Stroger campaign official gets county job
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Chicago Sun-Times
By Steve Patterson, Staff Reporter
May 2, 2006
Six weeks ago, he was running Cook County Board President
John Stroger's political campaign.
A year ago, he was suspended from a state job as auditors raised
questions about a controversial contract he oversaw.
Now, Bruce Washington has landed a lucrative county job.
Washington is the county's new director of capital planning.
One of the county's highest-paid employees at $133,424 a year,
he'll oversee county construction work.
Stroger spokesman John Gibson said Washington has held planning
jobs with the county and Chicago Park District, bringing "a
wealth of experience," while "his broad background
is viewed as an asset to the department."
He said Washington's hiring was in the works before Stroger
suffered a March stroke that has left him hospitalized since.
Washington, a loyal Stroger ally for decades, did not return
calls and was not in the office Monday.
Washington comes to the job fresh off helping Stroger to his
fourth county-wide victory.
He took a three-month leave from his job as deputy director
of Illinois' Central Management Services to run Stroger's campaign,
and resigned April 14, CMS spokesman Justin DeJong said.
Last year, state auditors raised questions about spending within
a $24.9 million CMS contract Washington oversaw, as they found
improper billings to taxpayers for parking at Chicago Bulls
games, trips to hotel cigar bars and expensive meals. Amid the
findings, Gov. Blagojevich quickly canceled the contract with
Illinois Property Asset Management, whose subcontractors included
a company run by Stroger's godson, Orlando Jones.
Washington was suspended without pay for two weeks while internal
investigators combed through the records, though he was later
reinstated, DeJong said.
"It's my understanding [Washington] was not directly involved
in that matter," Gibson said.
In his new job, Washington replaces Michael LaMont, who announced
last year he planned to leave after spearheading multiple major
projects, including the construction of Stroger Hospital.
