Stroger employee gets paid for county contract

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger paid $24,975 to a private company owned by new Deputy Chief of Staff Carla Oglesby just days before she started her county job, a county commissioner said.

The fee falls just $25 under the $25,000 benchmark at which contracts require approval by the Cook County Board, said Bartlett Republican Commissioner Timothy Schneider.

"It was purely intended to stay under the radar," Schneider charged, citing a potential conflict of interest for Oglesby to be paid as a private contractor and then hired as a county employee - whether or not any work was done before she was hired.

Oglesby, a spokeswoman for Stroger's failed Democratic Primary campaign, was hired a month after the Feb. 2 election.

The check dated Feb. 26 was paid to Oglesby's CGC Communications, as documented on a county check register Web site. Stroger and his spokesmen did not respond to questions about the contract.

Stroger reportedly built a new office for Oglesby, among other improvements he is making to the president's offices even though he's a lame duck who will leave office after the Nov. 2 election.

He also reportedly upgraded the office of spokesman Eugene Mullins with a new desk and cabinet. The president's office also has new reflecting one-way glass in the doors to the inner offices. All were paid for with county funds.