BGA faults campaign contributions to Stroger

January 12, 2006 - Chicago Sun Times

More than half of all campaign contributions made to Cook County Board President John Stroger came from county employees and contractors.

That's according to a six-month investigation by the Better Government Association, which also alleged Stroger has violated county ethics laws by accepting too much in contributions from those who hold county contracts.

Comparing the contributions to "what we saw when George Ryan was secretary of state," BGA executive director Jay Stewart said the pattern is "part of the environment that leads, ultimately, to" criminal charges. Ryan's now on trial for alleged corruption.

The BGA says that of the $2.4 million Stroger raised between 1999 and mid-2005, $611,278 came from county contractors, while $624,543 more came from county employees. Those two groups ultimately are overseen by Stroger.

Pointing to "the appearance of impropriety," Stewart said, "President Stroger needs to make pay-to-play a thing of the past."

Stroger denied wrongdoing. "If I find that I have violated the ethics ordinance of Cook County by receiving more money than I should have in any one year, I'll return it," he said. "Based on the people doing the accounting, I have not."

Calls for return of $19,205

Stroger said he has asked his staff to do a thorough review of his campaign finance reports.

The BGA alleged Stroger violated county ethics rules when he took more than $1,500 from a county contractor in a non-election year and more than $3,000 in an election year.

Stewart called on Stroger to give back at least $19,205 in improper donations and refuse future donations from contractors.

Stewart said the BGA plans to look at contributions to other government leaders and insisted the timing of the Stroger investigation is unrelated to the March primary, in which Stroger is being challenged by Commissioner Forrest Claypool.

But Stroger said, "I know a lot of this is driven by Mr. Claypool."

Claypool called that "absurd."