are subject to the approval of the Governor and the Chicago City Council; the Governor’s appointees are subject to the approval of the Mayor and the Illinois State Senate. –
- Richardo - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:14 am:
I think Daley is more concerned about the politics of a “possibly illegal” appointment than the actual legality. It’s all part of the election-you take every opportunity you can to criticize your opponent, and they do the same to you.
- Yossarian Lives - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:16 am:
Daley’s condemnation would be more powerful if it were free of typos. Just saying.
- Empty Chair - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:18 am:
Daley is walking such a fine line with this. I get it. It’s August. There’s no news. Stay relevant, keep your name out there, keep the story going.
But how long does he keep talking about this stuff until it comes back to bite him in the behind? How long until a savvy reporter asks him about whether he felt some of the appointments his brother made as Mayor were subject to the same standard he is applying to Quinn?
Natasha Korecki tweeted from the presser:
“Bill Daley presser interrupted by distracting, loud garbage truck backing up right next to us. Staffer jokes “must be a state contractor.”"
https://twitter.com/natashakorecki/status/365488379082702850
The sad thing is, those kind of tactics were pioneered by his father and used by his brother.
I just think they’re being a bit to caviler here, and opening their candidate up to the easiest attack other than the Wall St. label.
- Adam Smith - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:23 am:
Another annoying “champion of reform,” Chris Lauzen did the same thing, appointing an RTA member who was also serving on a state board.
In both cases I suspect it’s more ineptitude than nefarious. Neither Quinn nor Lauzen takes time to dot “i’s”. At least Lauzen’s appointee had the good sense to resign when exposed. Quinn just can’t admit when he’s wrong.
- walkinfool - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:27 am:
Who’s writing Daley’s releases?
They’re smart, interesting, and more memorable than most political pap.
- Raymond - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:39 am:
Hilarious how PQ is using every lever at his disposal as governor to bolster his political campaign, yet, somehow or another, he’s the reformer.
- Soccermom - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:43 am:
Walkinfool - I believe Daley’s communications are being handled by the always savvy and witty Pete Giangreco.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:50 am:
“We all thought Pat Quinn, the self-styled reformer, would rise about this kind of politics,”
Personally, I rise about 6 a.m. most days.
–Trouble Ahead–
Trouble Behind? The notion just crossed my mind that Rich made a conscious or sub-conscious “Casey Jones” reference for the train set.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 11:51 am:
===reference for the train set. ===
And the Deadheads.
- Mokenavince - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 12:02 pm:
The Mighty Quinn acts like every other hack. What is Zuccarelli a triple dipper.
Quinn will not win the primary.
- MrJM - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 12:34 pm:
And you know that notion just crossed my mind.
– MrJM
- Ray del Camino - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 12:36 pm:
Deadheads appreciate it.
- Franglais - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 12:42 pm:
Mayor Rahm offered a letter of concurrence on the Zucarelli appointment. Wordslinger is right, someone should ask what he thinks of this.
- erik stratten - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 1:22 pm:
irony? irony? hahahaha….a Daley complaining about a political patronage appointment made by somebody else…let’s see is that ironic? hahahahaha
- siriusly - Thursday, Aug 8, 13 @ 2:20 pm:
The garbage truck is classic.