Guess Whose Teaming Up to Oppose Tony Peraica?
Commissioner Peraica has been an outspoken fighter for honest reform and tax relief in Cook County.
So it’s not secret why opponents of reform want Tony gone.
We’ve already written about the “Two Eddies” who have teamed up to oppose Tony in the past — and will no doubt do it again in 2010 (we already have indications that “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak is actively recruiting politicians to work against Tony in next year’s elections.”
And McCook Mayor Jeff Tobolski — who is challenging Peraica as a Democrat — has actually bragged about raising big bucks from Melrose Park Village President Ron Serpico and Cicero Mayor Larry Dominick.
Yes, that’s the same Larry Dominick who infamously stationed armed gunmen outside the Cicero polls during his re-election.
And, please, please, please read our prior post on Ron Serpico.
Speaking of Ron Serpico, the bad news just keeps coming for his town of Melrose Park. We previously posted about his former consultant, Anthony Bruno, being charged with federal tax fraud. And we’ve also posted about the conviction of Serpico’s former chief of police, Vito Scavo, on federal corruption charges.
Now, both Scavo and Bruno are in the news again — this time for an alleged scheme to shakedown a local Melrose Park movie theater. The Sun-Times reports:
A high-profile municipal consultant worked with a crooked Melrose Park police chief in the late 1990s to strong-arm a movie theater chain into hiring private guards, federal prosecutors allege.
In a sentencing memo to the court, prosecutors have accused Bruno of a separate crime: working with former Melrose Park Police Chief Vito Scavo in 1999 to extort Cinemark Theatres into hiring security at levels the company did not want. When Cinemark balked, Bruno threatened to hold up a certificate of occupancy the company needed to open the theater, prosecutors say.
Bruno denies any extortion, saying he simply persuaded Cinemark to honor a promise to hire the guards. He also said there’s no proof he knew Scavo intended to supply the guards with Scavo’s own firm. Bruno isn’t charged in connection with the Cinemark allegations. The statute of limitations has expired, officials say.
In June, Scavo was found guilty of strong-arming Kiddieland, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and other places into hiring security firms he owned. The firms operated out of the Melrose Park police station using squad cars and on-duty cops. Scavo is awaiting sentencing.
Just remember that these are the same folks who want to see Tony Peraica defeated next year.
Do you stand with these insiders — or with the side of reform?
“Two Eddies” Aim for 16th District Domination
Filed under: Campaign News, Corruption, Reform, Uncategorized
Longtime Chicago Alderman Ed Burke was in the news this week — this time for helping “friends with city deals.”
To those familiar with Cook County politics and corruption, this story about Burke was no surprise. During his career, he has been far from a model of clean and honest government.
The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform describes Burke as a “career patron of Governor Rod Blagojevich.”
He has also long been a close political ally of uber-insider Ed Vrdolyak, who last year magically beat corruption charges in federal court after being indicted on fraud and bribery charges. Burke’s and Vrdolyak’s political alliance goes back to the “Council Wars” of the early 1980’s, when the two formed an opposition group — called “The Eddie’s” — to oppose Mayor Harold Washington’s policies, proposals and political organization.
The “Two Eddies” also share something else in common: they both vehemently oppose the reform efforts of Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica (R-16th).
Well, Burke’s opposition to Peraica most likely stems from him “sticking up” for his buddy Vrdolyak, a political power broker in Cicero and other Western Suburbs located within Peraica’s 16th District. Peraica has long tussled with Vrdolyak on behalf of the taxpayers — thus making Vrdolyak a political enemy.
And when Eddie V. is your enemy — so is Eddie B.
So, in 2006 the dynamic duo teamed up to try to defeat Peraica. Vrdolyak (specifically, the “Vrdolyak Law Group”) was the largest contributor to Michael LaPidus, who opposed Peraica in the Republican Primary for Lyons Township GOP Committeeman.
And Burke — through various political entities — ensured that William Gomolinski — Peraica’s Democratic opponent for the 16th District commissioner’s seat — was well-funded.
How well-funded? Well, according to State Board of Election reports, “The Burnham Committee” (a political committee of which Ed Burke is chairman) contributed $7,000 to “Friends of William E. Gomolinski” on 11/17/06.
The Burnham Committee previously made a $1,000 contribution to Gomolinski’s campaign fund on 3/22/06.
Also on 11/17/06, Friends of Edward M. Burke contributed $1,500 to the “Gomolinski Campaign Fund.”
So, the double-team was apparent: Eddie V. hit Peraica in the Primary … Eddie B. hit him hard in the General Election.
What will the 2010 election cycle hold? That remains to be seen. But with Vrdolyak having avoided jail time, the Vrdolyak-backed LaPidus already stirring up trouble in Lyons Township, and Ald. Burke still freely engaging in his shenanigans, it stands to reason that the “Two Eddies” will once again make a play to take over the 16th District.
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