Ill. Mayor Arrested in Corruption Probe

[Freddie Stubbs]

By MIKE ROBINSON
The Associated Press
Thursday, June 8, 2006; 1:41 PM

CHICAGO -- A longtime suburban mayor was arrested Thursday on federal charges of steering business to a friend's insurance agency in return for bribes for almost two decades.

Nicholas Blase, Niles' mayor for 45 years, was arrested on his 78th birthday as he left his house.

According to court documents, Blase threatened to withhold liquor licenses and business licenses from restaurant owners unless they bought insurance from an agency once owned by his late friend Ralph Weiner and now run by Weiner's sons.

Prosecutors said the payoffs went on for 17 years.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/08/AR2006060800914.html

[ThomCat]

1. Is he a republican?

I'm guessing he probably is, because the article doesn't say. If he was a Democrat they'd scream it from the rooftops. But republicans often don't seem to get identified as such.

[corporatemedia]

3. no, unfortunately he's a greedy old dem. link...........

http://www.russstewart.com/2-9-05.htm

[Ian David]

6. He's just being persecuted because he's a Christian. n/t

[AngryAmish]

2. Dog bites man story

[warrens]

4. His excuse was beautiful

He gave all those contracts to one person because "I thought he was a nice guy."

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Go to jail, you old crook.

[atreides1]

5. "I thought he was a nice guy."

Wasn't this the same reason that so many people gave for voting for Bush?

[YankeeFan]

7. I'm Not Really Surprised at Chicago

I have an older brother by 18 months.
We both registered as Democrats when we Registered to vote.
After college my brother got a job in Glen Ellen (Or however you spell it. My brother kept razzing me about it.) near Chicago. Seven years ago - in 1999 for you CU Trolls - he came to our parents home for Christmas. He kept muttering about corruption and so forth about Mayor Daley and the Democratic "Machine". He was so furious that he quit a very good paying job there and moved to just outside of Philadelphia. Several months ago Mayor Daley made the news when he apologized to the city of Chicago for all of its corruption its citizens had to face. My brother had an E-Mail to me about it. Basically he said "No 'Sweat' stupid. The FBI has my name and phone numbers. Let me know if you really want to do something."

When he became eligible to vote in Philadelphia he registered as a Repunk. What my brother went through in Chicago I can only imagine. We were both die-hard Democrats from Grade School through High School and College and then in married life. I keep hoping he comes to his senses one day, but I'm not holding my breath. He's become very vindictive since Chicago.