ESL political hypocrites point fingers
You just knew it would happen. After the convictions comes the finger-pointing. In June, ESL political boss Charlie Powell and four cronies were convicted on federal vote fraud charges. Now, one of the convicted, Sheila Thomas, and ESL Councilman Eddie Jackson have the audacity to whine about double standards in city employment practices.
The source of their frustration stems from the case of City Hall employee DiMario Cason, who was arrested (back in 2001) and charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver. Cason was sentenced to 18 months probation and $1,549 in court fees and fines. Cason, coincidentally, happens to be the nephew of ESL Councilwoman Karen Cason.
Thomas (a former city worker) was quoted as saying, “We got let go because we were charged with a felony, and I was told you couldn’t have a felony and work in that department (Department of Regulatory Affairs).”
Councilman Eddie Jackson echoed Thomas’ comments, saying, “It is a cause for concern because there should be fairness.” Jackson went on to promise that he would look into the matter.
(Not that I condone drugs or those who sell them. I detest anyone who sells poison to my people. I don’t so much as smoke a cigarette or drink a beer.)
Since her conviction, Sheila Thomas has gone public in her criticism of her trial as unfair, charging that St. Clair County political boss Bob Sprague “should have been tried” because “he gave us the money.” However, she also incriminated herself when she said, “If we never would have got (sic) money, we probably would have never got into this.”
It sort of reminds you of what children do when they get their hands caught in the cookie jar. They blame everyone else (including the cookie jar) for their own misdeeds.
True enough. If East St. Louis wants to start anew, then it must play the game by one set of rules, particularly as it pertains to the hiring and firing of employees.
And, yes, it does seem disingenuous for Bob Sprague or St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern to assert that they knew nothing about how their political dollars were spent in ESL.
But for Eddie Jackson and Sheila Thomas to whine now is sort of like a pimp objecting to prostitution. It’s rather hypocritical. Why did neither of these characters raise their voices when Kelvin Ellis (Thomas’ ex-boss and a political ally of Jackson), a known felon, was the head of the Department of Regulatory Affairs?
Neither one of them opened their hypocritical mouths when Ellis was hired, promoted and running amuck at City Hall.
Now Thomas, who should be focusing on putting her affairs in order before her October sentencing, is running around giving sound bites and quotes to reporters. Brilliant move! Just know, Sheila, that the judges read newspapers too.
Jackson, on the other hand – still suffering from a chronic case of sour grapes following his loss to Mayor Carl Officer and the conviction of his buddy Charlie Powell – is taking his best shot at fellow councilperson Karen Cason by attacking her nephew.
I’ve said it before. If ESL had an official mascot it would be a giant crab in a barrel of dung.
The point is that ESL government (especially since they’re under a microscope) must be above reproach. That means no felons, no nepotism, no cronyism, EVER. That means ZERO tolerance, and not just when some political hypocrite wants to mount her soapbox prior to her own sentencing or after the conviction of a friend.
If the would-be Sheila Thomases, Charlie Powells and others weren’t so desperately greedy (for money or power), then the temptations of political corruption wouldn’t even entice them. But that’s not East Boogie, the home of crabs in a barrel.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.