Dive Brief:
- Former Chicago Streets and Sanitation commissioner Al Sanchez, who was recently released from federal prison for rigging hiring and promotions, is running for a seat on the Cook County Board, which sets waste and recycling ordinances, among other things.
- Sanchez spent two and a half years in prison, but maintains he was a scapegoat.
- Sanchez filed 1,150 signatures obtained in three days in order to have his name listed on the ballot in an effort to fill a seat left vacant by William Beavers, who—no joke—left to enter prison that day.
Dive Insight:
Sanchez is actually the second convicted felon to announce a run for County Board in the 2014 primary as former Alderman Isaac Carothers is also running for a seat. Felons cannot run for most city offices but are allowed to run for county, state and even federal office.
