
A copy of a signed contract obtained by FOX Chicago News appears to show the deputy chief of staff for County Board President Todd Stroger steering money to her own private business.
The contract signed by Carla Oglesby awarded an almost $25,000 deal to a company she owns.
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ADDITIONAL COVERAGE:
STORY: Todd Stroger Employee's Firm Awarded County Contract
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The contract was for public relations work done by CGC Communications and was approved by Oglesby on February 24th.
That's just eight days after she got the job as Stroger's deputy cheif of staff.
Notations on the contract indicate it was delivered to Oglesby personally in President Stroger's office.
FOX Chicago News has learned Oglesby is now being pressured to resign her position as deputy chief of staff or face the possibility of being fired.
The commissioners say if the president wants to hire, transfer or give a raise to a county employee, they want to hear about it before it happens and also hear the justification for the move from that employee's department head.
John Daley was among six Cook County commissioners who said Thursday they can no longer trust the lame duck administration of Board President Todd Stroger.
"As a citizen of this county as equally as a commissioner, I was totally embarassed about it," Daley said. "I think it's wrong and I think the citizens of this county deserve an answer on how this occurred."
The amount of that contract -- $24,975 -- Is just $25 less than the amount that would have required approval by the county board.
The county defended the deal, saying Oglesby no longer draws a paycheck from CGC Communications, the company she founded and owns.
Commissioners say now they want to see all the money.
"It's very important that we're able to assess and vet some of these things to make sure we are dotting our I's and crossing our T's because we're under public scrutiny right now," said commissioner Steele.
The commissioners Thursday unleashed a flurry of ordinance proposals that would require board approval for all expenditures over $750, would require the president to immediately report all hirings, firings, transfers and pay raises for management-level employees, and would impose a hiring freeze.
"It's terrible to lose but when you lose in office you want to walk out that door and you want to make sure that the people of the county say, okay he lost but during that period of time he did a good job," said John Daley.
"This is an embarassment to the county and as a member of this board I'm embarassed."
Oglesby did not report to work Thursday, as Cook County's inspector general fast-tracks his investigation into her questionable contract.
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