Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsMonday, October 23, 2006 10:31 AM CDT
Comments Comments (7) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Paper: Gov. got list of appointees from Rezko
By Associated Press
Advertisement

CHICAGO -- A former top aide sent Gov. Rod Blagojevich a note listing 19 people that a key fundraiser - now accused of shaking down firms seeking state business - wanted placed on various state boards, according to a published report.

"Rod, Here is a list of candidates that Tony Rezko wants to be put on nonpaying boards," Lon Monk wrote in a note that was faxed to the governor along with the Jan. 20, 2003 list, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday. "What are your thoughts?"

The fundraiser, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a political confidant and friend of Blagojevich, pleaded not guilty last week to federal charges that he tried to squeeze millions of dollars in kickbacks from businesses. The governor has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

According to the Sun-Times, 10 of the 19 people on the list, or their spouses, were appointed to a state board or commission by the governor. In other cases, children of those on the list got state jobs during a hiring freeze or landed contracts underwritten by taxpayers, the newspaper reported.

Meanwhile, state records show that, dating to 2001, 15 people on the list or their businesses contributed more than $830,000 to Blagojevich, the Sun-Times said. The Blagojevich campaign characterized the amount as an "inaccurate representation of the facts," saying it could attribute less than one-tenth of that amount, about $80,000, to those on the list.

The newspaper said its figure includes contributions by the individuals, companies they owned and a labor organization that operates under a union official appointed by Blagojevich.

The paper also reported that, according to the governor's schedule, Blagojevich met with Rezko at Rezko's real estate office 15 days after the list was faxed to Blagojevich's home, then named two people on the list to state panels nine days after that Feb. 4, 2003 meeting.

It was not illegal for Rezko to make recommendations or for people appointed to commissions and boards to make political contributions to the governor.

Blagojevich maintains he knew nothing about any "pay-to-play" schemes involving Rezko or Stuart Levine, the indicted former state Teachers' Retirement System Board member. His office has acknowledged that Rezko made recommendations to the governor, but said many other people did, too.

"Some of those recommendations were taken... Others were not," said Blagojevich spokeswoman Abby Ottenhoff.

Blagojevich's supporters say many appointees that Rezko recommended have done and continue to do a good job and it is unfair to suggest they are corrupt.

Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 7 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

eds wrote on Oct 24, 2006 11:40 PM:

" What did you expect when you vote in a slick Chicago millionare businessman to be a public servant. DEE DE DEE "

to realist: wrote on Oct 24, 2006 12:36 PM:

" I couldn't agree with you more, you wrote exactly what I'm thinking! But, we are lazy voters. We should oust all imcumbents, they are NOT doing their job. "

digusted wrote on Oct 23, 2006 11:16 PM:

" Unfortunately this pay and play will also extend down to the grassroot level. Don't let anyone kid we all know someone who has given money to get a job under this administration. Take a look at all the new hires brought in at higher salaries that the person who had the job before. The person who had the job probably worked for the State for a number of years, but along comes Mr.?Ms. connected and is brought from the streets at the higher salary. What people don't discuss is this Governor refuses to give his mid management people raises, reserving the raises for his connected friends. The salaries of mid management have gone up 4% since 2003. Union salaries will top over 19% by 2008. Explain this. "

RL wrote on Oct 23, 2006 2:08 PM:

" he fits in line with most people that get in office. i would say that this type of crap runs right on down through county and city governments also. what i do not understand is why would anyone put something like this in print and not shread it so no one could use it in the future to start trouble. "

Candy wrote on Oct 23, 2006 12:23 PM:

" I am going to run for office [any] and I will not steal anymore then the ones before me. Please vote for me. Kick-backs will be accepted. "

realist wrote on Oct 23, 2006 11:49 AM:

" What say you Democrats? Anyone brave enough to admit that your guy is a crook? Just like the $1500 birthday gift to his daughter from a "family friend" who got a high paying state job a few weeks later. When is enough enough? Does anyone have the backbone to put ethics above politics and put a stop to this? Judy is no prize, but she is a whole lot better than the player we have now. "

Pay to play wrote on Oct 23, 2006 10:55 AM:

" Good thing he cleaned up Illinois. "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy