September 18, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jessey Neves (562) 453-6342
Today, the Chicago Tribune reported that financial records from Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's administration have been subpoenaed as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Sources report that the investigation began with questions about President Stroger's hiring and promotion of a former steakhouse busboy and has since broadened into questions about how the administration spent money and accounted for it.
"Cook County government and its hiring process lack both transparency and accountability. Too often, county positions are not filled by the most qualified candidates, but by the most politically connected ones. Political influence in the hiring process has obstructed the efficiency of County government and strained the morale of County employees," said Preckwinkle. A candidate for Cook County Board President, Alderman Toni Preckwinkle (4th) has been vocal on the need to institute transparency and legitimacy in Cook County's hiring process, including all Shakman-exempt positions.
News of the subpoenaed records comes just a few days after a federal court-appointed administrator released a report finding that several county officials working for Stroger have repeatedly undermined efforts to rid the County of patronage and political hiring. In a presentation to the County Board on her findings, administrator Mary Robinson asserted that some policymakers in Stroger's administration "are busy evading and frustrating and defying policies" aimed at keeping the County in compliance with the Shakman decrees, which regulate hiring practices.
Stroger has continually defended his administration's record, telling Robinson and the County Board that "we don't use clout in our [hiring] system." However, this is not the first time in recent history that County government has been under investigation for its hiring practices. In September 2006, FBI agents raided the Cook County Building and seized hiring documents from multiple county offices.
"As Cook County Board President, I would work closely with hiring monitor Mary Robinson to ensure that policy practices are in place to prevent subversions of the decree." said Toni Preckwinkle. "Additionally, I will examine the hiring records over the last four years to determine if the Shakman decree has been honored."
The subpoena order was made public today by Count Board Finance Committee Chairman John Daley, who circulated a memo to other commissioners on the Board. According to Commissioner Daley's memo released Thursday, President Stroger received a letter last month from Deloitte & Touche LLP, the county's auditors, informing him that some Deloitte employees "may serve as witnesses to a current grand jury investigation."