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So, what do you think of this?
Mayor Daley on Friday defended his decision to require Democratic precinct workers circulating his nominating petitions to sign a sworn affidavit verifying they were promised no jobs, promotions or other benefits in exchange for the political work. […]In a Nov. 13 letter to Democratic ward committeeman, Daley campaign manager Terry Peterson warned that “petitions will not be filed” with the mayor’s nomination papers unless the “statement of circulator” is completed, signed and notarized.
It says the circulator has neither requested nor been offered “any benefit or compensation of any type, including any request for employment or promotion in exchange for circulating” the petitions. < It further certifies that the petition was passed on the circulator's "own free time, [not] during the hours of my employment" and that it was done "under my own free will" with no "public funds, vehicles, computers or telephones" used to help.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 9:48 am
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Hardly a risky proposition for da Mare. He’s the only real candidate, facing certain re-election.
Presumably, signing the affidavit won’t prevent
the signees from doing political work for da Mare later on if he needs it and they need it to keep their jobs.
Comment by Cassandra Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 10:08 am
I think it’s pretty pointless.
This is the sixth time Daley has run. Requests and/or offers of compensation/employment/promotion are not explicit before-hand, as the affidavit requires the signer to attest. Circulators are simply assuming that their efforts will be rewarded, as they have been in the past. The implicit, expected quid-pro-quo of Chicago politics will not be prevented by this requirement, because it doesn’t deal with how the system actually works.
Comment by grand old partisan Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 10:19 am
Somebody overthought this.
Why require a sworn statement that a federal prosecutor can later subpoena and wave in the face of the handfull of circulators who will undoubtedly violate the restrictions/prohibitions sworn to in the statement.
The media will surely want to see these too.
Comment by Anonymoose Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 10:34 am
May be a good paper work trail idea for the future considering the various investigations. For the precinct worker who got that job, it’s just another form to keep that check coming. Life goes on as usual.
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 10:35 am
It’ll be about as effective as the circulator’s statement at the bottom of the petition sheets is at preventing fraudulent signatures.
Comment by the Other Anonymous Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 10:47 am
For the big picture, the maneuver is worthless. The self-serving affidavits, which are apparently “required” of the street soldiers, could backfire.
But for the Mayor, in his usual mode of being distanced from the real action, it provides a fig-leaf for a future denial of inappropriate activity: “But dese people swore dey weren’t doin’ it fer bad reasons… I am shocked, shocked dat some a dese affiants lied…”
Comment by Conservative Republican Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 10:52 am
Kind of reminds me of the speech given to black-ops members in every good flick:
“If you are caught or captured, we will disavow any knowledge….”
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 12:19 pm
I think the affidavit is entertaining - after engaging in a totally corrupt political patronage hiring system for 17 years, the Mayor suddenly got religion for legal reason - very hypocritical!
I don’t object to patronage per se - it’s just a question of degree. I think the Mayor and other political exceutives, Republican or Democrat, should have more flexibility than Shakman and Rutan permit. The problem is when politics becomes the sole consideration for hiring, promotion, and compensation,without consideration of genuine minimum
qualifications,experience,and performance.
Comment by Captain America Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 12:30 pm
“Yooz gotta sign this form or you ain’t gonna get promoted. That’s the way it is becuz that’s what the committeeman says.”
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 4:33 pm
Well, the FEDS took Mayor Daley’s old list (I mean Sorich’s) so what is wrong with Mayor Dick and John Daley starting a new clout list? Signing the new list is a possible death sentence to any Chicago City Employee that wants to advance. So the possible solution for Chicago City Workers is to sign with an phony name like “Quarters” “No nose Berkowski” “Knuckles” “Deep Water” ect. Then tell Daley your nick name and than things could go back to “normal”. Daley no slouch, he will find a way around that stinker Fitzgerald. Well this Chicago City Worker will not get signatures for Daley, never, never, and never.
Comment by Patrick McDonough Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 6:16 pm
The affidavit is a hypocritcal joke.
Comment by D Webster Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 10:27 pm
Pat,
I don’t think that you and coconut are city workers anymore and if you were the mayor would not want you cicculating for him.
Comment by Bill Monday, Dec 4, 06 @ 10:43 pm
What this is, in my opinion, is a good political statement for a man running for re-election. It is like a tax pledge. I like it, yet realize how much weight it has - little to none.
When you consider the fact that Blagojevich actually promised to reform government and bring ethics into office, he made a big stand politically, then broke it into a billion pieces. So we recognize that even when candidates continue to promise change, they can back stab us and still get re-elected - so we are the idiots.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 9:44 am
I applaud this move. It’s hardly significant, but at least he’s making a show of ethics.
Comment by Squideshi Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 3:10 pm
this is a joke. I sure as heck ain’t signing it, and neither is anyone I know. when Daley signs a similar statement, saying he will not use any taxpayers resources on his campaign, then I may consider it.
Practice what you preach, Mayor. Otherwise, get lost.
Comment by Mike Williams Tuesday, Dec 5, 06 @ 4:54 pm