New Shakman report criticizes county

The person in charge of making sure that Cook County complies with Shakman Decree restrictions on political hiring says progress has been made, but many elements of the county government still aren't ready for reform.

Mary Robinson, Shakman compliance administrator for Cook County, issued her first report Monday after being assigned the post in March. "If establishing appropriate policies and structures were the only challenge, then one could say that this war is three-quarters won," Robinson wrote. "The difficulty is that while some county policy makers and their agents are busy drafting and adopting and implementing appropriate policies, others are busy evading and frustrating and defying the policies."

Without pointing fingers at specific officials or departments, the report outlined charges of politically sponsored job candidates having the wheels greased on the interview process or not having to interview at all, while other employees were harassed in an attempt to drive them out of jobs and open positions for others.

The report urged new reform ordinances and an overhaul in the Bureau of Human Resources, especially in regards to hiring in the Health and Hospitals System. It also called on county leadership to endorse and embrace the reforms.

"Most of the county representatives ... are trustworthy and most want this job done right," the report stated. "Nevertheless, there are those who are not convinced that the days of patronage hiring for nonexempt positions are over, or that there will be any consequences for evading proscriptions of such practices. Their activities are slowing the process and will continue to do so, unless and until they are convinced by county leadership that they must stop."

The Shakman Decrees stem from a 1969 lawsuit filed by Michael Shakman against the Democratic Organization of Cook County. Both the county and the city of Chicago have gone through a series of settlements and agreements to police political hiring, and three years ago Judge Julia Nowicki was appointed compliance administrator. She filed four semiannual reports before leaving the post earlier this year and was replaced by Robinson.