Clout corner

Inside the halls of power

May 8, 2008

Ex-O'Hare official is back

Two years ago, Nancy Takata was forced out as Chicago's $103,080-a-year chief of airport concessions, escorted by police out of O'Hare Airport. "They wanted to go in a different direction,'' she said.

Now, after waiting more than a year, as required by the city's ethics ordinance, Takata is back as a lobbyist for five airport concessionaires -- Airport Restaurant Management, BT Express, MAC One Midway, North American Concessions and O'Hare Venture Limited Partnership. She didn't want to talk about her lobbying -- except to say it has nothing to do with lining up city contracts.

Fran Spielman

City: Don't retaliate

Mayor Daley's chief of staff has sent a memo to city workers warning there had better be no retaliation against more than 1,400 people who got a piece of the $12 million fund to compensate victims of rigged hiring. "Retaliation against claimants is strictly prohibited," Lori Healey wrote. The awards have fueled tensions between workers and supervisors accused of favoritism -- and triggered jealousy among co-workers because some awards were bigger than others.

Fran Spielman

Raising money for Stroger

For $125, you, too, can attend Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's major fund-raiser May 15 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Co-chairing the event: former county Assessor Tom Hynes and investment banker John Rogers. Others on Stroger's fund-raising committee include:

Illinois Senate President Emil Jones; House Speaker Michael J. Madigan; Aldermen Carrie Austin, William Banks, Anthony Beale, Howard Brookins, Walter Burnett, Willie Cochran, Toni Foulkes, Leslie Hairston, Michelle Harris, Lona Lane, Freddrenna Lyle, Toni Preckwinkle, Gene Schulter, Latasha Thomas and JoAnn Thompson; state Sen. Donne Trotter; county Recorder of Deeds Gene Moore; county Democratic Party Chairman Joe Berrios; Secretary of State Jesse White; state Representatives Marlow Colvin and Karen Yarbrough, and Mayors Dwight Welch of Country Club Hills, Robert Donaldson of Hazel Crest and David Webb of Markham.

Also: businessmen Roland Burris, Bill Filan, Greg Goldner, Elzie Higginbottom and Manny Hoffman.

Steve Patterson