Mayoral aide Homero Tristan resigns
ACCUSED OF LYING | Says he can't clear name and do his job
The top mayoral aide charged with implementing a city hiring system free of politics abruptly resigned today — less than two weeks after the inspector general accused him of lying during an investigation of hiring abuses.
Human Resources Commissioner Homero Tristan vehemently denied that he tried to cover himself by lying to investigators when asked why he had failed to report an aldermen for attempting to clout a Health Department employee out of a job transfer that would have taken the employee far from home.
(Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)
But, Tristan said he cannot continue to fight the “reckless” charges leveled by Inspector General David Hoffman and still ask Hoffman to sign off on his department’s performance.
“I’m resigning because I believe I’ve become a bit of a distraction,” Tristan said today.
“The inspector general’s report is grossly erroneous and questionable in its legality. My primary responsibility is to clear my name and reputation and defend the integrity of the Department of Human Resources under my leadership. I can’t do them both simultaneously.”
The inspector general refused to comment on the resignation.
Hoffman had recommended that Mayor Daley fire Tristan for allegedly lying when investigators asked why Tristan had failed to report Ald. Michael Zalewski (23rd) for attempting to clout a Health Department employee out of a job transfer the employee opposed.
Hoffman’s report cited evidence that Tristan knew about Zalewski’s Jan. 29 letter. A Human Resources underling interviewed by both the inspector general and a federal court-appointed monitor said he briefed the commissioner about it the following day. There was also an e-mail from a second subordinate telling Tristan about Zalewski’s letter, according to the inspector general’s report.
The letter was never acted upon. The transfer went through as planned.
Pressed on why he cannot continue to fight Hoffman’s charges while serving in the $151,572-a-year job, Tristan cited the year-end report card that the inspector general must make to a federal judge.
“It would be difficult on the one hand to defend my integrity and question Hoffman and on the other hand ask David Hoffman to comment on how well my department is doing. I can’t beat David Hoffman down and ask him to validate we’re doing a good job,” he said.
Three years ago, Daley’s former patronage chief, Robert Sorich, was convicted of rigging city hiring and promotions to benefit the Hispanic Democratic Organization and other pro-Daley armies of political workers. Former Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Al Sanchez was convicted earlier this year on similar charges.
Tristan’s resignation continues the revolving door at a department central to the city’s efforts to implement a hiring system free of politics.
Tristan was appointed last year to replace Jacqueline King, who left after a scathing report by federal hiring monitor Noelle Brennan that accused the city of regressing in its efforts.
The appointment was controversial because Tristan serves as chairman and treasurer of Chicago Latino 100, a political action committee that contributed heavily to Ald. Danny Solis’ 25th Ward Regular Democratic Organization and moderately to Daley.
Hoffman’s report also cited Tristan’s ties to City Clerk Miguel del Valle and the commissioner’s failure to report contacts with del Valle about promotions in the clerk’s office.