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The Illinois Republican Party on Thursday called on Chicago City Clerk and state Comptroller candidate Susana Mendoza to return more than $20,000 in campaign contributions that she has raked in from a former city police officer who resigned after twice being accused of brutality.
In one instance which led to a federal lawsuit, Juan Gaytan is accused of punching a motorist in the face and threatening to kill him before kicking the man’s mother in the stomach and applying fake blood to his own face to make it appear he had been attacked.[1] In the other, Gaytan was accused of beating two people with a flashlight and robbing them of $425.[2]
“Susana Mendoza should do the right thing, stand up to one of her biggest campaign contributors and return his money,” Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Nick Klitzing said. “She says that as Comptroller she’ll be independent from her self-proclaimed mentor Speaker Madigan. How can we believe that when she won’t even distance herself from sketchy campaign contributors?”
Gaytan moved on to create Monterrey Security Consultants, a politically-connected security firm that was awarded a $2.9 million contract with the City of Chicago before it was rescinded because it violated ethics ordinances.[3] Among other Chicago business, the firm received a $400,000 no bid contract providing security for Chicago Housing Authority buildings[4] and a $1.2 million subcontract tied to the city’s parking meter privatization project.[5]
Gaytan and his firm have given Mendoza $22,200 since 2011 and $18,200 in 2015 alone.
“Mendoza’s judgment may be clouded by her more than 16 years on the city of Chicago and state of Illinois payrolls – and ten years on both at the same time,” Klitzing said. “But everyone outside of government can see that it is simply wrong to set aside principle for campaign cash, and she should acknowledge that.”
You can go see the footnoted references by clicking here.
* Monterrey Security has often been said to be a “clout” company, but it recently landed a contract to handle security at Minnesota Vikings games…
SMG, the operator of U.S. Bank Stadium, along with the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and the Minnesota Vikings, announced today that after an extensive RFP process, Monterrey Security has been selected as the official security provider of U.S. Bank Stadium.
As the trusted provider for events ranging from the NFL Draft to the NATO Conference/G8 Summit, Monterrey Security will provide services in the areas of crowd management and 24-hour security.
“Monterrey Security is an exceptionally qualified organization,” said Michele Kelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority. “Monterrey has experience working with stadiums, live events and family attractions. Furthermore, this major contract being held by a minority owned company keeps our equity focus on the stadium’s operations.”
Monterrey is the largest Latino-owned security firm in the Midwest and one of the fastest-growing minority-owned security companies in the country. Over two-thirds of their workforce is comprised of women or minorities from executive leadership to entry-level employees.
* Response from Monterrey Security…
Public records show that allegations made by two Chicago gang members more than 20 years ago against then-police officer Gaytan were determined to be unfounded.
The Chicago Police Merit Board conducted a full hearing into an allegation made by a gang member 22 years ago, resulting in Mr. Gaytan’s full reinstatement, with back pay. A civil suit filed by a different gang member over allegations made 21 years ago resulted in a federal judge tossing out the suit, with prejudice.
In the 17 years since Monterrey Security was founded, the company has grown to be the largest Hispanic-owned security company in the U.S. and one of the largest security firms in the Midwest. Mr. Gaytan and his leadership team have gone through extensive background checks by the U.S. Secret Service, White House Presidential Detail, N.A.T.O., four state licensing boards and five professional sports leagues, among others. Those reviews resulted in full clearance for Mr. Gaytan and his team and a rare designation as a Level One-certified security agency.
It is unfortunate that this organization did not take the time to review publicly available documents before making these statements. Mr. Gaytan has known Clerk Mendoza for many years and has always respected and supported her. He’ll continue to support her, as he does other political candidates, regardless of their party affiliation.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 2:57 pm
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Wow is this all the munger people have to toss at Mendoza
Comment by Publius Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 3:05 pm
Perspective?
Michael McAullife is now over $1.1 million in his race
The ILGOP wants to take on the Secret Service and the White House vetting procedures…
… and still no Munger ads on television?
What is going on here?
I understand the sophomoric ILGOP understanding of questioning the vetting of 5 professional sports leagues and N.A.T.O. but is this “it”?
I’d kinda be embarrassed that Rauner is going on the “cheap” with, arguably, the most interesting statewide race to gauge Rauner.
But, what does four state licensing boards and a Level Ome certification really mean when the ILGOP knows the story better than state, national, and international vetting procedures know.
I’ll wait to see this in the next Munger ad…
Ugh.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 3:10 pm
Step 1: Publicly criticize a clearly professional and respected private security provider.
Step 2: Publicly learn everything everybody else pretends to forget about yourself when said security company publishes it online.
Comment by Midstate Indy Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 3:15 pm
I’m interested to see all of the other “squeaky-clean” ties Mendoza has with her donors.
Comment by interested Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 3:28 pm
I’m interested to see more about how much Munger will be getting in the campaign kitty from the Governor and IL GOP.
Comment by Shytown Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 3:34 pm
ILGOP is actin’ kinda Trumpy…
Comment by Anon221 Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 3:38 pm
Juan Gaytan is not an unknown in the city. Haven’t heard his name in a while. Company looks to be well above board, but someone owed someone a favor. Vigorously defending him might be going a bit overboard.
Comment by A guy Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 3:52 pm
Notice how the response addresses one charge but not the other where the ex-cop punched a guy, kicked mom in the stomach and then put fake blood on himself to cover it up? Hmmmm.
Comment by Lake Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 3:59 pm
Trump says he can’t trust an Hispanic judge. Rauner doesn’t trust an Hispanic security firm. The GOP grows paler and paler
Comment by Truthteller Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 4:00 pm
- Lake -
So the Secret Service - White House missed that too?
Hmm.
Quit while your behind
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 4:18 pm
This may be one of those cases where a company has the clout and the qualifications.
Mr. Gaytan has previously been identified in public records as Ald. Solis’ “bodyguard.” The firm also says on its website that all its armed officers are retired police officers-impressive.
Is anyone here aware of the “Level One” designation and how it is obtained? In Illinois, at least, a “Level One” security officer is considered to be the entry level iirc.
Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 4:40 pm
OW 3:10 - Next!?! I must’ve missed the first.
Comment by Original Rambler Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 7:40 pm
- Original Rambler -
You didn’t. I was mocking that there hasn’t been a first. My bad.
To the Post,
===This may be one of those cases where a company has the clout and the qualifications.===
How do I know - AA - is a Pro? That. That’s how I know.
The Pro would use this as a pivot and attack on the “cronyism”. That’s the play here.
“Mendoza taking money from insiders with angles on contracts.” or something along those lines, they should figure it out, it’s their job…
“Why?”
Amateurs, like the ILGOP here try to discredit the donor, and by going that way, they face scrutiny, and rightly so, because for their angle of attack to resonate, the Secret Service, NATO, state licensing agencies (4 of them) and the White House all have to be in on this… and are wrong. Oof.
Look at the company’s webpage for 38 seconds…
A pro knows, “I can’t discredit the credentials, but I can go after and allege cronyism” and - AA - was all over it.
That’s why I went after this so harshly. The amateurs at the ILGOP went so lazy here. It’s embarrassing. They spent all that writing to get retorted by examples of credible agencies and the thinking now is the ILGOP might be a “bit off”.
I despise baseball and politics played poorly.
This is the ILGOP at the plate and watching a batting practice fastball breeze by, then they swing, haplessly, at a curve in the dirt.
Looking foolish, the at-bat ends with a strikeout, as their intended target schools the ILGOP.
Nice work - AA -, that’s exactly what I thought. It’s the correct angle and play. Amateurs over-swung, when there was no need to do so.
Do better, ILGOP. This was embarrassing.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 8:01 pm
Mendoza shoud give back the $20K when the Republican party of Illinois gives Rauner his $16 MILLION back.
Comment by Union Thug Gramma Thursday, Sep 8, 16 @ 8:29 pm