Ethics debated in Cook Co. Board 9th District

Longtime Cook County Commissioner Peter Silvestri says experience counts.

But his opponents for the 9th district Cook County Board seat he's held for 16 years think the Republican has overstayed his welcome.

Democrat Cary Capparelli and Green Party candidate Brock Merck have tried to paint Silvestri, 53, as a machine politician who takes two other government paychecks besides Cook County commissioner as Elmwood Park village president and village liquor commissioner.

“To me, it shows a bunch of arrogance," said Capparelli, of Chicago, who promises to only serve two terms if elected, and supports a term limits law in Cook County.

“I have a term limit every four years. It's called an election," Silvestri replied.

Silvestri said he's been elected village president and county commissioner with taxpayers of both bodies fully knowing he holds two offices.

The village president is the liquor commissioner in Elmwood Park, as is in many other municipalities.

Silvestri argued he's represented District 9 well and has a good rapport with community groups and local officials. He says he's an independent commissioner who represents suburban areas, which “have issues that might not always relate to interests downtown."

Capparelli also has criticized Silvestri for “arranging for his (village) manager to be a double dipper." Elmwood Park Village Manager John Dalicandro is a member of the Cook County Sheriff's merit board.

Silvestri said Dalicandro was selected for the merit board not by him, but by the sheriff.

Silvestri pointed to Capparelli's own political connections as son of longtime State Rep. Ralph Capparelli.

Silvestri said he's consistently fought against patronage and the awarding of contracts and appointments based on political preference. He was sponsor of county ethics reform legislation, he said, and supports the continued existence of an independent hospital board.

Both of his opponents criticized campaign donations Silvestri received from Red Speed Illinois, which provides Elmwood Park's only red-light camera.

Silvestri said Red Speed did contribute “nominal amounts in the past, but they haven't in a long time.

He supported the ordinance that allows villages to opt out of having county red light cameras and said Elmwood Park's camera, near the village's train station, has led to a decrease in violations.

Merck, a 40-year-old Chicago police officer who was an infantry officer in Afghanistan said he isn't accepting any campaign donations.

His “Who is Brock Merck?" campaign signs used campaign signs discarded after the February primary and painted over them with green paint from his family's art supply store, he said. He estimates it's saved him $15,000 in campaign expenses.

“You practice what you preach. I'm the person who gets my hands green," Merck said.

Capparelli, who last year was part of a large field aiming to fill the vacated congressional seat of now-former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, believes he can win the board seat despite the current political climate.

“I realize lot of people are upset with Democrats, which may make this election difficult for me," he said.

The 9th District runs from Glenview to River Forest, and includes parts of Des Plaines, Rosemont and Park Ridge.