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* Fox Chicago News takes a look at how Frank Zucharelli’s “Z Team” political machine uses South Suburban College as a power and fundraising base…

* Zell never contributed any money to Blagojevich, but this story does show us, once again, the Blagojevich mindset…

Tribune Co. chairman Sam Zell was targeted for $25,000 by the Blagojevich campaign last November while the company’s Wrigley Field deal was under consideration and two weeks before the ex-governor was arrested, internal campaign documents obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times show.

Zell’s name appeared on a Nov. 25, 2008, document titled “Focus List” among a group of 33 potential donors. Alongside Zell’s name was the $25,000 figure and a notation that read: “Rod to follow up.” On a Sept. 22, 2008, fund-raising document titled “Call List,” an entry noted “Sam Party on 9.27.”

In another campaign document dated Dec. 3, 2008, Tribune Co. sports consultant Mark Ganis is listed among 143 names of potential donors for tentative or scheduled fund-raising events. Next to Ganis’ name are the notations “New York Event” and “Rod went to dinner on 9/19. Rob needs to follow up.”[…]

The revelation comes after Tribune Co. disclosed Wednesday that federal agents interviewed Zell in January as a “potential witness” in the Blagojevich case. Among the charges facing Rod Blagojevich is that he schemed to have members of the Chicago Tribune editorial board fired in exchange for helping push through the Wrigley deal.

* The Tribune has a story from the Al Sanchez trial that you need to read all the way through…

John Barrera wanted to work for the city, so he joined the Hispanic Democratic Organization, a feared political street army that wielded power over jobs inside Mayor Richard Daley’s administration.

So the story goes, Barrera was told he got a city job through HDO without even applying. But later in the story is this…

One of Sanchez’s lawyers, Patrick Blegen, got Barrera to reveal to the federal jury that he had political connections of his own. Blegen suggested that was how he got his city job. Barrera acknowledged that his father was a former ward committeeman and that he started working on political campaigns as a child.

…Adding… From comments…

It’s a tricky thing to explain to a jury, but the fact that Barrera’s dad was a committeeman should actually make Sanchez look MORE guilty, not less.

Barrera’s dad was an independent Dem committeeman allied with the Balanoffs. His committeeman father couldn’t get him a job, (in fact, they probably wrote NO in big red letters on his application) so he felt he had to go through HDO instead.

But the funniest part is how Mayor Daley is reacting to all this…

When reporters pressed the mayor to explain how one city employee got her job, Daley grew angry and shut down the line of questioning.

“I’m not answering questions about that,” he said.

* And, finally today, Knox College gets another high profile speaker…

The college announced on Thursday that Patrick Fitzgerald, U-S Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, will deliver the commencement address at Knox on June 6th. Knox College President Roger Taylor called Fitzgerald’s leadership in combating crime “exemplary” and says the students have once again picked a national figure to address their class at commencement.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 11:54 am

Comments

It’s a tricky thing to explain to a jury, but the fact that Barrera’s dad was a committeeman should actually make Sanchez look MORE guilty, not less.

Barrera’s dad was an independent Dem committeeman allied with the Balanoffs. His committeeman father couldn’t get him a job, (in fact, they probably wrote NO in big red letters on his application) so he felt he had to go through HDO instead.

Comment by lincoln street Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 12:36 pm
Sam Zell blows $25,000 grand on a round of drinks. Hard to believe that’s all the money Rod wanted from him, considering how sweet the Wrigley Deal was for Zell.

Comment by wordslinger Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 12:37 pm
Is Zucharelli the same guy Tony Peraica supported last month?

Comment by chicountryguy Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 1:30 pm
Yes Zucharelli is the guy Tony Peraica cast the deciding vote for last month.

The more Fox News investigates this guy, the more they find. My guess is the Feds won’t be too far behind.

Comment by Chicago Dem Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 1:34 pm
well, the Z team is certainly not the A team. Community colleges do not get enough scrutiny. bookstore manager to college president?

Comment by Amy Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 1:34 pm
That was another Faux News hatchet job on Zucharelli. So administrators at South Suburban College donate to Zucharelli’s campaign committee. BIG DEAL!

If there is an election between incumbent members of the College Board (that have apparently worked closely with these administrators and have given them the resources to do their jobs) and challengers who are pledging to make wholesale changes at the college, who the hell should these administrators be donating to? Does Fox News expect these officials to sit back and say and do nothing, letting new Board Members get elected and disrupt their careers in educational service?

Comment by fedup dem Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 1:46 pm
Fox News is just scratching the surface.

Someone should look at the contracts, who’s getting what, including cesspools like job training grant programs, and what they actually do.

Comment by Chicago Dem Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 1:56 pm
Rich, thanks for the shout out to my alma mater Knox. Fitz is a step down, but after Obama, Colbert, and Pres Clinton there wasn’t really anywhere to go but down.

I’ll also make mention that Knox would like to be the location for the Obama Presidential Library. Probably unlikely, but with Podesta as an alum you never know.

Comment by Bill S. Preston, Esq. Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 2:42 pm
As the proud mother of a 2004 Knox grad, thanks Rich for continuing to showcase Knox commencement speakers. Knox is a hidden jewel right here in the midwest. Not only do they provide a world class education, but also the opportunity to see some of the most important speakers of our day - all against the beautiful backdrop of our beloved “OLD MAIN”. The last standing site of a Lincoln-Douglas debate. I haven’t missed a commencement since 2001 and I am sure not going to miss hearing Pat Fitzgerald speak!

Comment by Sweet Polly Purebred Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 2:57 pm
Mr. Preston - I agree that Knox would be the perfect site for the Obama museum. The Lincoln history at Knox would just make the Obama/Lincoln connection off the hook. Not to mention what it would do for poor beleagured Galesburg. It’s economy continues to struggle after losing the jobs associated with a major manufacturer who took their jobs overseas.

Comment by Sweet Polly Purebred Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 3:01 pm
Yes, but don’t you think University of Chicago might have the leg up on the Presidential library? He taught there, she worked there, half the White House counsel’s office was poached from there. The Obamas have stronger connections to Hyde Park and U of C, than to Knox/Galesburg. But kudos to Knox for landing another timely high-profile speaker!

The Fox News piece on the Z-Team was great, great work Placko. Fed Up Dem - you need to step back a second. Clearly there is a major abuse of public resources going on there when the college is being used as a patronage hiring farm for the local Dem organization. It’s the worst kept secret in the South Suburbs.

Comment by carbon deforestation Friday, Mar 13, 09 @ 3:59 pm