A former Chicago-area executive is blowing the whistle in the
latest case to showcase what is derisively known as the "Illinois way"
-- politicians' practice of doing business by dishing out favors to
friends who contribute generously to their campaigns.
This time, a top-ranking Democrat has been implicated. The case
involves Illinois' most powerful Democratic leader -- state House
Speaker Michael Madigan -- and the former head of the Chicago area's
commuter rail service, Metra. In a rare move earlier this week, Metra's
ex-CEO Alex Clifford came forward publicly to reveal specific details
about how he says he was forced out of his lucrative job after refusing
to cave to political pressure.
Clifford, who was hired from California in 2001, testified during a
recent Regional Transportation Authority board meeting in Chicago. For
two hours he spoke openly about what he calls serious "ethical and moral
character flaws" from people who practice the "Illinois way" of doing
business, including Madigan.
Clifford claims Madigan specifically wanted a pay raise for a Metra
employee, Patrick Ward, who has been a generous contributor to Madigan's
campaign, according to state records. Clifford testified: "What is it
that he (Ward) was doing so great and so different than other employees
at Metra who have gone three years without a pay raise that would make
this person special?"
Clifford ultimately rejected the request. In a statement, Madigan
acknowledged sending a "recommendation to Metra senior staff that Mr.
Ward be considered for a salary adjustment. ... When notified Mr.
Clifford had concerns about the appearance of the recommendation coming
from my office, I withdrew the request."
During a trip to the state Capitol in Springfield, Clifford says he
was asked by Democratic state lawmaker Rep. Luis Arroyo to consider
hiring somebody the Latino caucus sends him. Clifford says he told
Arroyo "we have a process. Times are different today at Metra than they
were under my predecessor. Every applicant, every employee will come in
through the front door."
Clifford went on to point fingers at those who intentionally
"railroaded" him into a poor performance evaluation which led to the end
of his contract -- specifically Metra Chairman Brad O'Hallaron and
another Metra board member. When Clifford approached O'Hallaron about
his upcoming contract he claims O'Hallaron responded, "but we're just
dating." Then said, "I need to get a meeting with Mr. Madigan and I need
to find out what kind of damage you've caused to our potential for
future funding."
When it was his turn to testify, O'Hallaron denied Clifford's
accusations. O'Hallaron told the RTA board: "If as alleged by Clifford I
was seeking to protect Speaker Madigan, why would I take his
allegations immediately over to the OEIG (Office of Executive Inspector
General) if I thought there was pressure from Speaker Madigan? It just
doesn't make sense."
Clifford did not get the necessary votes to renew his contract
earlier this year, but he left Metra with a $700,000 severance deal that
some have characterized as "hush money" to keep Clifford quiet after
threatening a lawsuit. Clifford denies that claim and says the money was
"100 percent about my ability to get a job and how I've been damaged."
Metra announced on Friday that it plans to hire a well-known former
federal prosecutor in Chicago to perform an independent investigation
into Clifford's allegations and make recommendations concerning Metra's
hiring and contract policies. Metra's board of directors must approve
the hiring at a special meeting on Monday.
The man who oversees Illinois' government watchdog group says even
though there was no illegal activity involved with the Metra scandal,
the case has lawmakers squirming a bit more than usual.
"This is a very big deal, this is the first time in anyone's memory
that Speaker Madigan has been implicated so directly in the workings of a
public agency," Better Government Association President Andy Shaw said.
"Madigan and hundreds if not thousands (of politicians) do this every
day. We just don't hear about it very often, because it happens behind
closed doors."
Shaw admits any hope for changing this type of behavior has to come
from voters. "This is only going to change in one of two ways. People
coming out to vote and deciding who represents them. And secondly when a
groundswell of public outrage forces public officials to impose higher
ethics standards upon themselves."
Illinois' history with questionable political ethics is rich. The
state practically became the poster child for corruption during the
criminal trial of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich
attempted to sell off Barack Obama's coveted U.S. Senate seat in return
for hefty campaign donations referencing it in the now infamous phone
call saying, "I've got this thing and it's f------ golden and I'm not
giving it up for f------ nothing."
Blagojevich is currently serving out his 14-year sentence in federal prison in Colorado.