Metra Scandal: Madigan Ally At Center Of Patronage Allegations Was Collecting City Pension

Madigan Ally In Metra Patronage Scandal Was Getting Big Pension

It turns out the man at the center of the Metra patronage scandal was receiving a sizable city pension at the same time he asked House Speaker Mike Madigan for help securing a raise for his post at the embattled rail agency.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday evening that Patrick Ward was already getting a Chicago taxpayer-subsidized city pension of at least $52,700-a-year in 2009, when the Madigan campaign worker asked the powerful Democrat to help him get an increase on his Metra salary of $57,000.

Madigan then proceeded to ask ex-Metra CEO Alex Clifford to boost Ward's pay, which Clifford refused to do -- an action he claimed in a fiery memo led to his demise and eventual ousting at the agency. Ward volunteered on Madigan's behalf and donated $16,525 to either the House Speaker or his daughter Lisa Madigan's campaign funds between 1999 and 2012.

Madigan claims he did nothing wrong, the Sun-Times reports. Madigan has asked for the Illinois General Assembly's Ethics Commission to investigate his actions amid the scandal, the Chicago Tribune reports. Two other Chicago-area democrats -- state Reps. Luis Arroyo and Elizabeth Hernandez -- will also be investigated for allegedly interfering with Metra personnel issues.

Ward, whose annual income including a state salary of $69,996 and two pensions is now $130,740, ended up getting a double-digit pay hike via a "special salary adjustment" after leaving Metra, according to the Associated Press.

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