A Worth Township official who once served briefly as a state legislator and now moonlights as a sales consultant for a politically connected red-light camera contractor has been subpoenaed by federal authorities investigating the company’s activities.
John M. O’Sullivan, 51, of Oak Lawn, is Worth Township supervisor and previously served as the township’s Democratic committeeman.
O’Sullivan was chosen by Democratic party leaders in August 2010 to finish out the last four months of state Rep. Kevin Joyce’s unexpired term after Joyce resigned and moved to Florida. Sources said O’Sullivan is a close ally of the Joyce family, longtime political powerhouses in the 19th Ward.
At SafeSpeed, LLC, O’Sullivan’s job is finding municipalities that might want to hire the Chicago company to install and operate red light cameras in their communities – with the business and the towns splitting the revenues from tickets.
O’Sullivan went from being a driver and weekend disc jockey to state representative, township supervisor and Democratic committeeman, Cook County Forest Preserve District supervisor, and chief of staff to former Cook County Board member Ed Moody, now the recorder of deeds. O’Sullivan also is linked to a red-light camera company, SafeSpeed, that the feds are said to be eyeing.
O’Sullivan and Moody, along with Moody’s brother, Fred, have been the torque of Madigan’s political organization for decades. They were the guys standing on front stoops collecting signatures, bullying opponents, setting up political trades, electing Madigan’s House majority — putting in their time in exchange for perks down the road.
They got them. O’Sullivan replaced former state Rep. Kevin Joyce in 2010 in the Illinois House when Joyce moved to Florida. Conveniently, O’Sullivan was able to appoint himself to the seat with a weighted vote as a Democratic committeeman. This is Illinois, after all.
O’Sullivan later voted for the 2011 state income tax hike as a lame-duck representative. He then ended up, along with another short-term legislator, Michael Carberry, on Cook County’s payroll under President Toni Preckwinkle. […]
O’Sullivan has been around the block. He knows a lot. I’m guessing at this point, so do the feds. And now he’s been subpoenaed.
O’Sullivan is definitely in tight with the Moody brothers and worked a lot of Madigan campaigns through them, I’m told, but he’s most definitely on the outs with the 19th Ward these days. And, as far as his ties to Madigan, here’s what a longtime 19th Ward guy told me this week…
I’m guessing any communication between O’Sullivan and the Speaker goes through Marty Quinn first, and then through the Moodys. “The family has a lot of buffers.”
“My video gaming license was approved (in 2012) after a 24-month intensive investigation. All my business relationships were disclosed to investigators, and the relationships in question were explicitly discussed with multiple (Illinois Gaming Board) agents and investigators. As these business relationships were ongoing, they had been disclosed and further discussed at each annual review of my licenses over the last seven years,” Heidner testified. “I have no affiliation with the mafia at all.”
“I have never been arrested or indicted for any crime whatsoever. And no proof linking me to any criminal conspiracy, whether it’s called ‘Mafia,’ or ‘Cosa Nostra’ or whatever other name you wish to give, has ever been made public.”
I am absolutely not saying that Mr. Heidner was lying, mind you. I didn’t even know who the guy was until the other day. All I’m saying is there’s a reason why I made my interns watch Godfather 1 and 2 and Goodfellas.
It is enjoyable “inside baseball” to see director Roger Corman on the panel as a US Senator. Screenwriter Bill Bowers acts as the committee chairman. Both acted in their roles at the request of Francis Ford Coppola.
- Reach for the stars - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 10:30 am:
Thankfully, no “sleeps with the fishes” references so far.
=== but he’s most definitely on the outs with the 19th Ward these days.===
That depends. The 19th ward has a lot of “families”. They all haven’t been playing nice
“O’Sullivan went from being a driver and weekend disc jockey to state representative, township supervisor and Democratic committeeman, Cook County Forest Preserve District supervisor, and chief of staff to former Cook County Board member Ed Moody, now the recorder of deeds.”
Proof positive that hard work and clean livin’ pay off.
“All I’m saying is there’s a reason why I made my interns watch Godfather 1 and 2 and Goodfellas.”
And here I was wasting all my 70s crime drama nostalgia on Charley Varrick and the French Connection…. Oh yeah, because the Godfather was the most boring movie ever made…..
Wanna-be “connected guys” always, always, always make the fundamental blunder to remind them and everyone else “they ain’t connected to nuttin’”
These guys yap, flaunt, lack an understanding of buffers, loyalty, and how that real “business” works in the open, covertly.
Love me the two Godfather films. I do not recognize any film after the two. I’ve been known on occasion to reference from them both. The comedic reality of these references is usually why, lol
- Ginhouse Tommy - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:28 am:
Rich, have your interns read the book The Sinatra club by Sal Polisi or Gotti Rules by George Anastasia. Check out youtube videos with Michael Franchese. That should give them some insight. These people were scary and to be avoided at all costs.
As an aside, if you can break it up in two sittings, watch the chronological director’s cut presentation of “The Godfather”. So much added context and scenes. Watching in order of the timeline is like watching both films fit the very first time again.
=== and chief of staff to former Cook County Board member Ed Moody, now the recorder of deeds. ===
FYI, although O’Sullivan worked on Commissioner Moody’s staff, he was never Chief of Staff. Also, as “tight” as people think that he is with the Moodys, he does not work for the Recorder of Deeds
O’Sullivan lost his race as a Committeeman to the late Joan Murphy’s daughter Trish. If memory serves me right, those cameras were a big issue in that campaign and the one for county commissioner against Lou Presta the mayor of Crestwood. Presta’s campaign was run by O’Sullivan and Tobolsky’s chief of staff Doherty.
“O’Sullivan went from being a driver and weekend disc jockey to state representative, township supervisor and Democratic committeeman, Cook County Forest Preserve District supervisor, and chief of staff to former Cook County Board member Ed Moody, now the recorder of deeds. O’Sullivan also is linked to a red-light camera company..”
Looks a lot like the character Fredo.
“Send Fredo off to do this, send Fredo off to do that! Let Fredo take care of some Mickey Mouse nightclub somewhere! Send Fredo to pick somebody up at the airport!”
That movie didn’t end well for Fredo.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 1:32 pm:
Honestly, the Godfather and Goodfellas obsession here glorifies corruption as much as it explains it. I think we’re going to see a lot of pretend Michael Corleones in the future.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 1:36 pm:
- Practical Politics - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 10:28 am:
It is enjoyable “inside baseball” to see director Roger Corman on the panel as a US Senator. Screenwriter Bill Bowers acts as the committee chairman. Both acted in their roles at the request of Francis Ford Coppola.
- Reach for the stars - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 10:30 am:
Thankfully, no “sleeps with the fishes” references so far.
- Been There - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 10:37 am:
=== but he’s most definitely on the outs with the 19th Ward these days.===
That depends. The 19th ward has a lot of “families”. They all haven’t been playing nice
- @misterjayem - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 10:43 am:
“O’Sullivan went from being a driver and weekend disc jockey to state representative, township supervisor and Democratic committeeman, Cook County Forest Preserve District supervisor, and chief of staff to former Cook County Board member Ed Moody, now the recorder of deeds.”
Proof positive that hard work and clean livin’ pay off.
– MrJM
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:13 am:
“All I’m saying is there’s a reason why I made my interns watch Godfather 1 and 2 and Goodfellas.”
And here I was wasting all my 70s crime drama nostalgia on Charley Varrick and the French Connection…. Oh yeah, because the Godfather was the most boring movie ever made…..
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:23 am:
It would be nice if we could go one week - or even one day - without talking about political corruption on this blog.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:24 am:
===It would be nice if we could go===
Is that you, mom?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:28 am:
To the post,
Wanna-be “connected guys” always, always, always make the fundamental blunder to remind them and everyone else “they ain’t connected to nuttin’”
These guys yap, flaunt, lack an understanding of buffers, loyalty, and how that real “business” works in the open, covertly.
Love me the two Godfather films. I do not recognize any film after the two. I’ve been known on occasion to reference from them both. The comedic reality of these references is usually why, lol
- Ginhouse Tommy - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:28 am:
Rich, have your interns read the book The Sinatra club by Sal Polisi or Gotti Rules by George Anastasia. Check out youtube videos with Michael Franchese. That should give them some insight. These people were scary and to be avoided at all costs.
- Regular democrat - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:31 am:
Just the fact that you make your interns watch those three movies automatically nominates you for a lifetime achievement award in the blog universe
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:33 am:
As an aside, if you can break it up in two sittings, watch the chronological director’s cut presentation of “The Godfather”. So much added context and scenes. Watching in order of the timeline is like watching both films fit the very first time again.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:40 am:
Too bad you didn’t make Bruce watch them, Rich.
I’m still shaking my head over his tuna fillet gag.
- Barton Lorimor - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:42 am:
= All I’m saying is there’s a reason why I made my interns watch Godfather 1 and 2 and Goodfellas. =
At one point, Godfather references was the only way we could communicate with you.
- Powdered Whig - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:52 am:
=== and chief of staff to former Cook County Board member Ed Moody, now the recorder of deeds. ===
FYI, although O’Sullivan worked on Commissioner Moody’s staff, he was never Chief of Staff. Also, as “tight” as people think that he is with the Moodys, he does not work for the Recorder of Deeds
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 11:58 am:
=== Is that you, mom?===
No, just a taxpayer tired of these corrupt pols taking my money and pouring it into their pockets.
- Rich Hill - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 12:12 pm:
I knew it was you, Marty.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 12:14 pm:
=== taxpayer===
We’re all taxpayers.
Get a better schtick
- Sayitaintso - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 12:16 pm:
Considering all the chips tossed onto the table lately, requiring a viewing of ‘Casino’ wouldn’t hurt either.
- April Wine - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 12:18 pm:
==there’s a reason why I made my interns watch Godfather 1 and 2 and Goodfellas.==
IMHO, Miller’s Crossing should be on this list as well.
- DIstant watcher - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 12:38 pm:
When is Rich going to curate (that word)a film series? Hold it at the Biograph, the Music Box, the Siskel, and sell a few tickets.
Also, is it really possible Rich didn’t tell the interns to watch Chinatown?
- independent - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 12:40 pm:
O’Sullivan lost his race as a Committeeman to the late Joan Murphy’s daughter Trish. If memory serves me right, those cameras were a big issue in that campaign and the one for county commissioner against Lou Presta the mayor of Crestwood. Presta’s campaign was run by O’Sullivan and Tobolsky’s chief of staff Doherty.
- Dotnonymous - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 1:04 pm:
Wannabe gangsters can never shoot straight.
- Occam - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 1:11 pm:
“O’Sullivan went from being a driver and weekend disc jockey to state representative, township supervisor and Democratic committeeman, Cook County Forest Preserve District supervisor, and chief of staff to former Cook County Board member Ed Moody, now the recorder of deeds. O’Sullivan also is linked to a red-light camera company..”
Looks a lot like the character Fredo.
“Send Fredo off to do this, send Fredo off to do that! Let Fredo take care of some Mickey Mouse nightclub somewhere! Send Fredo to pick somebody up at the airport!”
That movie didn’t end well for Fredo.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 1:32 pm:
Honestly, the Godfather and Goodfellas obsession here glorifies corruption as much as it explains it. I think we’re going to see a lot of pretend Michael Corleones in the future.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 1:36 pm:
===I have no affiliation with the mafia at all===
Reminds me more of Nixon than TGF2.
- Name Withheld - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 2:55 pm:
Ed Moody and Fred Moody? Geez - should the investigation turn more ugly - this could turn into the Moody Blues.
- Powdered Whig - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 3:38 pm:
=== Ed Moody and Fred Moody? Geez - should the investigation turn more ugly - this could turn into the Moody Blues. ===
The Moodys have nothing to do with the pending investigations.
- Anon - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 4:10 pm:
“The Moodys have nothing to do with the pending investigations”
Thanks Pat Ward…I mean Powdered Whig
- Ebenezer - Thursday, Oct 17, 19 @ 7:01 pm:
===It would be nice if we could go===
Is that you, mom?
===
Rich knows wherefrom come the clicks.
- Morning thoughts - Friday, Oct 18, 19 @ 8:52 am:
Cicci’s lawyer looks like Mike Jacobs