Chicago Heights Mayor Practices What He Preaches

An anti-nepotism ordinance passed by the Chicago Heights City Council last week is just the formalizing of a policy already observed by Mayor David Gonzalez.

The mayor asked for his own daughter's resignation after he was elected -- a decision that Gonzalez said was easy for him as a public official but tough for him as a father.

The ordinance Gonzalez introduced passed unanimously at a special meeting last week; Seventh Ward Ald. Sylvia Torres was not present at the meeting. Employees already working for the city are unaffected because they are grandfathered in.

"My daughter was qualified and a great worker," Gonzalez wrote in an email to Patch Monday, Feb. 20.  "The problem comes that any promotion or pay increase that she would have worked for and earned after me taking office would only be perceived as a father looking out for his daughter. It would not be fair to her that her good work ethic and qualifications would be overshadowed by her relationship to me."

Gonzalez's daughter, who had been a full-time worker with the city, is currently working at a non-for-profit organization and going to school, he added.

"Before I started running for office, I had to sit down with her and tell her if I won, I would ask for her resignation," Gonzalez said at last Wednesday's meeting.

"Part of me thinks she voted for my opponent," he added jokingly, "but within 30 days of my election, I did ask for her resignation."

Patch readers have sounded off about dual position holding and nepotism they felt was going on in several government bodies in the Chicago Heights area.

The anti-nepotism policy should ensure workers are hired based on qualifications, Gonzalez said.