Shakman goes after county hiring: Motivated by Sun-Times articles, contacted by candidate Peraica

Attorney Michael Shakman asked a federal judge Monday to appoint amonitor to oversee all hiring in Cook County government -- just asthe judge has done for the city of Chicago.

Shakman's motion is based on two Chicago Sun-Times investigativereports about patronage hiring in Cook County government.

Shakman is the attorney who filed the 1969 lawsuit that forced thecity, county and other local governments to forbid hiring and firingbased on political clout. But as the Sun-Times stories have shown andas Shakman's motion alleges, patronage hiring has become rampant incounty government again.

"It has become clear that . . . Cook County has engaged insubstantial, …