So Sorry

I haven't gotten to posting lately - so this really hasn't even been worth checking. Stuff is coming, though. Good links, tidbits, and even original (!) work.

Until then, Go Bears. Also, check out this awesome article on city politics. As you read, play this game: How many employees of the city of Chicago are currently on disability? How many are related to city politicians? My guess is a lot, and my second guess is the overwhelming majority.

Who signed the alderman's papers?

Who signed alderman's papers?
Rival claims forgery, Solis denies it

January 29, 2007
BY ABDON M. PALLASCH Staff Reporter
The charge is serious: Ald. Danny Solis (25th), the president pro tempore of the Chicago City Council, had someone forge his notarized signatures on his statements of candidacy and economic interest while he was on a fact-finding trip to Israel with other Hispanic aldermen.



He was back from the trip before the final deadline, but they had to be filed while he was away to make him eligible for the lottery for top ballot spot for the Southwest Side ward that includes Pilsen.

Solis' attorneys have said he signed the documents himself before he left, and they expect the lawsuit filed against him Friday will be thrown out just as the electoral board threw out the charge earlier.

But Solis reportedly was seen talking angrily to his Chicago staff on his BlackBerry while in Israel, and handwriting expert Diana Marsh says whoever signed "Danny Solis" to the statement of candidacy and economic interest is not the same person who signed "Danny Solis" on all of Solis' other documents.

Solis has his own handwriting expert, Jack Calvert, who says the same person signed all of the documents. Solis has the high-powered law firm of Shefsky & Froelich as well as election law expert Burt Odelson representing him.

At least until Mayor Daley named Miguel del Valle city clerk last year, Solis was regarded as Daley's top Hispanic ally and perhaps even Daley's heir apparent -- or at least the mayor's choice to succeed Luis Gutierrez as congressman if Gutierrez retires.


Objections were tossed out
Rich Means, the election attorney who filed the case against Solis, said he was initially skeptical that the signatures were forged. A brief glance with the naked eye finds them pretty close. But after going over them with Marsh, Means said he became convinced they were "skillful forgeries."
Means said he became more convinced "by the fact that Solis has consistently refused to swear under oath that the signatures are valid and he has also refused to voluntarily give proper samples of his handwriting under supervision."

But no hearing officer has ordered Solis to do that yet, and he may never have to. So far, the objection against Solis' candidacy keeps getting tossed on procedural grounds because it was filed in two parts, each part incomplete.

Anthony Sutor, a political operative for Solis rival Ambrosio Medrano, filed the objection but forgot to include Sutor's address. Sutor is a city Transportation Department employee who has taken extensive disability leaves over the years, his current one due to stress and panic attacks caused by his divorce, he told the Chicago Sun-Times last summer.

Medrano was allowed to stay on the ballot by a Cook County judge Friday despite his conviction for taking bribes when he was alderman.

Sutor filed an amendment including his address. But the election board docketed it as a new complaint. Means argues they should be joined together since both were filed before deadline. But Solis persuaded the electoral board to keep them separate.

Medrano is also trying to bounce former Ald. Juan Soliz from the race, saying Soliz actually lives in Orland Park. Soliz says that while his wife and children live there, he spends most of his time at his home in the ward.


Lawmaker's brother running
Also in the race is Cuahutemoc "Temo" Morfin, a juvenile probation officer who owns a gym and who has been active in immigration reform demonstrations. Candidate Joe Acevedo, like Sutor, is on disability leave from his job as a city sewer worker. Acevedo is a brother of state Rep. Edward Acevedo.
Candidate Aaron del Valle is a police officer. Both del Valle and Acevedo were active in the Hispanic Democratic Organization, which used to support Solis. City Clerk Miguel del Valle has accused Aaron Del Valle of using the same style campaign posters and trying to piggyback on his campaign. Candidate Martha Padilla is an attorney.

apallasch@suntimes.com