Mayor Daley Goes On The Defensive Over Tristan

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jul 9, 2009 2:00PM

It's hard out there for a Mayor, as our own Honorable Richard M. Daley is learning these days. Already facing a mountain of criticism at home for things such as the parking meter fiasco and the 2016 Olympic agreement putting taxpayers on the hook for $500 million (let's not even mention that pesky nephew), now he's having to defend himself even more.

In this case, it's over Homero Tristan, Daley's personnel chief who resigned on Tuesday amid accusations from the Inspector General of lying about how much he new regarding a clout move by an alderman. Yesterday, Daley went on the defensive, trying to show it wasn't a big deal. Of Tristan, Daley said, "He's a young lawyer and worked hard in that office and he made many, many changes." And on the matter of the letter that Tristan allegedly failed to report the letter from the aldermen regarding the clout move, the mayor said, "But that's a minor violation. But he didn't do anything intentional, hiding it under a desk or rip it up or do this. He just set it aside and he never acted upon it." So...that makes it okay?

But Daley saved his best for last when asked about any friction between himself and Inspector General David Hoffman. As the Trib's Clout Street reports, Daley expounded:

"Like David Hoffman's over here and the mayor's over there," Daley said moving from side to side at a podium. "He's the status quo, he's the reformer. Let's stop that… I appointed him and I asked him to do the things that are necessary. So don't try to get him against me or vice versa." "If I say something, then you say Mayor Daley is not the reformer. He's fighting the reformer," Daley said. "I'm more of a reformer that anyone else in regards to the people's money and the city of Chicago."

Emphasis ours. Just let that one sink in.