Democrats get to live by different rules

chicagotribune.com

Mayor Emanuel reports gifts from the rich and famous

Mayor's disclosure statement lists accommodations, transportation provided by financial, entertainment execs

By Bill Ruthhart, Chicago Tribune reporter

A stay at the house of a Hollywood entertainment mogul, transportation on the tabs of millionaire venture capitalists and, for the second straight year, sports tickets, meals and more from his close adviser Michael Sacks.
These perks and others are listed on Mayor Rahm Emanuel's annual economic interest statement, and once again illustrate how Chicago's chief executive moves in some of the country's elite entertainment and financial circles.
Emanuel's 2012 statement filed this week with the Cook County clerk's office requires disclosure of any gifts valued at more than $500 and any capital asset from which he earned at least $5,000 during the year.
The list of gifts was full of top executives covering transportation costs for Emanuel, but state law does not require the mayor to provide any additional detail. Although the mayor frequently touts his administration's transparency, a spokesman did not provide requested details about the transportation gifts, including the purpose and whether the rides were on private jets, commercial airliners or some other form of transit.
One of the marquee names on the mayor's gift list was music executive and film producer David Geffen. Emanuel listed Geffen's name with the notation "house guest" to describe the gift.
The mayor was also a houseguest of Chicago law firm partner Sidney "Skip" Herman and of Chicago medical products company CEO Jim Abrams, according to the report.
For the second year, Emanuel reported taking sports tickets, meals and transportation from Sacks, who leads the World Business Chicago economic development board for the mayor. Sacks is CEO of the Chicago hedge fund firm Grosvenor Capital Management.
Not surprisingly, most of the gift-givers who dot Emanuel's economic interest statement also have been major campaign donors, including Herman and Abrams, who is chief operating officer of Medline Industries Inc.
Geffen and Sacks are among Emanuel's biggest donors, each contributing $100,000 during his campaign, according to state records.
Emanuel also reported receiving transportation from major political donor Kenneth Griffin, the founder of the Chicago hedge fund firm Citadel LLC. Griffin and his wife, Anne Dias Griffin, the founder of Chicago hedge fund firm Aragon Global Management, have donated millions of dollars to Republican causes but also contributed $200,000 to Emanuel's campaign in 2011.
The mayor also reported having separate transportation costs picked up by Groupon co-founders Brad Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky, who also founded the Chicago venture capital firm Lightbank.
Emanuel also reported accepting transportation from Chicago finance magnate Jim Crown, a co-chair of President Barack Obama's 2008 Illinois finance committee. Crown and top executives with private investment firm Henry Crown & Co. have contributed more than $100,000 to Emanuel's campaign.
Sam Mencoff, a co-CEO of the Chicago private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners, and Bob Clark, chairman and CEO of construction firm Clayco, also covered transportation costs for Emanuel, according to the mayor's report. Both men are Emanuel campaign contributors as well.
Emanuel held a news conference with Clark in January to announce that the St. Louis firm was moving its headquarters to Chicago. The firm is seeking infrastructure business in Chicago and elsewhere.
Emanuel also listed gifts from the investment bank Allen & Co. for transportation and being a guest at a conference. The mayor attended the firm's annual media and technology conference in the resort town of Sun Valley, Idaho.
The mayor also reported receiving at least $5,000 each from investments in two J.P. Morgan mutual funds.
Tribune reporter Hal Dardick contributed.