Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

So, he’s a reformer now?

Posted in:

Illinois

* Buried deep in Rick Pearson’s must-read story about Bill Daley attacking Gov. Pat Quinn over, of all things, political patronage, is this nugget…

…the first Mayor Daley hired a firm to inspect parking meters for the city, which quickly decided to buy its insurance from a brokerage newly formed by Bill and John Daley.

* Dan Mihalopoulos has more…

Court testimony in one of the federal corruption cases that effectively dismantled Richard M. Daley’s political machine indicated that Bill Daley did not merely know what was being done for his brother’s sake. In the 2009 trial of the top Streets and San man Al Sanchez, the feds put a witness on the stand who said he saw Bill Daley take a hands-on role in helping his brother rebuild their father’s machine.

Under a grant of immunity, former city employee Roberto Medina told jurors he was at a meeting in the early 1990s in which Bill Daley and others directed him to form the North Side branch of the Hispanic Democratic Organization, whose best campaign workers got a leg up in the City Hall hiring process.

At the time, Bill Daley told me he had “no memory” of the witness, but added, “I’m not saying I didn’t meet him. Everybody meets a lot of people in politics.”

He also denied knowing how clout influenced hiring before throwing out another little caveat: “Times were different. You’re talking about 20 years ago. Even if it happened — and I’m not saying it did — things were different. There was nothing illegal about that stuff.”

* Daley, though, insists he’s a changed man. Back to Pearson’s piece…

“I’m standing here as my own person. You can make judgments about past administrations or relatives or whatever you want, but I’m telling you what I believe and how I’ll be as a leader,” said Daley, who called on the Illinois Senate to vote down the appointment if Quinn refuses to pull Zuccarelli’s name from consideration.

“This is the 21st century. This is not the 1950s. This is not 50, 40 years ago. This is the time when leaders have to step forward and do things differently,” he added. […]

“Some people may say, ‘Well, this is different for a Daley to do.’ But maybe people learn that I’m not what they think I am or what they think I would be,” Daley said. In another twist, Daley indicated that he might not seek the endorsement of Democratic county slate-makers, a ritual that his father once controlled with an iron fist.

He “might not seek” the county party’s endorsement probably because he’s either trying to convince the party to not slate or to delay a slating vote or because he figures Quinn will win it anyway.

* This is not the first time the tables have been turned on Pat Quinn the outsider reformer. Here’s a March, 1996 Tom Hardy piece from that year’s US Senate Democratic primary race which pitted Quinn against Dick Durbin…

During Democrat Pat Quinn’s 20 years in politics and throughout his numerous campaigns for public office, his calling card has been that of an outsider, a populist who speaks for the average citizen and doesn’t kowtow to special interests.

Pat Quinn puts the pop back into populism, he often says of himself.

Yet the sound we’ve heard from Pat the Populist this year is more of a fizzle.

To gauge just how far this unconventional, once-promising politician has fallen, look beyond the startling poll data that shows Quinn trailing U.S. Rep. Richard Durbin by a virtually insurmountable 22 percentage points in their U.S. Senate primary race.

You find that not only has Durbin’s heavy TV advertising erased the enormous advantage that Quinn, a former state treasurer, enjoyed in name recognition, but that it also usurped Quinn’s greatest political asset.

It is Durbin, not Quinn, who is considered to be more of a political outsider and more in touch with average people, according to the results of a new Tribune poll. This must have Durbin’s image mavens and the Democratic regulars who despise Quinn for his sanctimony doubled over with laughter.

* Meanwhile, Mark Brown talked to Frank Zuccarelli yesterday…

Zuccarelli said the CTA appointment grew out of him telling Quinn “I was looking for another position because I was leaving the [Cook County] Employee Appeals Board.”

Asked why he wanted a second government job, Zuccarelli said: “Because I’ve always been interested in working simultaneously. Since I was fifteen years old, I’ve had more than one position.”

“And I think my position at the township adds some, not only credibility, but my ability to understand the needs of the transportation requirements of the people who live out here in the south suburbs,” he added.

Zucccarelli said he was unaware of the law prohibiting most state and local elected officials and employees from serving on the transit board when he sought a position through the governor’s office. That law does not specifically address township officials.

He said he had mentioned his interest in transportation to the governor’s office, but it was the governor’s staff that suggested the spot on the CTA Board. The part-time position pays $25,000 annually. The Thornton Township website reports Zuccarelli’s total compensation as supervisor at $186,418. He also is the unpaid chairman of South Suburban College.

Asked if he would consider foregoing the CTA salary, Zuccarelli said: “At this point, I’m taking the money. I’ve been in public service for 35 years, and I’ve got about four or five more years left and I’m looking to retire. And I don’t have anything in savings. So at this point I’m not interested in really thinking about giving back the salary.”

Discuss.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 9:49 am

Comments

Zuc’s making more than 180K a year, and says “I don’t have anything in savings.”

Uh oh.

Comment by walkinfool Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 9:56 am
“I’m not interested in really thinking about giving back the salary.”

Hey, at least he’s honest.

Comment by Just Observing Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 9:56 am
=== Zuc’s making more than 180K a year, and says “I don’t have anything in savings.” ===

The 180 probably includes benefits, but still, point taken.

Comment by Just Observing Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 9:58 am
Every time I have to put money in a Chicago parking meter, I feel dirty (and by “put money”, I mean insert credit card because it costs so much).

Comment by Nonplussed Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:04 am
illinois aint ready for reform.

it might be interesting for someone to check the debate transcripts from when this prohibition was added. it may be that they thought they were excluding all local officials, even if the language doesnt cover townships.that would not change the situation, but it would let us know if they thought they were covering everything.

Comment by langhorne Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:05 am
6 figure income, 5 years from retirement and no savings…

…just the kind of keen fiscal planning we need for the CTA right now.

But he’s a veteran, so ‘back off,’ right?

What a joke.

Comment by grand old partisan Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:06 am
Cullteron could tell you about the army of patronage workers from all over the county Bill Daley put on the street for Rosty when Cullerton tried to knock off the under-fire Ways and Means chairman in the 1994 primary.

Daley even pulled in Pres. Clinton to campaign for Rosty — in a primary. But Daley was a rainmaker lawyer and lobbyist for Mayer Brown and Rosty was his bread-and-butter.

I can’t fathom why Daley is trying to position himself as an outsider and reformer. It’s just bizarre on its face. Once you scratch the surface with a little oppo research, it becomes ridiculous.

Quinn’s no stranger to power politics, but you’re never going to convince anyone that Daley is an outsider compared to Quinn.

He can position himself against Quinn on competence and leadership, but not on “reform.”

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:07 am
I think the 186k is likely salary and reimbursements, I’d be surprised if that includes benefits. But to the post, he gave a lot of non-answers. Really, since age 15 he’s worked “more than one position.” Yet he seems to know he isn’t 15 anymore and is now looking at retirement. Better answer would have been “Township residents in our community surveys rate lack of regular transportation as the greatest barrier to (you name it…quality of life, employment, etc.). So I want to address that issue.”

Comment by Mongo Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:09 am
i think the term “reformer” is outdated and meaningless to the average voter. it is inside baseball.

Comment by langhorne Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:10 am
Rich, would Daley have any chance at getting the Cook County Democratic Party endorsement? Looking at the vote totals from 2012 and the committeemen in the big wards/townships, it seems Quinn has it locked up.

Comment by Snucka Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:21 am
Please ILGOP, please - send up at least 1 decent candidate who can counter this crud. Please ILGOP, please - send up a candidate who is concerned about the financials and stays out of the personal lives of the citizens. Please

Comment by dupage dan Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:27 am
Daley cannot pull off “reformer” vs. Quinn, except in terms of financial acumen and getting things done. Maybe.

Comment by walkinfool Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:27 am
william Daley’s significant role in aiding the creation of the Hispanic Democratic Organization, which turned out to be a very corrupt Hispanic arm of the Chicago Machine, has been well publicized in the past. I have been surprised that no one took much notice of it in light of Daley’s move to run for governor, until the story linked here. Its a pretty big deal, IMHO, and Daley has to wear the jacket for it. His broad reference to “things in the ’50s” which he claims were “legal” then is laughable.

Comment by Conservative Republican Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:27 am
Word — I don’t think the strategy is for Daley to position himself as the “reform candidate.” Instead, it’s to undermine the Governor’s reputation as an honest outsider.

Basically, if voters don’t view either candidate as honest or reformer-y, then the conversation shifts to focus on another issue — potentially, one that Daley can win.

Comment by Soccermom Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:30 am
Zuccarelli said the CTA appointment grew out of him telling Quinn “I was looking for another position because I was leaving the [Cook County] Employee Appeals Board.”

Asked why he wanted a second government job, Zuccarelli said: “Because I’ve always been interested in working simultaneously. Since I was fifteen years old, I’ve had more than one position.”

But he is a township supervisor and the chairman of a community college board, so isn’t that two jobs (yeah I know the community college board president is not a full time gig)…

I guess I have to respect his desire to get more $$$$…..

Comment by OneMan Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:31 am
THe funniest parts of the Tribbie piece is that 1. it took 3 people to write it and
2. they turned to state payroller(UofI Chicago) Dick Simpson to intone some righteous academic nonsense.
Guessing the perfect reform candidate does not exist and/oe IL voters want no part of them

Comment by CircularFiringSquad Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:39 am
==But he is a township supervisor and the chairman of a community college board, so isn’t that two jobs (yeah I know the community college board president is not a full time gig)…==

And CC Board chairs don’t get paid, so there’s that…

Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:40 am
That either one of them can say the word “reform” with any sort of feigned respect is sickening. Neither of them are anything remotely close to reformers…such a joke.

Comment by Liandro Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:47 am
Oh golly gee - yes yes yes. It all comes back now. Excellent work. I’d forgotten about the 94 Rosty bailout via Daley workers. There is much more. So much. If I’m not mistaken, Daley’s son Billy worked for the investment bank that did the deal to privatize the city’s parking garages.

Taking all that into account, the Zuccarelli thing looks like small potatoes.

Comment by low level Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:55 am
Well, Zuccarelli’s position is not new. As my grandfather, a butcher, used to say: “Pigs get fat, hogs get appointed to the CTA.”

Comment by Knome Sane Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 10:57 am
“Everyone wants to be a reformer these days. Even Joe Berrios ran as a reformer. It’s an acknowledgement by the Machine hacks that the public is thirsting for reform - and that talking about change is the way to get elected. But conveniently picking up the mantle of reform just in time for a campaign doesn’t make one a reformer; it just makes one a phony. In the Democratic primary for governor, we’ve now got two of those.”
http://www.beachwoodreporter.com/

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:06 am
How does one get paid over $100K and still not have any savings?

Comment by Levois Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:16 am
35 year career, multiple and simultaneous jobs, and no savings? clearly does not possess the financial acumen, strategic planning skills, or basic common sense to hold any board position. A complete disservice to the taxpayers.

Comment by enoughalready Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 11:50 am
Where to start?

First of all, you don’t need as much in retirement savings when you’re looking at a pension of about $7,500 a month (which is not subject to state income tax.)

And those IMRF beneﬁts are in addition to Social Security beneﬁts. So without a dime of retirement savings, he’ll be looking at retirement income that almost matches his current take-home, once you factor in the tax break.

Is it possible that this appointment was really a ploy by Quinn to get taxpayers all riled up about pension reform?

Comment by Math geek Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:05 pm
===Zuccarelli said: “At this point, I’m taking the money.===

Yeesh. I mean everyone knows the guy doesn’t care but can someone teach him some PR basics?

Comment by Boone's is Back Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:07 pm
I love these “public servants” who only want to do what is best for “us”.

Comment by Nieva Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:12 pm
He may have just blabbed his way out of the position. Even Quinn would be an fool to continue to support him when he says things like he’s been unable to save for retirement and he’s been pulling down $180K.

Comment by Belle Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 12:19 pm
Notorious political machine produces candidate for governor who promises to be the state’s great reformer. Sound familiar?

Bill Daley and the Daley machine are to 2014 as Rod Blagojevich and the Mell machine were to 2002. Nobody should believe this one either.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 1:32 pm
I have no opinion on Zuccarelli’s appointment, but I agree that the south suburbs have inadequate public transportation. The CTA’s last 2 rail expansions were an O’Hare extension and the Orange Line connecting Midway Airport on 55th Street to downtown. Those were good moves. Mayor Daley’s idea to create an express track to O’Hare would have been duplicative, a waste of money and a service primarily for out-of-towners.

The south suburbs are needy, in many ways. They have the highest property tax rates in Cook County (ranging from 18 to 25%, compared to Chicago’s 6.4%), duplicative, expensive, and in some cases corrupt local governments, poor economic development, and second-rate public transportation. It is time for the CTA to focus on better serving this area.

Comment by Rudy Friday, Aug 9, 13 @ 3:35 pm