Posted on 01/07/2005 6:00:15 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
January 7, 2005 — Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich shut down a landfill in Joliet run by a distant relative. The move ignited a family feud between the governor and his father-in-law, Chicago Alderman Dick Mell. The governor would not discuss the dispute, but Alderman Mell had plenty to say, calling the governor's decision a "political power play."
Alderman Dick Mell is not only the governor's father-in-law, he is the architect of Rod Blagojevich's political career. The powerful democratic ward boss's money, manpower and muscle carried Blagojevich from City Hall to the state legislature to Congress and finally to the governor's mansion. But Blagojevich claims to be a reformer who wants nothing to do with machine politicians like Mell and the friction inside the family is now exploding into the open.
"This governor is trying to put on this mantled cloak of what a great white knight he is when he's not," said Alderman Dick Mell, Governor Blagojevich's father-in-law.
Alderman Mell is furious at his son-in-law, Governor Rod Blagojevich, for shutting down a landfill in Joliet that violates the state's environmental laws, according to the Illinois EPA.
"There is no political vendetta on my part. My job is to protect the environment," said Renee Cipriano, State Environmental director.
"What he is doing borders on being criminal. Using the state's power to shut down and have a vendetta against me borders on being criminal. What he is doing to the family is beyond approach," said Gov. Mell.
Alderman Mell said he is trying to help a troubled relative operate the landfill, 34-year-old ex-convict Frank Schmidt. Schmidt is a cousin of First Lady Patti Blagojevich, who is Mell's daughter.
The landfill is only permitted to accept building materials, according to the Illinois EPA. Environmental officials said the operator is allegedly ignoring the limitation and trying to cash in on his political connections.
"Mr. Schmidt made very clear he was a relative of the governor and he was open for business and willing to take any and all types of waste that people needed to dump. And that is a violation of state law," said Abby Ottenhoff, governor's office.
"They are bringing in material that is not clean construction debris, so you have material like tires, scrap material, roofing material, landscape waste," said Cipriano.
"Absolutely sure there's no wrong doing or no use of the governor's name or any type of power. We are running a clean business," said Frank Schmidt, landfill operator.
The governor's office says Blagojevich is simply putting the welfare of the public above the well-being of his relatives.
"They are putting the welfare of the public and everyone has to play by the same rules. If they want the landfill to be open, they can fix the problems," said Ottenhoff.
"Hey, I'm proud of the governor. I'm proud of Rod. He's the governor. Why can't Rod be proud of anyone else? Why am I being treated differently?" said Schmidt
Schmidt went to court to plead with a Cook County judge to reopen the landfill claiming he has done nothing wrong and the tires were in the landfill when he took it over. The judge seems to be buying the argument and the landfill could be reopened next week.
As for the political feud, Mell is talking about holding a news conference in Chicago on Monday to blast Blagojevich. The governor was expected to say something today but has yet to comment. His office says his wife, Patti, is siding with her husband on this one. That cannot be pleasant for the Blagojevich family, which has reportedly been under a lot of strain for a number of months.
How about de Bears?
Rebuilding year for the Bears. Again.
— Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich shut down a landfill in Joliet run by a distant relative. The move ignited a family feud between the governor and his father-in-law, Chicago Alderman Dick Mell.
Blago is trying to cast himself as an independent, not beholden to Chicago politics.
There's no way he did this without the Mell's approval. He doesn't have the balls.
Anytime I read about these clowns disagreeing about anything- even dinner reservations, I'm positive it's a PR play.
Chicago Democrap Politcs... watch your wallet- and your daughter
Gov. Mell?
Freudean slip?
Ah, theatre!
Schmidt went to court to plead with a Cook County judge to reopen the landfill
hhmmmm ... Joliet is in WILL County not COOK!!!
The whole thing smells like a heap of gargae to me.
Ahhhhhh, a Chicago politician finally tells the truth. Who'd a thunk it.
Ok seriously, our idiot boy gov realizes his FIL can't help him anymore so he's hitched his (empty) wagon to 'Da Mare', King Richie II.
As to the Crook County Court-Joilet 'conflict', that's no biggie. After all, according 'Da Mare', Chicago and Crook County IS IL. Joiliet is just part of his Kingdom.
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