Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Illinois Politics Crack Me Up
Mell wants end to family feud; Blagojevich 'worried' about father-in-law
By MAURA KELLY LANNANAssociated Press Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich's father-in-law, influential Chicago Alderman Richard Mell, said Tuesday he believes he was right to criticize the governor for closing a landfill run by a distant relative, but he said he wants the public feud to end for the sake of the family.
"This is something that is going to be put to rest today," an emotional Mell said, choking back tears. "What was done was regrettable, I think. I'm hoping that there's a possibility of repairing this."
Blagojevich would not say whether they can patch things up.
"I just don't want to get into private discussions in a public setting," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I care about my father-in-law. I'm worried about my father-in-law. This has been hard on all of us."
Blagojevich angrily rejected Mell's accusation that his office has appointed people to boards and commissions in exchange for campaign contributions. The governor called the claim "reckless and defamatory" and said his inspector general should look into the issue so it can be laid to rest.
Last week, Mell publicly accused Blagojevich of shutting down a landfill run by a distant relative to punish him for criticizing the governor in the past. Mell said Blagojevich was acting as a "white knight" trying to show he was "the champion of virtue."
"I think you all know that I'm not afraid of a fight," Mell said Tuesday during a news conference at City Hall. "I think you all realize that in fact that when I think I'm right, I will stand up for what I believe is right."
Blagojevich ordered the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to investigate Land Reclamation Services Inc. in Joliet after Frank Schmidt, a distant cousin of Blagojevich's wife, Patti, allegedly told customers he could evade permit requirements because of his family ties. The governor asked the IEPA to shut down the landfill after a two-week investigation found multiple violations there.
Mell is Patti Blagojevich's father and a Democratic political heavyweight credited with helping get his son-in-law elected governor.
"It has to end not for me, or not for Blagojevich. But it has to end for my wife and for the rest of my family. This is not something that can continue," Mell said.
"I sort of wear my heart on my sleeve sometimes and sort of say things that possibly, in hindsight, I shouldn't have said," Mell said. "Do I believe I was right? I certainly do. And I don't regret that."
Blagojevich would not explain why he is "worried" about Mell.
He called it "an occupational hazard" for governors to endure occasional clashes between family and work.
"From time to time in this job, you've got conflicts that develop where a private interest of a family member or a friend conflicts with the public interest. The trick is to never forget what your big public responsibilities are," Blagojevich said.
"I guess the old way of doing business would say, you look the other way, you pretend like it's not there," he added. "Or you see that there may be a problem and you act on behalf of the people. I chose that course."
One of Mell's accusations was that an influential private adviser to Blagojevich had arranged for government appointments in exchange for $50,000 campaign contributions.
Blagojevich dismissed the claim and said a review by his inspector general will reassure the public. "That's what we have an inspector general for, and she'll do her job," he said.
Mell said he hopes his family can "get beyond" what happened. He noted that Blagojevich's daughter Amy loves to fish but hasn't been to Mell's Lake Geneva home to fish for two years.
When asked if he would reach out to the governor, Mell said he did not know what would happen. He did not take further questions.
On Monday, a Cook County judge agreed to a deal that would allow Schmidt to reopen Land Reclamation Services Inc. on Jan. 17 if he comes into compliance. Earlier Monday, Blagojevich shut down another landfill and promised to be more aggressive to stop illegal dumping.
By MAURA KELLY LANNANAssociated Press Writer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich's father-in-law, influential Chicago Alderman Richard Mell, said Tuesday he believes he was right to criticize the governor for closing a landfill run by a distant relative, but he said he wants the public feud to end for the sake of the family.
"This is something that is going to be put to rest today," an emotional Mell said, choking back tears. "What was done was regrettable, I think. I'm hoping that there's a possibility of repairing this."
Blagojevich would not say whether they can patch things up.
"I just don't want to get into private discussions in a public setting," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I care about my father-in-law. I'm worried about my father-in-law. This has been hard on all of us."
Blagojevich angrily rejected Mell's accusation that his office has appointed people to boards and commissions in exchange for campaign contributions. The governor called the claim "reckless and defamatory" and said his inspector general should look into the issue so it can be laid to rest.
Last week, Mell publicly accused Blagojevich of shutting down a landfill run by a distant relative to punish him for criticizing the governor in the past. Mell said Blagojevich was acting as a "white knight" trying to show he was "the champion of virtue."
"I think you all know that I'm not afraid of a fight," Mell said Tuesday during a news conference at City Hall. "I think you all realize that in fact that when I think I'm right, I will stand up for what I believe is right."
Blagojevich ordered the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to investigate Land Reclamation Services Inc. in Joliet after Frank Schmidt, a distant cousin of Blagojevich's wife, Patti, allegedly told customers he could evade permit requirements because of his family ties. The governor asked the IEPA to shut down the landfill after a two-week investigation found multiple violations there.
Mell is Patti Blagojevich's father and a Democratic political heavyweight credited with helping get his son-in-law elected governor.
"It has to end not for me, or not for Blagojevich. But it has to end for my wife and for the rest of my family. This is not something that can continue," Mell said.
"I sort of wear my heart on my sleeve sometimes and sort of say things that possibly, in hindsight, I shouldn't have said," Mell said. "Do I believe I was right? I certainly do. And I don't regret that."
Blagojevich would not explain why he is "worried" about Mell.
He called it "an occupational hazard" for governors to endure occasional clashes between family and work.
"From time to time in this job, you've got conflicts that develop where a private interest of a family member or a friend conflicts with the public interest. The trick is to never forget what your big public responsibilities are," Blagojevich said.
"I guess the old way of doing business would say, you look the other way, you pretend like it's not there," he added. "Or you see that there may be a problem and you act on behalf of the people. I chose that course."
One of Mell's accusations was that an influential private adviser to Blagojevich had arranged for government appointments in exchange for $50,000 campaign contributions.
Blagojevich dismissed the claim and said a review by his inspector general will reassure the public. "That's what we have an inspector general for, and she'll do her job," he said.
Mell said he hopes his family can "get beyond" what happened. He noted that Blagojevich's daughter Amy loves to fish but hasn't been to Mell's Lake Geneva home to fish for two years.
When asked if he would reach out to the governor, Mell said he did not know what would happen. He did not take further questions.
On Monday, a Cook County judge agreed to a deal that would allow Schmidt to reopen Land Reclamation Services Inc. on Jan. 17 if he comes into compliance. Earlier Monday, Blagojevich shut down another landfill and promised to be more aggressive to stop illegal dumping.
Kicknit 1/11/2005