FIRE FIGHTERS (IAFF)
FBI Probes California Union Consultant
An ongoing FBI investigation into city government corruption in Richmond,
Cal., includes union consultant Darrell Reese's role in alleged payoffs
to city leaders in exchange for their votes on various deals during the
past seven years, according to city leaders interviewed by federal agents.
Reese is the political consultant for the Int'l Ass'n of Fire Fighters
Local 188 in Richmond. After he was subpoenaed, Reese called the FBI investigation
part of a "political war."
The firefighters union played key roles in financing the campaigns of candidates backed by Reese, according to campaign records. The union's political action committee has reported a campaign war chest of more than $64,000, including $27,000 in loans from three firefighters. [S.F. Chron. & Contra Costa Times 10/29/99]
But this election day was not very kind to Reese. Winning four of the five contested City Council seats, opponents of Darrell Reese said the election was a road wreck for the political consultant. Opponents cited the FBI political corruption probe as one reason why Reese candidates won only one spot on the City Council.
"I'm glad to see most of the Reese-backed candidates weren't successful," said incumbent City Councilman Tom Butt. [S.F. Chron. 11/4/99]
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Union Corruption Update is part of NLPC's Organized Labor Accountability Project which is investigating and exposing corruption and extremism in the Teamsters, LIUNA, AFL-CIO and many other union organizations. NLPC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation promoting ethics and accountability in government through research, education and legal action.
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