You Deserve a Break Today

By Kevin Robinson in News on Apr 6, 2007 4:00PM

Campaigning for alderman is hard work — you have to knock on doors, make speeches, and be sure that you are leaving time for the business interests in your ward to come by and tell you all about their big plans to develop the area. Alderman Howard Brookins knows all about bringing development to the ward, and how important it is to work with businesses that will bring quality of life and good jobs to the community. Just ask all the big important businesses he's worked to bring to the 21st Ward: Burlington Coat Factory, Staples, and Best Buy, just to name a few.

But the most important business leader to help Howard Brookins so far is Phil Douglas, franchisee of two McDonald's locations in the 21st Ward (even though his business offices are located 1951 Bernice Rd, in Lansing). He is generously offering free hotcakes to people that bring in early voting receipts (along with a flier making the rounds in the 21st Ward). According to the person who spoke with us at the campaign headquarters (who refused to give a name) this is a "campaign contribution" from a business leader in the community who supports Brookins. Calls to the business office went unreturned.

After all of the hullabaloo that aldermen have been making about union support in this election cycle (George Cardenas (12th), told the Tribune that large donations from unions have become "one of the most outrageous things in terms of campaign finance.... People are concerned about the corruption of our democracy") it's good to know that business is fighting back. While offering free breakfast to early voters may not be illegal, it certainly seems unethical.