Crook County Cronyism Continues

Some things never change. One of them is "Soldiers for Stroger" getting rewarded for campaign contributions with fat cat raises. All on the taxpayers dime.

"Patronage workers with the Cook County Forest Preserve District are seeing more green these days -- in their paychecks.

With people everywhere facing tough financial times, the 28 forest preserve patronage workers who've been on the payroll since 2006 all got hefty raises in the following two years, an analysis by the Chicago Sun-Times and the Better Government Association has found. They're among 38 forest preserve workers who are exempt from the Shakman court order that bans political hiring in city and county government.

On average, the exempt employees were paid $98,071 last year. Nine of them saw their salaries increase 19 percent or more between 2006 and 2008.

Most of the Shakman-exempt employees -- 24 in all -- have contributed to the campaign funds of Cook County Board President Todd Stroger; his late father, former board President John Stroger; or the 8th Ward Regular Democratic Organization that John Stroger controlled.

The Strogers and the party organization have gotten a total of $49,870 in campaign contributions from the exempt employees since the mid-1990s. The biggest contributor: Deputy Comptroller Alvin Lee ($12,100), followed by district police chief Richard Waszak ($8,050)."

To be a part of county government you have to be connected. Not necessarily in the 8th ward, but you still have to be in the know somehow, as the following shows:

"Many of those with Shakman-exempt jobs with the district have an 8th Ward pedigree, but not all. Among those:

• • The district's top executive, Steve Bylina, has worked in Ald. Edward M. Burke's 14th Ward organization. A forestry expert, his annual pay is $168,511.

• • Former county commissioner and 37th Ward Ald. Frank Damato is the district's "coordinator of community intergovernmental relations." He makes $100,657.

• • Frank Mole, who has ties to the 36th Ward Regular Democratic organization, holds the title "assistant maintenance superintendent III." His salary went from $82,844 in 2006 to $99,686 in 2008 -- a 20 percent hike.

• • Vito Benigno, who was active in former 42nd Ward Ald. Burton Natarus' Democratic organization, is a "recreation superintendent III." His pay rose 22 percent from 2006 to 2008, to $105,851.

In all, 28 of the Shakman-exempt forest preserve workers saw their pay rise 13 percent or more during the three-year period. The only Shakman-exempt staffers who got pay hikes of less than 13 percent were the 10 who had been in their jobs for two years or less.

Mayberry says the raises resulted, in part, from the district's approving a new contract for unionized employees in December 2007 that "included wage increases that were, at that time, primarily retroactive."

Ah yes, public sector unions, another group that incrases the cost of living for taxpayers with their high wages and gold-plated benefits. Can't forget about them.

Cook County Government is in desperate need of an overhaul. Let's start at the top and work downward. (HT Chicago Sun-Times):

Chicago Sun-Times: Workers Give To Stroger's Campaign, Get Big Raises