From a letter to the editor in today’s Daily Southtown:

While the Coalition for Better Government (CBG) undisputably has worked very hard for countless candidates, we also have become a victim of our own successes. […]

We were there for Blagojevich when he ran for state representative. We were there for him when he ran for Congress. And yes, we were there when he ran for governor.

Undoubtedly, if it were not for the support of Ald. Dick Mell and the Coalition for Better Government, Blagojevich would have simply remained a rinky-dink attorney to this day. Rod depended on us, and we were a very significant source of help in his elections.

We knocked on doors, passed out literature and put up signs. Rod combed his hair and shook hands. Rod was close to us and has publicly thanked CBG on a number of occasions. […]

Dominic Longo
Co-chairman
Coalition for Better Government
Chicago

This letter is quite amazing, and it turns out to be the real deal.

“We called and cofirmed with Longo and he said he wrote it,” said Ed Koziarski, the Southtown’s editorial page editor a few minutes ago.

The Republicans and the governor’s Democratic critics are gonna have a field day with this one. Here’s a bit from an online bio of Longo, a former captain in Dick Mell’s 33rd Ward Organization and the guy who helped elevate a “rinky-dink attorney” to the governor’s office:

# Vote Fraud–Longo was charged with vote fraud (stuffing ballot boxes) in 1984 while working as a precinct captain for 33rd Alderman Dick Mell.

# Licenses for bribes–In 1995, the Illinois Secretary of State busted a testing operation run by Longo crony Guy Dettio, and Teamsters Local 726 member / boss Thomas Clair. The operation involved handing out Illinois trucking licensees to people not eligible to take the test. Clair eventually told a reporter, Dave Savini from NBC 5, that Longo himself had ordered the union leader to pass whoever the airport manager sent in for testing (the City of Chicago had ‘licensing authority’). Sixteen trucking licenses were revoked as a result of the investigation. For three months, Longo’s department was not allowed to administer the tests.

# Extortion–In November 1995, the City of Chicago Inspector General’s office was investigating allegations that Longo may have solicited truck drivers assigned to snow removal and other season work at O’Hare “to pay a couple thousand dollars” in exchange for year round jobs with full time benefits. Allegations also surfaced that Longo was selling jobs, extorting money out of city employees and forcing them to work on campaigns while on city time. He was forced out of his position and moved to another department.

# Ethics violations–In September 1998, a team of city lawyers was attempting to determine if City Department of Revenue chief Ron Calicchio was breaking city laws by raising political cash from city businesses that are regulated by his department. These businesses were being ‘asked’ to contribute to The Coalition of Better Government, run by Calicchio and his partner, Dominic Longo.

# Ghost payrolling–In October 2000, the Chicago Inspector General’s Office, during a investigation of Longo, documents him going to Ultimate Exposure Tanning, Bally’s Total Fitness, Café Cappucino, Caputo’s Food Market, Dei Giovanni’s Men’s wear, and City One apparel on city time. Longo resigns his position with the city in November 2000.

For these reasons and many more, Blagojevich claimed he barred the CBG from working on his 2002 campaign. I’m attempting to reach Mr. Longo at the moment. Capitol Fax subscribers should stay tuned.