PRU Holiday Briefs!

#1 -- PRU Opinion by proxy

We found ourselves unable to color inside the lines today; we could not resist the urge to comment on the arrest of Illinois Governor (we use the title loosely) Rod Blagojevich yesterday. We weren't sure exactly what we wanted to say, but we were sure it would include the word "resign" and good riddance.

Fortunately for us, today's Chicago Tribune editorial expresses our sentiments perfectly.

#2 -- All we can say is, THANK YOU!

To the man who has stayed the course and done more to combat public corruption than anyone we know of.

#3 -- Everyone is innocent, just ask them!

Or, you can ask their attorneys.

What do Governor Blagojevich's chief of staff, John Harris who was also arrested yesterday on federal criminal charges, and Park Ridge's Mayor Howard Frimark and 4th Ward Alderman, James Allspaghetti, have in common?

They know who to call when they need their ass covered!

Remember that guy? The battle hasn't yet begun, but we're putting our money on the US Attorney in this match-up.

#4 -- While visions of campaign contributions danced in his head!

Looks like Third Ward Alderman, Don Bachtard may have fired his load a little early?

From the press article -- "It was 3rd Ward Alderman Don Bach who announced Frimark's plans to seek a second term in office when he submitted a letter to the Park Ridge Herald-Advocate on Monday, stating his intention to place his support behind Frimark."

And -- "When contacted this week, Frimark confirmed that he will run for re-election, but declined to comment very much beyond that, saying he would discuss his reasons for running and his record as mayor on Dec. 20. He also said a press release would be issued within days."

...as soon as his likely campaign manager writes it for him.

Hey dollface, whose email accounts will you be raiding, presumably without permission, this campaign season? And, we can't wait to see the positively libelous emails that will be landing in the electronic inboxes of Park Ridge citizens! That was you, wasn't it dollface? Maybe Mayor Howard can give you Ekl's office number.

Of Preachers, Practice, and Public Relations

The Pub-dogs had another interesting article up this week: PublicWatchdog.org - The Golden Girl. They cover a little-known get-around gal named Linda Szczepanski, or "Linda Ski" as they call her, and so will we.

Linda Ski is the Vice President of Empower Public Relations, which is owned by Samuel Chapman, Chief Executive Officer for Berman Center Inc., and husband of noted sex therapist, Dr. Laura Berman.

Linda Ski has also been the campaign and public relations manager for Mayor Howard Frimark, as well as providing her services to Frimark's aldermanic acolytes James Allspaghetti (4th Ward), and Thomas Carey the Unfriendly Ghost (6th Ward), and the Kalo Foundation of Park Ridge.

As the PRU Crew's curiosity about Linda Ski was raised, we started surfing the net to see what we could find. And we find irony hiding in plain sight.

It seems Mr. Chapman has banned gossip at Empower Public Relations, and is reported to have fired employees who have engaged in gossiping. Gawker.com has a video clip of brief interviews with several Empower employees: The Message Is The Message: Gossip-Banning PR Firm Is Its Own Best Client.

It seems to us that Linda Ski and her fellow employees at Empower Public Relations may preach about the ills of gossip, and may practice what they preach in-house. But the mandate against gossip doesn't seem to be something Linda Ski demands of her clients, such as Mayor Howard Frimark who many have said may be the biggest gossip monger in all of Park Ridge.

Or so we've heard.