Mayor Daley names new inspector general

September 8, 2005 (WLS) -- There is a new corruption watch-dog at Chicago's City Hall. Mayor Daley named federal prosecutor David Hoffman the new inspector general on Thursday. The mayor's image has been battered lately by a string of scandals at City Hall.

David Hoffman has a great resume. He went to Yale Law School. He was a Supreme Court clerk, a senate staff member and in Chicago he is a highly-successful federal prosecutor of gang bangers. In fact, his boss, U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, calls him the best possible choice for inspector general at Chicago City Hall. His appointment may also be the best indication so far that mayor Daley is serious about changing the culture of political corruption that permeates his administration.

"The mayor has asked only one thing of me -- to take all necessary steps to find wrong doing in city government and to expose it. If this requires big plans, I stand ready to put them in place," said David Hoffman, New Inspector General.

"With the appointment of inspector general Hoffman, anyone who tries to scam the government through the job or through a contract does so with fair warning. They will be caught and they will be punish," said Mayor Richard Daley

The mayor is hiring one of U.S. attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's top prosecutors as the city's new inspector general. Daley is promising to expand his budget and investigative powers in a continuing effort to root out the widespread corruption in the city workforce that has led to multiple indictments, City Hall firings and incalculable embarrassment and political damage to Daley himself.

"Disappointment comes at a time when questions have been raise about the integrity of this administration. I take these questions very seriously and very personally," said Daley.

"He's got energy and talent and enthusiasm and he will be a terrific inspector general for them. I think that's just a great move on the city's part," said Fitzgerald.

David Hoffman is replacing Alexander Vroustouris who had zero impact on employee corruption in 16 years, either because of incompetence or political interference.

"He did a good job. This will be a better job, simple as that," said Daley.

"I will investigate aggressively and creatively and will follow the evidence wherever it leads," said Hoffman.

David Hoffman is 38 years old. He starts October 1. His salary is $147,000 and he is the fourth federal prosecutor hired by the Daley administration.

One of his colleagues said, "Some of them have sold their souls to the mayor but he won't. He is the best of the best." If that's true, it may be Daley's best move in restoring public confidence in him and his administration.

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