Ex- Chicago aldermen who did time can run

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

It looks as if doing time in prison won't prevent former aldermen from making bids for their old City Council seats in next month's election.

In a surprise move, the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners on Friday rejected its own hearing examiners' recommendations that former Aldermen Ambrosio Medrano (25th) and Virgil Jones (15th) be barred from the Feb. 27 ballot because they have felony convictions in their past.

Tears streaming down his round cheeks, Jones portrayed the ruling as vindication, insisting he is innocent despite his 1999 conviction for taking bribes in the federal Operation Silver Shovel probe.



"It means to me that since I am a believer in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that there is still a God that does not allow injustice to prevail," Jones said.

In Chicago,they certainly have lower standards than many corporations that refuse to hire felons.It's inspiring to know that a convicted felon can be part of the law making and budget process.In Chicago,even "made members" of the Chicago Mob can go on to hold office election after election.