James Laski
James Laski | |
---|---|
City Clerk of Chicago | |
In office 1995–2006 | |
Preceded by | Ernest Wish |
Succeeded by | Miguel del Valle |
Personal details | |
Born | 1954 (age 69–70) J.D. ) |
Profession | Politician Attorney (nonpracticing) Radio host |
James J. "Jim" Laski (born 1954) was the
Personal life
Laski grew up on the southwest side of Chicago, a lifelong resident of Chicago's 23rd Ward.[1] He attended St. Laurence High School and graduated with a degree in political science from Lewis University.[2] He graduated from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1978,[1] and quickly volunteered his services to then 23rd Ward Alderman, William O. "Bill" Lipinski.[1]
Political career
"Bill [Lipinski] once told me, `People out here have short memories...' "but I think when it comes to taxes, people have long memories." —James Laski[1]
By 1988 Laski was chief of staff of the joint Democrat Service Office for the city's southwest side,
Indicted
Laski resigned from his position in February 2006,
Radio personality
Following his release, Laski was hired on as a prime time weekday radio personality at WGN AM 720 in Chicago. The station's website described the host as "a rebel and maverick in political circles taking on the tough issues and fighting the powers that be in City Hall ... his flair for speaking his mind leaves no one guessing where Jim stands on the issues."[10] Laski's show, however, was discontinued after eighteen months.[8][10] In early 2013, Laski hosted a self-produced —but relatively short-lived— weekend talk show, the Laski Files, on WCPT AM 820 out of Willow Springs, a suburb of Chicago.[8]
Author
Laski wrote a book detailing his experience in the City Clerk's office and his later imprisonment entitled, My Fall From Grace – City Hall to Prison Walls.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Cut From Ward, Laski Sets Out On His Own; Davis, Robert; February 28, 1993; article; Chicago Tribune; retrieved October 2016'
- ^ ISBN 978-1-43436-279-7; retrieved October 2016
- ^ Laski Decides To Make A Run For City Clerk; June 23, 1994, article; staff; Chicago Tribune online; retrieved October 2016
- ^ a b Chicago Clerk Laski May Run for Topinka Job; April 12, 2005, article; Washburn, Gary; Chicago Tribune; retrieved October 2016
- ^ a b c d City Clerk Laski Resigns After Indictment; Crain's Chicago Business Magazine, online; accessed October 2016
- ^ LA Times; retrieved November 2014
- ^ Note: Kozubowski's scheme had paid $476,000 to six "ghosts" for little or no work, and had run for a period of over a dozen years. He pled guilty to the charges in 1993 and his term in office was completed by Ernest Wish.
- ^ a b c Laski Goes Out With a Bang at WCPT; blog; October 20, 2013; Robert Feder; accessed November 2016.
- ^ article; Monday, February 18, 2008; Injustice Exposed blog; retrieved November 2016
- ^ CBS Chicago; retrieved November 12, 2010
External links
- Federal Charges Unsealed Against City Clerk James Laski and A Laski Political Worker In Probe of City's Hired Truck Program; January 13, 2006; Press Release [PDF download]; accessed October 2016