The Chicago Tribune has a major front cover story on Mike Madigan who is Illinois Speaker of the House and Illinois Chairman of the Democratic Party. The Tribune reports on his property tax law firm:
Madigan & Getzendanner has become a go-to firm in Chicago's lucrative field of commercial property tax appeals. In 2008 it represented 45 of the 150 most valuable downtown buildings, based on values set by the last complete city reassessment in 2006, according to public records. That's more than twice what the closest rival represented.
The high-stakes competition to handle tax work for buildings worth hundreds of millions of dollars plays out quietly among a small group of local law firms. Many are armed with deep political connections — including Ald. Ed Burke, former Clinton adviser Kevin O'Keefe and former county Assessor Thomas Tully. Only one has Michael Madigan.
There's more, much more:
Developer Sam Roti, whose family is well-known in Chicago politics, said he got a cold-call from the speaker a decade ago.
"He said, 'I'd really like to stop by and meet you,'" said Roti, head of Chicago development firm Markwell Properties. "I never met him before. He said he did research on me and asked if I owned properties."
Roti said he told Madigan he was happy with his current lawyer but agreed to a meeting.
Sam Roti is related to
this high ranking made member of the Chicago Mob. You'll want to read the whole article.
