Chicago City Wire

With violence tarnishing a former police officer’s reputation and subsequent cash contribution, the Illinois Republican Party today urged city official and state Comptroller candidate Susana Mendoza to reject over $20,000 in support from Juan Gaytan.

 

The disgraced ex-Chicago officer resigned amid allegations of brutality, including instances of physical violence and intentional manipulation of the crime scene he himself perpetrated. One such incident led to a lawsuit, while the other allegedly involved assault and robbery.

 

“Susana Mendoza should do the right thing, stand up to one of her biggest campaign contributors and return his money,” Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Nick Klitzing said. “She says that as comptroller she’ll be independent from her self-proclaimed mentor, [House] Speaker [Mike] Madigan (D-Chicago). How can we believe that when she won’t even distance herself from sketchy campaign contributors?”

 

Additionally, Gaytan conducted business with the city that appeared questionable. Just before his security firm — Monterrey Security Consultants — was about to be awarded a $2.9 million contract with the city of Chicago, officials withdrew it due to ethics breaches.

 

The politically connected entity also obtained a $400,000 contract with Chicago Housing Authority with no other bids submitted, and a $1.2 million deal related to parking meters.

 

“Mendoza’s judgment may be clouded by her more than 16 years on the city of Chicago and state of Illinois payrolls – and 10 years on both at the same time,” Klitzing said. “But everyone outside of government can see that it is simply wrong to set aside principle for campaign cash, and she should acknowledge that.”

To date, Gaytan has donated $22,000 to Mendoza since 2011, with the bulk of that ($18,200) in 2015.