IN ORDER TO SERVE THE PUBLIC FIRST, WE MUST…

…PROVIDE THE NAMES, PAY SCHEDULES, AND POSITIONS OF ALL SHAKMAN EXEMPT EMPLOYEES: There is enormous opportunity for corrupt patronage politics with exemptions to the Shakman Decree. In order to protect against this influence, all appointees to these positions will be publicly listed, with their name, job description, pay schedule, and positions available on the Cook County website.  This list will be updated at least quarterly.

…PROVIDE PUBLIC, DETAILED JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR ALL COOK COUNTY EMPLOYEES: The public has a right to know who they hire, and I will see that any position in Cook County government has a publicly accessible job description on the county’s website.

…DEVOLVE MORE AUTHORITY TO THE HUMAN RESOURCE CHIEF: Expand the powers of the Bureau Chief to hire and fire human resource professionals, restructure the Human Resources Department, and fully implement the Taleo software for more effective hiring practices

…CREATE AND APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT, NON-EXEMPT COMPLIANCE OFFICER: Create a position within the Independent Inspector General’s Office that will be responsible for monitoring and auditing job postings, employment candidate screenings, hiring decisions, contracts, and other government operations where corruption may exist.  This position will be a non-exempt position, meaning the President shall not have the power to fill it by appointment.

…REQUIRE QUARTERLY OIIG REPORTS TO INCLUDE AN ITEMIZED LIST OF INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTED AUTHORITIES: Currently, Sec. 2-287 of the Cook County Code only requires the OIIG to report the number and types of investigations that took place.  We must provide a detailed, public list of investigations that have occurred, listing each offense investigated and the relevant authority the investigation was reported to.

…REDUCE THE PAY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS BY 10 PERCENT: I will immediately, from the first day in office, reduce my pay by 10%.  I will propose and seek the passage of an ordinance reducing the pay of elected officials in county government by 10%.

…DOUBLE THE CURRENT SIZE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE:  We need investigators to provide the oversight necessary.  I will expand the inspector general’s office by doubling our current investigative force with new non-exempt hires.