EVENT: The Illinois Rogue's Gallery: Our Infamous Politicians

The stories of convicted former Governors George Ryan and Rod Blagojevich are familiar, but in the history of public corruption in Illinois they represent merely the recent and prominent cases. According to a University of Illinois-Chicago report, Chicago is the most corrupt city in the United States. Illinois ranks third among states, only outdone by California and New York.

Since 1976, Federal prosecutors secured over 1,500 convictions of public officials in the Northern Illinois District, out of a total of over 1,800 statewide. Over the years since Illinois achieved statehood, many more evaded prosecution through devious means. Four governors have been found guilty of corruption and at least one other was acquitted under very suspicious circumstances.

There are many others with sordid and colorful records of public service. Chicago Aldermen like Hinky-Dink Kenna and Bathouse John Coughlin treated every City Council vote as an opportunity for graft. Another Alderman, Paddy Bauler, famously stated “Chicago ain’t ready for reform” when Richard J. Daley first won election as mayor by defeating a good government opponent. More recently, Dixon, Illinois learned that corruption was not limited to Chicago as their city comptroller Rita Crundwell pled guilty to embezzling over $30 million.

The Illinois Rogue’s Gallery: Our Infamous Politicians looks at all of these shady characters and more and explores whether Chicago and Illinois will ever be “ready for reform.”

Description from WindyCityRoadWarrior.com

“Rod Blagojevich mug shot” by United States Marshals Service