Ocasio now wants wife to succeed him as alderman, dumps controversial minister

Ocasio now wants wife to succeed him as alderman, dumps controversial minister
by Dan Mihalopoulos
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
July 17, 2009
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/07/ocasio-dumps-controversial-minister-now-wants-wife-as-aldermanic-successor.html

Former Ald. Billy Ocasio said today he wants his wife to succeed him as 26th Ward alderman, and he has withdrawn his recommendation of a controversial minister as his replacement.

Ocasio told the Tribune today that Mayor Richard Daley has interviewed his wife, Veronica Ocasio, for the opening created when he quit the City Council recently to become an aide to Gov. Patrick Quinn.

Veronica Ocasio is an aide to U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.). When Gutierrez was elected to Congress in 1993, Daley appointed Ocasio to fill the vacancy on the council.

"Veronica is a very accomplished individual," Billy Ocasio said. "She has worked with every community organization and every Latino elected official."

Gay rights activists had opposed the potential appointment of Rev. Wilfredo DeJesus, citing his comments about gays. Today, Ocasio said DeJesus dropped out of consideration because he does not live in the 26th Ward.

"The reverend owns property and has a house he built in the ward but he doesn't actually live there, so he can't be appointed," Ocasio said.

Gutierrez wrote a letter of support to Daley for Veronica Ocasio last week. State Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago) wrote a letter to her supporters dated today backing Veronica Ocasio.

Daley has said publicly that he's interviewing several candidates. Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado (D-Chicago) is among those candidates, sources said today. Maldonado declined comment when asked today about his interest in moving from the county board to the council.