Office of the City Clerk - Record #: R2018-834

• Record #: R2018-834
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Failed to Pass
• Intro date: 7/25/2018
• Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics
• Title: Call for hearing(s) on and investigation of allegations of "cash giveaways" by mayoral candidate Willie Wilson to prospective voters at New Covenant Baptist Church
• Sponsors: Lopez, Raymond A., Moore, Joseph, Reilly, Brendan
• Related files: R2019-362

Date	Journal Page Number	Action By	Action	Result
5/29/2019		City Council	Failed to Pass
7/31/2018		Committee on Committees, Rules and Ethics	Remove Co-Sponsor(s)
7/25/2018	83206	City Council	Referred

RESOLUTION


WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of government pursuant to the 1970 Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6(a); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule power, the City of Chicago may exercise any power and perform any function relating to its government and affairs including the power to regulate for the protection of the public health, safety, morals and welfare; and

WHEREAS, the right to vote for residents of the United States of America is protected by the U.S. Constitution and other federal and state laws; and

WHEREAS, Illinois state law prohibits the selling of one's vote for a promise of employment or for any gift or loan of money or other valuable consideration and mandates that a violation of this law shall be guilty of a Class 4 felony; and

WHEREAS, Illinois state law also makes it a Class 4 felony to knowingly give or promise to give money to any other person to influence such other person to vote or to register to vote or to influence such other person to vote for or against any candidate; and

WHEREAS, on July 22,2018, Willie Wilson, a candidate for the office of Mayor of the City of Chicago, held an event at the new Covenant Baptist Church where he gave away $300,000 to "assist struggling homeowners to pay their staggering tax bills in Chicago;" and

WHERAS, Governor Bruce Rauner has given Willie Wilson $200,000 over the past few years to help "struggling families pay their property tax bills;" and

WHEREAS, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, who is also seeking re-election as Governor, was in attendance at this event and addressed the congregation stating that "We're proud to help you pay your property taxes;" and

WHEREAS, after Willie Wilson and Governor Rauner finished their speeches, Willie Wilson gave out cash and checks to the attendees; and

WHEREAS, allegations of violations of Illinois Election laws and criticism of his lack of ethics for participating in this "cash giveaway event" have been raised by the med...