State's attorney hopeful says competitor offered deal

Cook County state's attorney candidate Bob Milan wants to know why, if competitor Tom Allen thinks he's such an awful candidate, did Allen offer to keep Milan on as first assistant state's attorney if only he'd withdraw from the race?

Milan leveled the allegation Friday after Allen, a Chicago alderman, unleashed a negative television ad directed at him and co-candidate Anita Alvarez, the two candidates who currently work in the state's attorney's office.

"Wow. W-O-W. Wow," was Allen's initial response when asked about the charge outside city council chambers.

After a long pause, Allen denied he had ever made such an offer to Milan.

But Milan insisted he had three meetings with Allen at the Marquette Inn, housed in the same building where Allen's offices are located.

Milan said the two were alone for the last two meetings but were with another Milan confidante for the first meeting in September. Milan refused to identify that person.

Asked if the existence of a second and third meeting with Allen indicated Milan was tempted to take the offer, Milan replied, "The decision to run was a tough decision."

Milan, Allen and Alvarez are locked in a tough six-way race for the Democratic nomination for state's attorney with Chicago Alderman Howard Brookins, Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin and private attorney Tommy Brewer. The winner of Tuesday's primary will face Republican Tony Peraica in the general election.