John Pope (alderman)

John Pope is alderman of the 10th ward of the City of Chicago. He was first elected in 1999 and is currently serving his third term.

Early life

A lifelong resident of the 10th ward, Pope attended Mount Carmel High School.^[1] He earned his undergraduate degree in Economics, from Wabash College in Indiana.^{[citation needed]}

Public service

Pope worked for several years in Chicago’s budget department, serving also as Director of Demolition in the Building Department and Director of Conservation, before later joining Mayor Richard M. Daley’s staff as Daley's assistant.^[1]

Aldermanic career

Pope was first elected in 1999.^[1] Pope was elected to his second term in 2003, when he ran unopposed, and again in 2007.

In January 2008, Pope hired a former Streets and Sanitation worker, using a payroll account available to alderman with no scrutiny, who was on a list of employees who should not be re-hired, as he had resigned after the city recommending firing him for allegations of sexually harassing a co-worker. Pope defended the hiring, explaining that the worker had resigned without admitting guilt and that he was a hard worker with knowledge about the area. Pope also hired the mother of Al Sanchez, leader of the Hispanic Democratic Organization which helped get Pope elected.^[2] Sanchez was a former Commissioner of the City of Chicago's Department of Streets and Sanitation who in 2008 had been convicted for rigging city hiring so that Mayor Daley's supporters would be rewarded.^[2]

Pope serves on a number of committees: Buildings; Economic & Capital Development; Energy, Environmental Protection and Public Utilities; Housing and Real Estate; and Police and Fire.^[1]

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Alderman John A. Pope". City of Chicago. Retrieved 1 April 2012. 
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dardick, Hal; Gabler, Ellen (2009-11-19). "Friends & family fund for Chicago aldermen; Shadowy $1.3 million payroll helps them get around ban on patronage hiring". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2009-11-19. 

External links

• City of Chicago

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