Paying it Forward -- Illinois Style

Plea Deal: Did Michael Tristano "Pay it Forward?"

Ex-aide pleads guilty to diverting state money SunTimes, March 29, 2006

Former Daniels' Aide Pleads Guilty Of Corruption
Some Believe Daniels Could Face Legal Trouble CBS Chicago, Mike Flannery, March 29, 2006

Top GOP aide admits fraud Chicago Tribune, March 29, 2006

Flippers come in all shapes and sizes. They are not created equal Chicago Sun-Times, Sep 7, 2005 Carol Marin

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Of course, the Willow Springs development scheme is nothing like Elmhurst's Block 300. For one thing, Elmhurst has an underpass just perfect for stormwater detention.

In or about 2000, in the Northern District of Illinois and elsewhere, defendant did knowingly conspire with Roger Stanley and others known and unknown to commit extortion affecting commerce, namely to obtain money from a Real Estate Partnership, with the partnership’s consent, having induced said consent under color of official right. (Tristano Plea Agreement, March 2006)

No word on preconstruction sales or Village of Willow Springs elected officials in on the deal.

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There's nothing like a state grant to make everyone "whole" again and gain cooperation.

The Real Estate Partnership was involved in a multi-phase development project in the Village of Willow Springs that included the construction of business, residential and government buildings. The Village sought State grants in order to assist the funding of the Real Estate Partnership’s development projects in the Village. (Tristano Plea Agreement, March 2006)

The State awarded to the Village approximately $1.3 million in grants funding the real estate development in or about 2000. (Tristano Plea Agreement, March 2006)

Here again, the Willow Springs development is nothing like Elmhurst's Block 300 development where a $1.3 million incentive was granted not by the State of Illinois but by the City of Elmhurst with Mayor Marcucci casting the deciding city council vote to distribute TIF funds. There's just no comparison.

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What better way to "pay it forward" and tighten up those puppet strings. Once elected, Candidate A would become part of the "pay it forward" movement in Illinois.

Roger Stanley, a partner of the Real Estate Partnership, agreed to provide, and did provide, consulting job paid by the Partnership to an individual campaigning as a Republican candidate for Illinois House seat in downstate Illinois (Candidate A).

The purpose of the consulting job was to generate necessary income for Candidate A while Candidate A was campaigning for office. In connection with the campaign assistance to Candidate A, defendant TRISTANO agreed to assist the Village’s efforts to obtain the State grants, and did in fact recommend, as Chief of Staff to the Minority Leader, that discretionary grant funds be awarded to the Village.

In Elmhurst no candidate was actually given a job exactly since these things can take time and look bad to outsiders who wouldn't understand. Sending business to your loyal friends/puppets, though, now that's another story and is much easier to do.

Is "pay it forward" alive and well in Elmhurst? Keep watching the news.

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Sounds like a winning system, heh?

Defendant, along with other participants in the scheme, identified candidates for whom campaign work would be supplied by Minority Leader’s Office staff. Defendant supervised the campaign activity, which included preparation of campaign strategy documents, weekly reports summarizing campaign activity, management of campaigns, design of campaign literature, solicitation of voters, and analysis of polling data. (Tristano Plea Agreement, March 2006)

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Tristano Plea Agreement (click on link to view. Thanks to Rich Miller's thecapitolfaxblog.com)