When David Akemann was our state’s attorney he did a number of unsavory things, so it’s ironic that he now touts his time as state’s attorney as the chief reason he should be elected judge. One thing that really bothers me was his George Ryan style political fundraising.

Akemann allowed “his Assistant States Attorneys to sell fund-raising tickets and spend hours working on his campaign. They’re walking door-to-door, passing out fliers and urging folks to vote for the boss” (Daily Herald, March 1, 2000).

Akemann claimed they were not required to do this, but admitted, “Many (assistants) do and will appear in a fund-raiser, but that is not a requirement of their appointment” (Courier, Jan. 19, 2000).

In 2000, “Akemann pulled much of his money from the legal community, including at least $3,425 in disclosed donations from his employees and their wives” (Daily Herald, Feb. 1, 2000).

These employees may have raised additional money, and this amount does not reflect any donations below the reporting threshold, which Akemann reportedly tried not to exceed by pricing his fundraiser tickets at $1 below the threshold (Daily Herald, Feb. 13, 2000).

Despite Akemann’s denials, during the 2000 campaign, Joseph Grady, who worked for Akemann at one time, accused Akemann of “requiring personnel to donate time or money as a condition of employment” (Beacon, March 22, 2000).

Is this the sort of person we want as our next judge? I don’t think so.

Linda Ramirez Sliwinski
Carpentersville