As the rumor mill turns: Dooley aide resigns amid political frenzy
Cline
As our St. Louis County beat reporter Paul Hampel and gossip columnist Deb Peterson report in today’s paper, there was intrigue out of Clayton last night, where an aide to County Executive Charlie A. Dooley abruptly resigned.
His departure has nothing to do with persistent rumors of a federal probe into county government, Darin Cline, Dooley’s director of intergovernmental relations said.
Nor, Cline added, was he leaving because of a pending IRS inquiry into his personal finances, though that at least is real, Cline acknowledged.
“My attorneys and my accountant are handling that matter on my behalf,” Cline told Hampel.
Welcome to St. Louis politics, circa August/September 2009.
Since the guilty pleas of two state lawmakers that straddled the city limits — former State Sen. Jeff Smith represented St. Louis, ex-State Rep. Steve Brown calls Clayton home — suspicions have run rampant among Democrats across the region.
Adding to the frenzy is that Smith was caught on a wire worn by Brown, who in turn was busted with the help of recorded conversations he had with now-jailed Democratic strategist Milt “Skip” Ohlsen III.
In other words: You never know who is listening.
Cline’s departure may have more to do with politics than justice — with Dooley gearing up for what could be a tough re-election campaign, he does not need any distractions on the Ninth Floor.
That’s not to say the feds are done with their crackdown of political corruption. But it’s anybody’s guess if the next conviction, should there be one, will finally temper speculation — or add to the paranoia of who might be on deck.
Obama/Dooley 2012!
MOPNS Forces Resignation of STL County’s Lobbyist; Denies Dooley Forced Him Out http://mopns.com/2009/09/22/mopns-forces-resignation-of-stl-countys-lobbyist-denies-dooley-forced-him-out/
Would the last Democrat NOT under investigation, indictment, or in jail please stand up!
Question, and I’m not trying to insinuate anything here, but why is KMOX the only place that I’ve seen mention the TD El Amin investigation?
But, this isn’t supposed to happen when the Democrats are in power. Maybe they clean their house better.
“Question, and I’m not trying to insinuate anything here, but why is KMOX the only place that I’ve seen mention the TD El Amin investigation?”
Because he’s a Black Democrat?
Jake! Help!
I forgot if SEN Smith and REP Brown are members of a political party. Were they? Which party? Did Brown run the GOVERNOR’S campaign for Aty Gn? Is Nixon a Democrat?
Please help your readers remember who is whom and what flavor of ice cream, OK? Thanks in advance.
Looks like another to fall from the Ohlsen tapes.
I would like to ask a question. Why does the County Government need a lobbyist (the print edition story identified this guy as a lobbyist). Is this guy somehow more pursuasive that Dooley? If so, why isn’t he County Executivve? Are you telling me that if the County Executive of the State’s largest county calls up anyone in state government from the Governor on down that they don’t pick up the phone? Why are we paying our tax dollars to influence other elected officials? I get how corporate lobbyists work, they promise to donate money. So, what leverage do lobbyists representing our local governments have? What do they promise? I am asking because it really doesn’t make any sense to me. I would call on Corrigan to commit to not pay taxpayer dollars for lobbyists.
Why does the county council need a lobbyist and what is he lobbying for?
What the hell is Dooley up to?
IT’S TIME FOR DOOLEY TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!