Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Cook County: the system works

County’s new lobbyist throwing fundraiser for Stroger

(Crain’s) — Just months after receiving a pair of six-figure, no-bid contracts, Cook County’s new Washington, D.C., lobbyist is hosting a fundraiser for the official who awarded him that work: County Board President Todd Stroger.

Lobbyist Richard Boykin is holding the fundraiser for Mr. Stroger on Thursday evening at the Loop offices of Mr. Boykin’s law firm, Barnes & Thornburg LLP. Invitations for the event request donations of $250 to as much as $2,500...

Mr. Boykin says there is "no connection" between the contracts and the upcoming fundraiser, which will pull in a reported $30,000 or so for Mr. Stroger’s political campaign fund.

Mr. Stroger’s spokesman says only that Mr. Boykin "can throw a fundraiser for whoever he wants..."

Crain’s first asked Mr. Stroger’s office for comment on this matter Tuesday afternoon. By mid-afternoon Wednesday, the president’s spokesman said he had not yet been able to reach the appropriate county officials to confirm that Messrs. Boykin and Burkhardt had been granted a second contract.

The spokesman added that he was aware of Thursday’s fundraiser but was not prepared to further discuss the matter.

1 comment:

Smiff said...

So...we in for $2,500?