Arenda Troutman

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Arenda Troutman is alderman of the 20th ward in Chicago. She was appointed to her position by Mayor Richard M. Daley in 1990, and is now serving her fourth term.

[edit] Early life

Troutman attended Calumet High School and Southern Illinois University. After graduating she became a supervisor in the Office of Secretary of State.

[edit] Career as alderman

Troutman was appointed to alderman by Mayor Daley to fill the place of Ernest Jones. As alderman she has increased the number of financial institutions of in her ward, sponsored the Affordable Housing and Job Training ordinances and fought for improvements for all Chicago Public Schools. She is chairman of the Historical Landmark Preservation Committee, and co-chair of Housing and Real Estate. Additionally she serves on the Budget and Government Operations; Buildings; Committees, Rules and Ethics; Education; Police and Fire; Zoning; and Finance Committees.

Alderman Troutman has also come under scrutiny on numerous occasions for ethical lapses in her career as alderman. In 2004, it was revealed she may have been dating Derek Jehan, the #2 leader of the Black Disciples street gang, who had fled the FBI after being indicated in a $350,000+/week drug operation in Troutman's ward. Jehan had been seen driving Troutman's car and her letterhead was found in the FBI raid on his home. Troutman commented that she thought he was "a businessman" and that she let "everybody" drive her car.

More recently, the Sun Times revealed that Troutman had helped start a Hired Truck Company for her family to own and profit from. The Hired Truck Program is credited with being the scandal that opened the doors for current federal investigations into City hiring, a part of which led to the recent conviction of Patronage Chief Robert Sorich.