Where Corruption Lives

3.18 Where Corruption Lives

Cases: 4.9 Illinois has been accused of being among the most corrupt states in the coun-

try. Responding to the “pay to play” scandal unleashed by the investigation into Governor Rod R. Blagojevich’s attempt to sell the appointment of Barack Obama’s Senate seat, Chicago FBI Chief Robert Grant said, “If it isn’t the most corrupt state in the United States, it’s certainly one hell of a competitor.” Six Illinois gov- ernors have been charged with crimes during their administration or afterwards, with three—Democrat Otto Kerner, Jr. (1961–1968), Democrat Daniel Walker (1973–1977), and Republican George Ryan (1999–2003)—serving prison time. In the case of George Ryan, a web of corruption was spun in the 1990s when public officials from the bottom to the top in the Secretary of State’s (SOS) office mixed money, politics, and the issuance of drivers licenses to wannabe truck drivers. And, on the dark side, nine persons lost their lives in accidents with truckers holding illegally issued drivers licenses. The laundry list of the fifty-one persons indicted and forty-four convictions was shocking.

Since 1972, seventy-nine elected officials have been convicted of wrongdoing, earning the state the nickname of “the land of greased palms.” Among the sev- enty-nine are fifteen state legislators, two congressmen, one mayor, twenty-seven aldermen, nineteen Cook County judges, and seven other Cook County officials. Th en there is the case of Secretary of State Paul Powell (1965–1970) who was an undefeated politician for forty-two years. Three months after his death in 1970 while still in office, it was discovered that he left an estate worth more than $2 million—$800,000 of it in bills packed in shoe boxes in the closet of his hotel suite in Springfield.

Not everyone agrees that Illinois is the “land of greased palms.” The Illinois City/County Management Association released this statement: “The problem with such broad statements is that it creates the impression that public officials at all levels of government throughout the state are using their positions for personal gain. In response to the corruption, greed, and graft that plagued U.S. govern- ment in the early 1900s, reformers developed the council-manager structure of government and professional local government management. Thanks to these reforms, today, there are literally hundreds of cities, counties, and villages across

Professionalism and Ethics ◾ 75

Illinois that have hired professional managers who are committed to ethical, transparent, and responsive local government.”

Discussion Questions

1. Are elected officials more corrupt than appointed public officials? Why or why not?

2. Should we hold appointed administrators, such as city managers, to a higher standard of behavior than elected officials? Why or why not?

3. How does corrupt behavior resemble or differ from unethical behavior?

Commentary by Author

Broad brushing elected officials or high-ranking appointed officials in Illinois or elsewhere as corrupt is a sad reality and undermines the good work done day in and day out by many dedicated city, county, and state employees. The Illinois City/County Management Association concludes its letter with this statement: “Not every elected and appointed official in the State of Illinois is

corrupt. Many are quietly striving day by day to improve the lives of the mil- lions of citizens of Illinois and to serve the people of our state with honesty and integrity.” It is so.

http: //www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28141995/ Source: Chicago Tribune, May 22, 2002

www.enewspf.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5421 &Itemid=88889651&ed=118 (accessed January 12, 2009).