Questions Arise About Fundraising Activities By Former State Sen. Hendon
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Questions are arising about the campaign fund raising activities of former Illinois State Senator and one time Chicago alderman Ricky Hendon.
As WBBM Newsradio's Bob Conway reports, a Chicago Sun-Times report Monday said Tonja Cook, a former treasurer of the Chicago chapter of the National Black Nurses Association, told investigators that thousands of dollars in state grants intended for health care programs in minority neighborhoods was instead used to pay Hendon campaign workers and candidates whom Hendon supported.
The paper notes that Hendon, who resigned from the state Senate last year, was instrumental in obtaining the grants.
Cook and another Chicago nurse, Margaret A. Davis, were charged last year siphoning off $500,000 from state grant funds intended for Davis' personal use, the Sun-Times reported.
Davis was program director for the National Black Nurses Association's Chicago chapter.
Hendon's attorney declined to comment to the Sun-Times, as did Davis' attorney.
Hendon, who had been the state Senate Assistant Majority Leader, resigned in March 2011.
Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) said at the time that Hendon was disappointed that his ally, Patricia Horton, did not win the race for city Clerk, and that he was done with politics altogether.
