Have you ever looked at the track records, scandals, and abuses of power by the people we elect into office? From the President of the United States to your local alderman, there is bound to be poor track records, scandals, and abuses in power.

Chicago is the home of the Daleys, specifically Richard Daley Jr. and Sr. The father/son duo has each reigned as mayors of Chicago for years. It is said that Chicago is the most politically driven city in the United States. But it’s not only the City of Chicago that is politically driven; let me elaborate on some serious issues that have taken place in the State of Illinois, all involving City, County, and State elected officials.

Let’s start with the current Illinois State Senate President, Emil Jones Sr. State Senator Jones has given State funds to Chicago State University, enough to the point that he has a building named after him and his late wife. That is probably the only positive thing he has done in many years. Let’s examine things that have been perceived as negative.

Lorrie Jones: The Senate President’s wife, a psychologist, has seen her state salary increase from $116,460 to $186,000 under Governor Blagojevich, who in 2005 promoted her to head the Department of Human Services’ mental health division. The Blagojevich administration rescinded its rule that the state’s mental health chief must be a medical doctor just before Lorrie Jones got the job. – Source: Chicago Sun-Times, May 3, 2007.

Emil Jones III: Jones’ son, hired April 3 as manager of real estate development for the Blagojevich administration’s Commerce Department, earns $57,360 in his new post – a 7 percent increase over his previous State job, which he held from 1999 to November 2006. – Source: Chicago Sun-Times, May 3, 2007.

John Sterling: Jones’ stepson is CEO of Synch-Solutions, a consulting and technology firm whose client list includes Exelon (ComEd’s parent company), the CTA, Chicago Public Schools, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and Cook County Forest Preserve District. Jones has been a staunch ally of ComEd in its fight against freezing electricity rates. The firm stands to be paid up to $45 million from a no-bid tech deal it recently won from the City Colleges of Chicago. The contract, awarded three weeks ago, comes on top of the $55 million that John Sterling’s company has already been paid by the college system since 1999.  – Source: Chicago Sun-Times, May 3, 2007.

It is me or does it appear that nepotism is taking place right in front of our faces? Is it me or do rules appear to change when it is beneficial to elected officials? Is it me or is it fair that there is an Illinois State law that allows a “bid-exempt process” for contracts, including multi-million dollar contracts, based only on previous performance? Furthermore, is it fair that it appears that these contracts are going to relatives of State elected officials? Hummm…something to think about…

Who could forget the scandal and indictment of former Chicago Alderwoman Arenda Troutman? She was the alderwoman who was federally indicted for accepting bribes in return for helping developers win a development contract from the City of Chicago. Included in the indictment were allegations of other contracts being won by developers after they gave cash directly to both her and her campaigns.

Former Alderman Troutman, an African-American woman, had a poster prominently honoring her as the sixteenth woman to serve on Chicago’s City Council. She holds a political science degree from Southern Illinois University. Her father, appointed by Mayor Daley in 1990, was a 20th Ward precinct captain. How does a person with such credentials, support, and stellar background become a part of criminal indictments and political scandals? The answer: greed and abuse of political power. How do people like Arenda Troutman remain in office? The answer: lack of voters exercising their right to vote, as well as researching and knowing who they are voting for, and a lack of true leaders stepping up and running for these offices.

Recently, we saw Chicago’s mayor, Richard Daley, become emotional when questioned about a hidden interest in a sewer inspection company by his son, Patrick Daley, and nephew, Robert Vanecko. When the mayor was asked about the “secret deal,” he refused to answer questions and simply called it “a lapse in judgment.” He later said, “I wish he hadn’t done it.”

A little background about the “secret deal”: Mayor Daley’s son and nephew received a $3 million contract extension five months into the deal from the City of Chicago. City Hall twice extended the deals by a total of 23 months instead of allowing others to compete for the contract. By doing this the company, Municipal Sewer Services, made an additional $4 million dollars.

But this is not the only family member known to receive wealth at the benefit of Chicagoans. Mayor Daley’s brother’s law firm, Daley & George, is often hired to help developers get zoning changes through City Hall. Vanecko recently got $63 million in city pension funds to invest in a risky real estate venture that involves redevelopment deals with the Chicago Housing Authority.

It is me or does it appear that nepotism is taking place right in front of our faces? Would the response from the mayor be the same if it were someone other than his own family members? Is it fair that the average hardworking Illinois business owner may never be able to bid on multi-million dollar contracts, yet family members of elected officials receive the contracts and continue to receive them?

Oftentimes, I hear registered voters say they only vote in Presidential elections. It is important that we vote each and every time as an educated voter! Local elections are just that, people running for local offices to represent you. Light was only shed on a few recent scandals and abuses in political power. However, we have to take note of who is in office, their track records, and whether they are the best candidate to represent us!