Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says there’s no leading candidate to replace former City Clerk James Laski.
Laski resigned last week. He is charged by federal prosecutors in January with taking bribes and obstructing justice. The charges stem from an investigation into the city’s Hired Truck Program, a city initiative that awarded hauling jobs to trucking companies that did little or no work. Laski is the highest ranking official among 42 people charged.
Mayor Daley calls the situation unfortunate but doesn’t have a timetable for when a successor will be named. He’s talked to at least seven or eight people interested in the job, but he refused to mention any names.
In his State of the City address this week, the mayor said he is “determined to make sure that all the reforms we’ve put in place to root out and prevent misconduct - especially in contracts and hiring - are working and protecting our taxpayers.”