Chicago Sun - Times
Editorials
Aug 6, 1999
As long ago as 1985, longtime Chicago union boss John Serpico's
extensive and acknowledged ties to local mob figures surfaced in testimony before the
President's Commission on Organized Crime. In 1995, on the basis of those mob connections,
the Laborers' International Union of North America ousted Serpico as a top official in
order to avoid a takeover by the federal government.
Serpico, 68, moved on to take control of the Chicago-based Central
States Joint Board, an umbrella organization for eight small unions, and tens of millions
of dollars in union funds. This week Serpico, along with two of his longtime associates,
was named in a federal indictment alleging racketeering, fraud, kickbacks and kinky loans
in connection with directing union funds to favored banks.
One of those banks has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and been fined
$8,000 in connection with its dealings with Serpico. Like anyone else, Serpico is entitled
to a presumption of innocence until proved otherwise. But his checkered history leaves us
wondering how and why Serpico ever could be appointed, and hang on for 20 years, to a top
position on the Illinois International Port Authority, a state agency created to encourage
shipping through Chicago ports.
Gov. James Thompson appointed him in 1979. Gov. Jim Edgar kept him
on. And Serpico is still there, with Gov. Ryan weighing whether to renew the appointment.
He should not. Serpico's only employment experience in the transportation industry seems
to have been a long- ago stint as a city truck driver. But then, Serpico has been
conspicuously generous, with union members' money, in his campaign contributions to our
political leaders: at least $82,000 to Thompson in his time, $137,150 to Ryan, Edgar and
funds controlled by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) since 1994, and $86,000 to
Mayor Daley.
The aroma arising from this whole Serpico situation is an assault
on public trust and confidence.
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