Charles Flowers, suburban regional schools superintendent, arrested and charged with corruption

Charles Flowers, Superintendent of the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education, turned himself into authorities today on charges of public corruption, officials said today. 

Flowers is alleged to have stolen thousands of dollars from the bankrupt agency.  He and the agency are also owe $190,000 loaned by the Cook County Board that was never repaid.

County Commissioner Elizabeth "Liz" Doody Gorman praised the arrest. Gorman was the only commissioner who opposed the loan when it was first brought before the board, and last year, the entire board reversed itself and joined Gorman in condemning Flowers' alleged mismanagement of the office.

“As a suburban commissioner, I worked closely with his predecessor Robert Ingraffia which gave me familiarity and perspective of the office so when Flowers came to the county board asking for the loan I did my due diligence and was made aware of some alleged questionable practices taking place in his office.  That’s why I stood my ground and was the only commissioner to vote “No” and oppose the $190,000 loan to Flowers.”  In July, a civil suit was brought against Flowers and the agency by the state's attorney's office for failing to repay this $190,000 loan from the county.

“It’s such a shame that the voters chose to replace a well-respected career educator and a man with the highest integrity like Robert Ingraffia with an alleged criminal like Charles Flowers.”

Click here to read Gorman's full press release.

State's Attorney Anita Alvarez is expected to formally announce criminal charges against Flowers at a press conference this afternoon.

The charges are the result of a separate criminal probe into allegations that he used agency funds for his own personal gain. Last year, a state audit found that the agency was $1 million in debt and accused Flowers of using a work credit card for personal use as well as giving a $6,000 advance to a relative he hired to work for him.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Mark Pera endorses Anita Alvarez for Cook County State's Attorney

Dear Friends, Family and Supporters:

I am writing to you on behalf of a great friend of mine, Anita Alvarez. Anita is the Democratic candidate for State’s Attorney of Cook County. For those of you who don’t know, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office is the second largest prosecutorial office in the country, second only to Los Angeles. It has over 900 prosecutors on staff and is primarily responsible for enforcing the criminal laws on behalf of victims and society in Cook County, our nation’s second largest county.

Anita is a career prosecutor, not a career politician. She has spent 22 years -- her entire legal career -- in the State’s Attorney’s Office. She has risen through the ranks from a brand new prosecutor in traffic court to prosecuting the most violent criminal offenders. Most recently, she has served with great distinction as the Chief Deputy State’s Attorney, the number three position in the office. Throughout her career she has demonstrated the guts, compassion, intelligence, and common sense that are the hallmark of a great prosecutor. She will be an outstanding State’s Attorney.

I am hoping that each of you will join with Leslie and me in supporting Anita both on November 4th and in this last week before the election. As we all know, it takes a lot of money to run a political campaign. Please go to Anita’s website (http://www.anitaalvarez2008.com/) and make a contribution to her campaign. If everyone who receives this email makes a contribution of $50-100 it will help to ensure that she has the financial resources to carry her to a great victory in November. For those of us who live in Cook County, please consider volunteering for her campaign whether it be volunteering a few hours in her office, hosting a coffee or posting a yard sign. Please go to her website to sign up!On behalf of Anita, thank you for your support and all of your help.

Sincerely yours,
Mark Pera