Editor's note: And we wonder why Cook County has a reputation for corruption. Lucius Verenus, Schoolmaster, ProbateSharks.com
Convicted political boss Al Sanchez running for Cook County board
Former Chicago Streets and Sanitation commissioner rigged hiring to benefit party's foot soldiers
Former Chicago Streets and Sanitation boss Al Sanchez, shown in 2010 before the verdict, was convicted of scheming to rig city hiring. He's now running for Cook County Board. (E. Jason Wambsgans, Chicago Tribune 2010 / July 21, 2010)
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Former Chicago Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Al Sanchez, convicted on federal charges of rigging hiring to benefit political foot soldiers, filed Monday to run for the Cook County Board seat previously held by William Beavers — who is headed for prison.
Sanchez was among the last-day filers on the deadline for submitting candidacy petitions for the March 18 primary ballot. More than 130 candidates filed for Cook County offices.
At the state level, more than 500 candidates filed for federal and state government offices and judgeships during a shortened weeklong filing period interrupted by the Thanksgiving holiday. The last-day filers included Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates.
For some Cook County voters, the Democratic primary could become known as the election of second chances. Another convicted felon, former Chicago Ald. Issac "Ike" Carothers, also filed for a primary bid for the County Board.
Sanchez, the former head of the Streets and Sanitation Department under Mayor Richard M. Daley, also formerly headed the once-powerful pro-Daley Hispanic Democratic Organization. He was the highest-ranking Daley appointee sent to prison following a lengthy federal investigation into hiring at City Hall. He was convicted in a scheme to steer city jobs and promotions to HDO members.
Sanchez said he took the fall for following the well-established Chicago political tradition of hiring people who came recommended by political benefactors. "I was a scapegoat for a system that was in place for decades, and it's still in place," he said.
"Yeah, I spent some time in a federal facility, but I think my record is pretty clear when you look at how I ran that department," he said.
Sanchez is among four Democrats who filed to run against Commissioner Stanley Moore, who was appointed in April to replace Beavers in the South Side and south suburban 4th District. Beavers was convicted of federal tax evasion and was scheduled to report to prison Monday.
Carothers was an alderman for 11 years until he resigned in 2010, around the same time he pleaded guilty to bribery and tax fraud. He admitted to backing a zoning change in exchange for $40,000 in work at his home and was sentenced to 28 months in prison.
Carothers was among six Democrats filing for the West Side and west suburban County Board seat being given up by Earlean Collins.
On the state level, the final-day filings set up already anticipated Republican statewide primaries, though objections can be filed to try to strike contenders from the primary ballot.
Four Republicans — state Sens. Bill Brady of Bloomington and Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, state Treasurer Dan Rutherford of Chenoa and Winnetka businessman Bruce Rauner — will face a lottery for the top primary ballot spot in their bid to challenge Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn's re-election. Former CeaseFire director Tio Hardiman filed for a primary challenge to Quinn.
Another statewide GOP primary contest is brewing to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who is seeking a fourth term. State Sen. Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove and newcomer Doug Truax of Downers Grove were joined in the GOP primary by two unknowns, William Lee of Rockton and Armen Alvarez of Chicago.
State Rep. Tom Cross of Oswego and DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan of Downers Grove also are competing in the GOP primary for the nomination for state treasurer, a post Rutherford is giving up to run for governor. State Sen. Michael Frerichs of Champaign is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Republicans on the last day also filled their statewide slate by filing candidacy petitions for Michael Webster of Willowbrook to challenge Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White in the fall. Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan will face Republican Paul Schimpf of Waterloo in the November general election.
Quinn's current lieutenant governor, Sheila Simon, used the deadline day to file for state comptroller. She is unopposed in the primary in seeking to take on Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka in the fall.
In local congressional contests, two Republicans — Manju Goel of Aurora and Larry Kaifesh of Carpentersville — are vying for the right to challenge Duckworth in the northwest suburban 8th District.
In the far west suburban 11th District, five Republicans filed to challenge Democratic Rep. Bill Foster of Naperville, whose victory last year returned him to Congress. The Republican field includes state Rep. Darlene Senger of Naperville, Bert Miller of Hinsdale, Chris Balkema of Channahon, Ian Bayne of Aurora and Craig Robbins of Lisle.
Among Downstate congressional contests, two Republicans and four Democrats filed primary bids for the seat of freshman GOP Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville in central Illinois. Davis is seeking re-election and his primary opponents include Erika Harold of Urbana, the 2003 Miss America.
rap30@aol.com
jebyrne@tribune.com
Sanchez was among the last-day filers on the deadline for submitting candidacy petitions for the March 18 primary ballot. More than 130 candidates filed for Cook County offices.
At the state level, more than 500 candidates filed for federal and state government offices and judgeships during a shortened weeklong filing period interrupted by the Thanksgiving holiday. The last-day filers included Democratic Rep. Tammy Duckworth of Hoffman Estates.
For some Cook County voters, the Democratic primary could become known as the election of second chances. Another convicted felon, former Chicago Ald. Issac "Ike" Carothers, also filed for a primary bid for the County Board.
Sanchez, the former head of the Streets and Sanitation Department under Mayor Richard M. Daley, also formerly headed the once-powerful pro-Daley Hispanic Democratic Organization. He was the highest-ranking Daley appointee sent to prison following a lengthy federal investigation into hiring at City Hall. He was convicted in a scheme to steer city jobs and promotions to HDO members.
Sanchez said he took the fall for following the well-established Chicago political tradition of hiring people who came recommended by political benefactors. "I was a scapegoat for a system that was in place for decades, and it's still in place," he said.
"Yeah, I spent some time in a federal facility, but I think my record is pretty clear when you look at how I ran that department," he said.
Sanchez is among four Democrats who filed to run against Commissioner Stanley Moore, who was appointed in April to replace Beavers in the South Side and south suburban 4th District. Beavers was convicted of federal tax evasion and was scheduled to report to prison Monday.
Carothers was an alderman for 11 years until he resigned in 2010, around the same time he pleaded guilty to bribery and tax fraud. He admitted to backing a zoning change in exchange for $40,000 in work at his home and was sentenced to 28 months in prison.
Carothers was among six Democrats filing for the West Side and west suburban County Board seat being given up by Earlean Collins.
On the state level, the final-day filings set up already anticipated Republican statewide primaries, though objections can be filed to try to strike contenders from the primary ballot.
Four Republicans — state Sens. Bill Brady of Bloomington and Kirk Dillard of Hinsdale, state Treasurer Dan Rutherford of Chenoa and Winnetka businessman Bruce Rauner — will face a lottery for the top primary ballot spot in their bid to challenge Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn's re-election. Former CeaseFire director Tio Hardiman filed for a primary challenge to Quinn.
Another statewide GOP primary contest is brewing to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who is seeking a fourth term. State Sen. Jim Oberweis of Sugar Grove and newcomer Doug Truax of Downers Grove were joined in the GOP primary by two unknowns, William Lee of Rockton and Armen Alvarez of Chicago.
State Rep. Tom Cross of Oswego and DuPage County Auditor Bob Grogan of Downers Grove also are competing in the GOP primary for the nomination for state treasurer, a post Rutherford is giving up to run for governor. State Sen. Michael Frerichs of Champaign is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Republicans on the last day also filled their statewide slate by filing candidacy petitions for Michael Webster of Willowbrook to challenge Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White in the fall. Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan will face Republican Paul Schimpf of Waterloo in the November general election.
Quinn's current lieutenant governor, Sheila Simon, used the deadline day to file for state comptroller. She is unopposed in the primary in seeking to take on Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka in the fall.
In local congressional contests, two Republicans — Manju Goel of Aurora and Larry Kaifesh of Carpentersville — are vying for the right to challenge Duckworth in the northwest suburban 8th District.
In the far west suburban 11th District, five Republicans filed to challenge Democratic Rep. Bill Foster of Naperville, whose victory last year returned him to Congress. The Republican field includes state Rep. Darlene Senger of Naperville, Bert Miller of Hinsdale, Chris Balkema of Channahon, Ian Bayne of Aurora and Craig Robbins of Lisle.
Among Downstate congressional contests, two Republicans and four Democrats filed primary bids for the seat of freshman GOP Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville in central Illinois. Davis is seeking re-election and his primary opponents include Erika Harold of Urbana, the 2003 Miss America.
rap30@aol.com
jebyrne@tribune.com
