Sex, Lies and Commission Appointments

By vouchey in News on Jan 31, 2005 11:07PM

If you found out that one of your best friends had been sleeping with your once-spouse, would you tell everyone? Would you file a lawsuit? Would you file a lawsuit that could bring federal investigators snooping around not just your friend and your ex, but maybe you? Former state legislator Edgar Lopez would -- and did.

The other two in this triangle, Illinois Liquor Commissioner Lillibeth Lopez and 31st Ward boss Joseph Barrios (seen at right) have become one of the biggest sources of gossip on the West Side. According to the suit, Barrios was one of Edgar Lopez' best friends, but for years Barrios had also been sleeping with Mrs. Lopez. Part of the attraction of the gossip is that Barrios leads one of the most powerful ward organizations in the city -- powerful enough to elect his daughter Toni to the Illinois House, while she finishes college.

The Sun-Times article details the relationship's twists and turns in gory detail. But despite the salcious result, the story gives a good sense of how favors and favortism seems to happen in Chicago. Friends help friends, and the powerful often step on their friends now and then, because they can.