Mendoza purges herself of $141,550 from Solis

Mayoral candidate Susana Mendoza is purging herself of $141,550 in campaign contributions received over the years from Ald. Danny Solis and from a debt collection firm founded by Solis' sister and an attorney with close ties to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Mendoza's quick about-face comes one day after the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Solis, retiring chairman of the City Council's Zoning Committee, has spent the last two years wired up to help federal investigators build their corruption case against Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th).

Normally, elected officials agree to go undercover only after they themselves have been caught in corruption scandals.

Assuming that Solis was no exception, Mendoza is taking no chances. She's washing her hands of the money she received from Solis and his 25th Ward Regular Democratic Organization as well as contributions she got from Vendors Assistance Program LLC, the company founded by Patti Solis Doyle and attorney Brian Hynes, the former Madigan aide with close ties to Danny Solis.

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