GOP chief: Democratic wards violating laws Sun-Times, August 30, 2005 BY MEGAN REICHGOTT ASSOCIATED PRESS
The head of the Cook County Republican Party said Tuesday that 16 of the city's 50 Democratic ward offices have violated state election laws by sharing taxpayer-funded space and resources with aldermen.
Gary Skoien, who filed complaints with the Illinois State Board of Elections, said six of those 16 ward offices also have failed to file as political organizations with the state, which is required when accepting campaign contributions.
"It is incredible for the government to be paying for political operations," Skoien said. "That's the system that existed behind the Iron Curtain and it's not a system that's appropriate in the United States and the city of Chicago."
Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Thomas G. Lyons did not immediately return a telephone call Tuesday from The Associated Press.
The complaints followed a tip the GOP received after offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the indictment and conviction of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, said Skoien, who was fired as chief operating officer of a real estate company two days after offering the bounty.
Taxpayers fund aldermanic service centers, which are open to the public. State law prohibits the use of public funds by any candidate for political or campaign purposes.
One of the ward offices the Republicans have accused of failing to file as a political organization is Alderman Anthony Beale's 9th Ward on the far South Side.
Beale's spokesman Richard Ringer said Beale, who also is the ward's Democratic committeeman, has offices in the same building but they are on separate floors.
"There's a gate separating the two that is even locked so there is no confusion, it's very distinct and to say otherwise is ludicrous," Ringer said.
Ringer said Beale raised money for his aldermanic campaign through the "Citizens to Elect Anthony Beale" organization-- not the ward-- so he didn't have to file with the state.
"If they're looking for filings for the 9th ward, they're looking under the wrong name," Ringer said.
In 29 of Chicago's 50 wards the committeeman and alderman are the same person, but people should not have to enter political offices to talk to their alderman, Skoien said.
"It is an unbelievable amount of intimidation to have to walk into a political office to ask for a government service," he said.
Now that Skoien has filed complaints, the next step is a closed preliminary hearing with testimony and evidence presented from both sides, said Dan White, executive director of the Illinois State Board of Election's Chicago office.
He declined to comment on the specifics of the complaints.
Skoien said he would withdraw the complaints if any joint offices were separated and back rent was paid within 30 days.
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GOP chief: Democratic wards violating laws
Sun-Times, August 30, 2005
BY MEGAN REICHGOTT ASSOCIATED PRESS
The head of the Cook County Republican Party said Tuesday that 16 of the city's 50 Democratic ward offices have violated state election laws by sharing taxpayer-funded space and resources with aldermen.
Gary Skoien, who filed complaints with the Illinois State Board of Elections, said six of those 16 ward offices also have failed to file as political organizations with the state, which is required when accepting campaign contributions.
"It is incredible for the government to be paying for political operations," Skoien said. "That's the system that existed behind the Iron Curtain and it's not a system that's appropriate in the United States and the city of Chicago."
Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Thomas G. Lyons did not immediately return a telephone call Tuesday from The Associated Press.
The complaints followed a tip the GOP received after offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the indictment and conviction of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, said Skoien, who was fired as chief operating officer of a real estate company two days after offering the bounty.
Taxpayers fund aldermanic service centers, which are open to the public. State law prohibits the use of public funds by any candidate for political or campaign purposes.
One of the ward offices the Republicans have accused of failing to file as a political organization is Alderman Anthony Beale's 9th Ward on the far South Side.
Beale's spokesman Richard Ringer said Beale, who also is the ward's Democratic committeeman, has offices in the same building but they are on separate floors.
"There's a gate separating the two that is even locked so there is no confusion, it's very distinct and to say otherwise is ludicrous," Ringer said.
Ringer said Beale raised money for his aldermanic campaign through the "Citizens to Elect Anthony Beale" organization-- not the ward-- so he didn't have to file with the state.
"If they're looking for filings for the 9th ward, they're looking under the wrong name," Ringer said.
In 29 of Chicago's 50 wards the committeeman and alderman are the same person, but people should not have to enter political offices to talk to their alderman, Skoien said.
"It is an unbelievable amount of intimidation to have to walk into a political office to ask for a government service," he said.
Now that Skoien has filed complaints, the next step is a closed preliminary hearing with testimony and evidence presented from both sides, said Dan White, executive director of the Illinois State Board of Election's Chicago office.
He declined to comment on the specifics of the complaints.
Skoien said he would withdraw the complaints if any joint offices were separated and back rent was paid within 30 days.
Copyright 2005 Associated Press.
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