As Ald. Carothers Pleads Guilty, Another Council Spot Opens

Ald. Isaac "Ike" Carothers (29th) pleaded guilty to a pair of charges today, changed from last summer's not guilty plea, that could send him to jail for over two years and will force him to vacate his City Council seat immediately. Ald. Carothers entered the pleas today, admitting to one count each of accepting a bribe and filing a false federal income tax return. As part of his deal, four wire and mail fraud charges were dropped.

According to both the Tribune and Sun-Times, the deal would result in Carothers serving 28 months in prison though a judge will have the final say over Carothers' sentence.

Mayor Daley is now tasked with finding a City Council replacement for both Carothers and former 1st Ward alderman Manny Flores who left his position to chair the Illinois Commerce Commission. Once he appoints replacements to both of these spots, that will bring the total number of current aldermen appointed by Mayor Daley to 19.