Ald. Cardenas Rents Ward Office From Himself

By Kevin Robinson in News on Aug 25, 2009 4:20PM

According to an ongoing investigation by the Tribune, 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas has been using tax dollars to rent office space for his ward office from a company his family owns. The Tribune's investigation into how city aldermen are using their city expense accounts shows that Cardenas spent $17,120 in 2008 to rent his office, which is in a building owned by himself and some relatives. He told the Tribune he didn't see any problem with that, but then backed down when pressed. "There's no reason to be [in the company] if it's going to cause me headaches," he said. "I do everything aboveboard."

Cardenas told the Tribune that he was seeking an opinion from the city's Ethic Board on the matter, and that if they rule he can't rent from family members, he'll move his ward office out of the building. A spokesperson for Chicago's Law Department said that city attorneys were researching the issue.