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BGA
Investigation Highlights Questionable Fundraising by Cook County Board
President
January 11, 2006
A lengthy investigation by the Better Government Association (BGA)
finds that 51% of the money raised by Cook County Board President John
Stroger comes from contractors and county employees.
A number of contributions from contractors appear to violate Cook
County's ethics ordinance, which limits the amount of money elected
officers can take from contractors and others doing business with the
county.
The BGA has called on Board President Stroger and other leaders to
sign executive orders, banning contributions from contractors. In 2000,
the BGA publicly expressed concern over contributions made to Stroger and
others from Faustech Industries, Inc., which landed a large contract at
Stroger hospital only months later. A federal judge confirmed those
suspicions in 2001, and in September 2005, Faustech and its owner, Faust
Villazan, were indicted and charged with bribery in connection with the
deal.
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