(Chicago, IL) – October 29, 2010. State Senator John Mulroe (D-Chicago) today was endorsed by former Chicago Inspector General David Hoffman, earning effusive praise from the city’s ex-top watchdog.
“I have confidence that John will be a true independent in Springfield,” Hoffman said. “He is certainly not a product of old-school machine politics.”
Hoffman’s endorsement comes Mulroe as struggles to fend off a formidable challenge from long-timer Chicago Alderman Brian Doherty (R-41) to claim the state senate recently vacated by former State Senator James DeLeo (D-Chicago).
“I’m honored to be endorsed by someone with the integrity and independence of David Hoffman,” Mulroe said. “We share a commitment to reform and fighting for working families by balancing the budget and working everyday to create jobs.”
In 2009, Hoffman’s office produced a report that detailed how the parking meters were sold at a discounted rate and that criticized Mayor Richard Daley’s administration and the Chicago City Council for approving the parking meter deal with little deliberation or public discussion.
Doherty, was one of the aldermen who voted for the parking meter deal, which the City Council approved after reviewing it for only 72 hours, a vote that could the 19-year veteran the senate election.
“I am impressed with John’s experience as a prosecutor, accountant, attorney, school board president, and community leader,” said Hoffman. “I have been less impressed with the background of his opponent, Brian Doherty, who has been a politician for the last 19 years as a Chicago alderman. Doherty is not known as a reformer in the City Council.”
In 2008, Doherty, the council’s lone GOP member, joined Alderman Bernie Stone (D-50) in voting to keep alive Stone’s proposal to eliminate the entire budget of the Inspector General’s Office when Hoffman was Inspector General.
“He was the only alderman to support Alderman Bernie Stone’s proposal to slash the budget of the Inspector General’s Office,” said Hoffman.
A former Illinois U.S. Senate candidate in 2010 Democratic primary, Hoffman added, “He has made disappointing statements in the past on the subject of doing favors for political contributors.”
In 1997, as reported in the Chicago Tribune, Alderman Doherty described his views about the link between campaign contributions and his actions as alderman: “‘You have to do the favor before the solicitation, not after the solicitation,’ he says. ‘You never solicit them until what they want is off the table.”
“We desperately need more officials in Springfield of good character, strong ethics, and the backbone to be independent in important times. I believe that John has those qualities, and will make an excellent senator for this district,” said Hoffman.
The election is on Tuesday, November 2.
Gov. Pat Quinn
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