Ending Nepotism
- Team Taylor
- Mar 16
- 1 min read
Updated: Mar 21
During my term as mayor, I ended nepotism and professionalized the hiring process at Human Resources. All new positions go through a multi-department interview process where a consensus decision is made. All candidates hired by the city went through this process and were selected as the most qualified candidates by the department heads. No one received special treatment. No relative of mine works for the city.
Sam Cunningham hired many relatives and political insiders. A few examples are:
Proof: From the meeting minutes of the January 3, 2020, city council meeting, go to Item E on the Consent Agenda showing the payroll. There is the following link to the file 01.03.20 Regular Payroll.pdf:
https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cowil/Board.nsf/files/BK8Q3K6758F1/$file/01.03.20%20Regular%20Payroll.pdf
Another example is Cunningham giving a contract to his campaign manager for work on the city website for just below his spending authority of $25,000 without council approval.
Proof: From the meeting minutes of the December 18, 2018, city council meeting, go to Item A on New Business showing vendor payments. There is the following link to the file AP.12.17.18.Port Angeles Report.pdf:
https://go.boarddocs.com/il/cowil/Board.nsf/files/B7DUGZ7C0C2E/$file/AP.12.17.18.Port%20Angeles%20Report.pdf
Check 477705 is to Cunningham's campaign manager.
When I became mayor, the city did not have employee reviews. I implemented annual employee reviews. When jobs are based on who you know, not what you know, this helps to identify those unqualified for their positions. This has resulted in reassignments, employee terminations and promotions for those qualified.
For further information, go to AnnTaylorForWaukegan.com/Nepotism.