GOP files formal complaint with state to probe Maher past conviction

GOP files formal complaint with state to probe Maher past conviction

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE             Contact:           Jonathan Blessing

September 14, 2010                                                     773-450-0478 (c)

jon@cookrepublicanparty.com

Did Patrick Maher Tell a $25,000 Lie to the State of Illinois?

Formal Inquiry Filed with the State Into Maher’s Failure to Disclose Criminal Past

(Chicago, Illinois) – 17^th District Cook County Commissioner candidate Patrick Maher has trouble with the truth and the implications go well beyond politics and to his professional status as a state-licensed real estate appraiser.

On candidate questionnaires to the Chicago Sun-Times and Southtown Star, Mr. Maher lied about a previous criminal conviction for battery, he lied about his birthdate to make it more difficult for inquiring minds to find out about that criminal conviction, and he lied about where he went to college and for how long.

To compound the matter Mr. Maher then lied about his lies, repeatedly changing his explanation as reported by Fox News Chicago and the Southtown Star newspaper.

If he lied about his criminal background to media outlets, what about to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation?

A formal letter was sent yesterday to Brent Adams, the agency’s director, asking the agency to do what Mr. Maher refuses to do:  produce his original state application.

According to state records, Mr. Maher became a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser on April 11, 2001.  The application to become an appraiser requires the full disclosure of one’s educational background (Part IV) and disclosure of one’s criminal background (Part VII).

Part VII specifically asks: “Have you been convicted of any criminal offense in any state or federal court (other than minor traffic violations)?”

The Certifying Statement on an Illinois Appraiser License application states:

“I understand that false statements may be used as evidence to deny this application or, to revoke or otherwise discipline any license issued on the basis of this application.  The statements and indications made on this application are true and correct to the best of my belief and knowledge.”

If Mr. Maher knowingly lied on his application in 2001 as he did on candidate questionnaires in 2010, he would be eligible for the following disciplinary action according to state statute (225 ILCS 458/15-10) which reads in part,

The Department may suspend, revoke, refuse to issue, renew, or restore a license and may reprimand place on probation or administrative supervision, or take any disciplinary or non‑disciplinary action, including imposing conditions limiting the scope, nature, or extent of the real estate appraisal practice of a licensee or reducing the appraisal rank of a licensee, and may impose an administrative fine not to exceed $25,000 for each violation upon a licensee for any one or combination of the following:         (1) Procuring or attempting to procure a license by

knowingly making a false statement, submitting false information, engaging in any form of fraud or misrepresentation, or refusing to provide complete information in response to a question in an application for licensure.

So, did Patrick Maher tell a $25,000 lie to the state, a lie that has allowed him to fraudulently work as a state-licensed real estate appraiser for the last nine years?

We expect that answer to be forthcoming from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation since we know it won’t be forthcoming from Mr. Maher.

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