POL, law firms & campaign contributions [BW]
In an earlier discussion a reader mentioned Ancel, Glink, Diamond, Bush, Dicianni & Krafthefer, P.C. contributed generously to Bellwood First Party, Frank Pasquale's political committee. Pasquale is the village president in Bellwood.
Since 2001 Ancel, Glink has contributed about $7,500. Ancel, Glink does municipal law and gives kickbacks... er, "campaign contributions" to a large number of muncipal political committees.
My take is that law firms are often money laundering for politicians. The politicians give them make work projects and the law firms give to the political committees their clients want supported.
Illinois law should be changed to prohibit law firms from doing money laundering. Law firms have two advantages over other contractors. Legal work is rarely awarded by competitive bid. And lawyers can invoke attorney-client privilege, so it makes it almost impossible to roll them if law enforcement ever does an investigation.
Since 2001 Ancel, Glink has contributed about $7,500. Ancel, Glink does municipal law and gives kickbacks... er, "campaign contributions" to a large number of muncipal political committees.
My take is that law firms are often money laundering for politicians. The politicians give them make work projects and the law firms give to the political committees their clients want supported.
Illinois law should be changed to prohibit law firms from doing money laundering. Law firms have two advantages over other contractors. Legal work is rarely awarded by competitive bid. And lawyers can invoke attorney-client privilege, so it makes it almost impossible to roll them if law enforcement ever does an investigation.
posted by Carl Nyberg at
10:45 PM
19 Comments:
Frank Pasquale showed be investigated by the Feds not the State. This mayor is just stealing from the community and nothing is happening. It is a shame!
By
Anonymous, at 11:25 PM, October 05, 2006
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
By
Rick Fox, at 12:09 PM, October 06, 2006
In 2003, all municipalities were required to adopt an Ethics Ordinance to be in compliance with the state Ethics Act.
If Bellwood adopted the Illinois Attorney General's model odinance
http://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/government/model_ethics_ordinance.pdf
it would be illegal for the city attorney to make campaign contributions to any village officials in Bellwood. It wouldn't stop them from contributing to other campaigns that an official requested them to contribute to... and then, in theory, that campaign fund could contribute to the officials in Bellwood.
Not sure how you stop that without prohibiting law firms from contributing altogether - and the U.S. Supreme Court would likely frown upon that.
In Westchester, I've introduced the attorney general's model ordinance for consideration since our village adopted a less stringent ethics ordinance in 2003.
See the article in the Westchester Herald for more details on this.
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/westchester/news/81922,we-ethicscode-100406-s1.article
By
Rick Fox, at 12:18 PM, October 06, 2006
I'm impressed with Carl for the first time. He's actually taking a consistent and principled stand against a Yarbrough ally. Well done.
By
Anonymous, at 5:02 PM, October 06, 2006
I think Rick Fox should go back and study the Attorney Generals model ordinance and get a good opinion.
Rick seems to be reading into this model ordinance to fit certain situations.
Sorry Rick the model is designed for fairness across the spectrum.
Camapign's require money to affect one.
The ethics officer is designed to advise municipal employees about gifts from suppliers.
Campaign committee's are seperate and apart from the model ordinance.
Camapign committee's and individuals are treated seperately.
By
Anonymous, at 6:08 PM, October 07, 2006
big deal, so what. why in the world are you all spending time on who gets supoport. spend time on how the dope is getting in town and how the gangs are getting drugs in town. we all know it takes money to run campaigns and you have to knowthat the constiuants pay for it.
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Anonymous, at 12:03 AM, October 08, 2006
So What:
You are right who gives a shit about the campaigns.
Let's focus on the crime and dope dealers and other criminals.
The rest of this crap is just bullshit.
I think Nyberg should get his ass of the computer and fight real crime.
By
Anonymous, at 2:41 PM, October 08, 2006
Will the last white take there hood with them said...
I agree with you, especially in Bellwood. Greg Moore and Arnie Bryant are really tight, and Bryant, as everyone knows is Loaded financially and has been talking to other big donors to support him for his race. Bryant 's strategy is to get commitments from all the big donors,(Oldeson and Sterck,Ancel and Glick,The Johnson family and Rice family,along with his good friend and supporter,rap star Kayne West, and his plan is to dry out the money well long before the election. Watch Pasquale announce his retirement and watch Bryant(as Mayor) with his ticket become the first black elected Mayor of Bellwood!!!!
Imagine the nerve of Yarbrough and Arnie Bryant to think Bellwood deserves to be run by one of it's own African-American residents, as you said "Yarbrough thinks the town should have an African-American Mayor since it is approximately 90% African-American. "!!!!!
I'm glad there's other people like our own, who agrees that this "ethnics" are really something else and ingrates to want to control what happens in there towns.Next thing you'll see there going to want to get rid of Mary Herrell and her boyfriend, Sam Sei!!!!!I could never imagine us whites wanting to change a Mayor,who was black, if the town was 90% white~! Thanks Insider for standing up to these blacks folks!
By
Anonymous, at 8:27 PM, October 08, 2006
Hey why can't James J. Roche and Associates get the contract for Proviso Township? Everyone knows if not for Welch, all those trusttees,Gillian,Williams ,Martinez and Sloan would have never been elected. They all rode in ,along with Rivers on Chris Welch's coattails!!!!
I think they owe Welch and should hire him and his firm, right now, get rid of Sturino and Durking, who did nothing for them during there election and hire Welch!!!!!!
Let's see how loyal those township trustees are to Chris Welch. Welch took care of them, now it's there turn!
By
Anonymous, at 8:29 PM, October 08, 2006
Arnie better run for Trustee now if he wants to have a shot at being the next Mayor. And Yarbrough better stop supporting mobbed up white thugs (Pasquale, Bruno, Herrell, Sey, McCampbell, Bush) in a predominantly African American town.
By
Anonymous, at 9:23 PM, October 08, 2006
Briant is to afraid of the white Mayor and his buddies. Briant would kill a black man before going aginst the Mayor and his mob.
Briant aint man enough or smart enough to run against his master the mayor!
By
Anonymous, at 10:05 PM, October 08, 2006
Greg Moore will get even for being double crossed by Pasquale. He will run and win as the first African American elected Mayor of Bellwood. Moore will end the corruption that he tried to stop before Pasquale demoted him. The dictatorship is coming to an end.
By
Anonymous, at 12:02 PM, October 09, 2006
video guy, what's your definition of "real crime"?
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Carl Nyberg, at 6:00 PM, October 09, 2006
Your asking an idiot to answer a logical question Carl. Don't bother and don't pay a hoot to that person. You are fighting the real crime in this Proviso Township. That is the crooked politicians and their cronies and their contracts and their corruption. Villages don't just go bad, they are made that way by the people that run them. Police departments don't go bad, they are shaped and molded in the image of their leader. That is a bad mayor and a bad police chief. Fight real crime? Hooey. Elect real leaders and the rest takes care of itself. And BTW, no room for J.Roche & Welch at the township, Gillian has already gotten his attorney in there, Storino, Ramello & Durkin. Think they're o.k. Fox now that you have them, just wait, they'll buy Gattuso's love just like they bought Calderones love. You'll get no love. Heads up Ricky.
By
Anonymous, at 11:06 PM, October 10, 2006
As I understand criminal justice theory, street drug dealing and certain other crimes benefit from the police and politicians permiting the activity at some level.
By
Carl Nyberg, at 10:48 PM, October 11, 2006
Greg Moore for Mayor. I like it. Former Chief Moore is a good man I know him. What a well edcucated man who has run a department in Bellwood could do as mayor. Wow anti corruption anti kick back. Wont happen. But what a dream. Arnie Bryant oooooh pleas say no another guy who just gives away jobs to his family and friends. This guy hasnt held a real job in years. Just a politically connected hack. I know more ill share again some time.
By
Anonymous, at 4:53 PM, October 12, 2006
Does Greg Moore even live in Bellwood anymore? Does he even work for the Bellwood Police? Moore thought he could help get Pasquale elected then actually be treated with respect - bad choice ex-Chief Moore.
Pasquale has driven all the quality people out of town. He's too afraid of intelligent progressive people, being severely limited himself, which is why he surrounds himself with Moreland and the rest of the incompetents.
All that's left to run the town are outsiders like Bruno and McCambell. What a waste. That town is a dump that's going bankrupt on payoffs. Those people deserve who they voted in.
By
Anonymous, at 8:05 PM, October 12, 2006
What... Greg Moore. The Greg Moore??????? The master and founder of the old Hillside holiday Inn Copper Parties??OHHH..WEEEEEEEEEEEEE..
I dont think so.....
By
Anonymous, at 9:56 AM, October 22, 2006
I did not know those parties were still taking place at the Hillside Holiday Inn? When is the next one going to be? are the girls still shakin it up???
By
Anonymous, at 4:22 PM, October 22, 2006
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