Daley earns rave reviews for inspector general pick Ferguson

Mayor Daley today won rave early reviews for his decision to replace one seasoned federal prosecutor with another as Chicago’s corruption-fighting inspector general—even though the new guy appears to be lower-key.

“If you haven’t heard much about me before today, it’s mostly because I prefer it that way,” said Joe Ferguson, who succeeds David Hoffman, who resigned in August to run for the U.S. Senate. “I derive all the professional satisfaction I need from the fruits of dogged investigation and following wherever the evidence leads.”

Ferguson, 49, said he views public disclosure of investigations as a “critical aspect” of the inspector general’s duties. But instead of going toe-to-toe with department heads who resist his recommendations, he plans to work with them.

“One of my prime objectives early on is to open lines of communication with commissioners because ultimately, the objective here is to make city government run better. That’s not gonna happen simply through…press conferences, but through actual dialogue,” said Ferguson, joking that he has a “face for radio.”

In spite of the apparent difference in style, the higher-profile Hoffman endorsed his successor.

“I’m very encouraged…Joe has an excellent reputation in the U.S. Attorney’s office. I know him to be a strong and independent-minded prosecutor who will bring experience and maturity to the job,” he said.

Andy Shaw, executive director of the Better Government Association, agreed that the inspector general “doesn’t have to be visible to be effective. He simply has to follow leads and do his job.”

“Joe Ferguson has a history of doing that. No one in Pat Fitzgerald’s office is soft or timid or deferential,” he said.

Shaw noted that Hoffman was “relatively invisible” for several years.

“It was only after City Hall resisted some of his recommendations that he got more visibly aggressive,” he said.

Ald. Joe Moore (49th), Daley’s most outspoken City Council critic, urged Ferguson to follow in his predecessor’s footsteps.

“If he just conducts quiet investigations and does not publicize results of those investigations, it’s like the tree falling in the forest. There were incidents where the inspector general recommended firing and firing did not occur. Going public forces the mayor to justify personnel decisions,” he said.

Hoffman was hired in 2005 to clean up the mess caused the Hired Truck, city hiring and minority contracting scandals.

It wasn’t long before he was nicknamed “Abbie Hoffman” for the political bombs he threw at the mayor's office.

He targeted corruption in the Buildings and Zoning departments, forced the resignation of the mayor's human resources chief, uncovered $21 million in waste by garbage-collection crews and concluded Daley could have raked in nearly twice as much as the $1.15 billion he got from leasing parking meters by holding on to the meters and raising rates.

Hoffman also struck a Daley family nerve by working hand in glove with the federal government to target the hidden interest that the mayor's son and nephew had in a sewer inspection company whose city business rose sharply while they were owners.

In spite of the sometimes embarassing headlines, Daley delivered on his promise to appoint a replacement in the same mold.

“I understand that people…are frustrated and even angry about the misconduct they see at every level of government and business,” the mayor said.

“I understand your frustration…The government you want is the government I want—one that is open, transparent, accountable and free of wrongdoing.”