Rick Munoz

For Immediate Release: February 6, 2012

For more info: Andrew Sharp, 773/447-1763 

Hoffman is latest leading reformer to endorse Rick Munoz

Former city Inspector General David Hoffman, this morning, announced his endorsement for Rick Munoz in the race for Clerk of the Circuit Court, the only contested countywide election in the Democratic Primary on March 20. Hoffman praised Munoz for his proven commitment to independence in politics and his detailed plans to reform the Court Clerk’s Office. 

“Rick Munoz has long been a truly independent voice of reform, especially during a time when it was extremely challenging to be independent,” Hoffman said.  “He was a reliable supporter of the efforts to turn the Inspector General’s Office into an office that could independently and effectively fight corruption and waste in city government, and was a leader in pushing for a more transparent budget process.  I’m confident that as Clerk, he will be just as dedicated in demanding transparency and rooting out problems wherever he finds them.”

For Immediate Release: December 26, 2011

For more info: Andrew Sharp, 773/447-1763

Clerk calls issue “an administrative test” for candidates -- then flubs the test!

Dorothy Brown mismanaged the challenge to her opponent’s nominating petitions, failing the standard for competence that she personally set. The Munoz campaign called the latest Brown debacle more evidence she cannot run a professional operation and called on the Clerk to defend her record at a series of 11 debates – one in each Cook County congressional district.

On December 12, Dorothy Brown issued a statement saying her petition challenge against Munoz would give him “an opportunity to prove his skills as an administrator.” Instead, Brown went on to demonstrate her own incompetence by failing to file challenges against over 7,000 Munoz signatures. Since 5,693 signatures are required, Brown’s mistake meant every one of her challenges could have been upheld and she still would have lost her case.

For Immediate Release: November 15, 2011

For more info: Andrew Sharp, 773/447-1763

Today, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle moved to strip Cook County Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown of her ability to invest county funds without strict oversight. President Preckwinkle presented an ordinance amendment requiring Brown and other county officials to get prior approval on both the institution and the terms before making any future investments. The move comes after Rick Munoz highlighted the fact Dorothy Brown has invested over $50 million in banks considered weak and unhealthy by the County Treasurer.

Last year, Brown missed signs the Shore Bank was about to collapse, and Munoz warned she could repeat that mistake without increased oversight. He alleged Brown has created the appearance of a pay to play scandal by accepting $100,000 in campaign contributions from banks over the past decade -- $70,000 from banks included in the Treasurer’s recent report.

For Immediate Release: November 14, 2011

For more info: Andrew Sharp, 773/447-1763

Defending her budget before Cook County lawmakers last week, Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown boasted she has a group of people in her office that do nothing but look for ways to bring in new revenue. She then proceeded to rattle off a long list of fees she hopes to increase on local taxpayers, businesses, lawyers – and even on the indigent. This approach is wrongheaded and symbolic of an office with a reputation for corruption and inefficiency.

The new fees proposed by Clerk Brown would make it more expensive for businesses to operate in Cook County, which is precisely the wrong thing to do as our civic leaders work to convince new companies to move here.  The current filing fee to initiate a civil case in Cook County is already $303. Brown proposed adding a $1 processing fee to every document filed in the case subsequently, including so called “no fee filings.”