Hoffman’s Blagojevich ties could start to hurt
SPRINGFIELD — State Rep. Jay Hoffman’s political life has been closely tied for years with that of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Now, those ties may feel like they are starting to bind.
Hoffman, a Democrat who has represented the Collinsville area in the Illinois House for most of the past 16 years, on Thursday found his name invoked in the federal corruption trial of Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
Hoffman was mentioned only tangentially in the testimony, and he wasn’t accused of wrongdoing. But it could renew questions about whether one of the area’s most prominent politicians is too closely allied with the Chicago-based governor and his increasingly hobbled administration.
“When you have a close relationship with a governor, it has its advantages, but it also has its disadvantages,” said state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville. “The disadvantages are coming out now.”
The relationship started in 1993 when Hoffman and Blagojevich were new Illinois House members. The two Democrats from opposite ends of the state roomed together in a Springfield apartment during legislative sessions, shared the same secretary, got to know each other’s families. When Blagojevich ran for governor in 2002, Hoffman helped him build the surprisingly strong downstate base that proved crucial. After Blagojevich became governor, Hoffman became his most consistent legislative ally.
He remained an ally as Blagojevich’s relationship with lawmakers and the public soured.
“I’m (Blagojevich’s) advocate in the Illinois Legislature and I’m not apologizing for any of that,” Hoffman said in a 2005 Post-Dispatch interview. “Has it been difficult sometimes? Yeah, there are a lot of slings and arrows out there.”
The slings and arrows have been more numerous than ever lately, from lawmakers who accuse Blagojevich of incompetence and dictatorial tactics. Hoffman has often found himself standing nearly alone in defense of Blagojevich policy goals, and against anti-Blagojevich attacks.
Hoffman angrily denounced a recall election bill aimed at Blagojevich during a now-famous floor speech last month in which he tried in vain to stop the House from overwhelmingly passing the measure. (It later died in the Senate.)
Hoffman’s loyalty has been financial as well as political. Since 2001, Hoffman’s campaign fund has provided Blagojevich’s campaign fund with more than $53,000 in cash, goods and services, according to records. Hoffman’s employer, the Lakin Law Firm of Wood River, has given another $60,000 in donations to Blagojevich.
“Jay has always had a close relationship with the governor, and everyone knows that,” said state Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro. “You want a close relationship with the governor if you can do that but I think, when his name is brought up in a trial of that kind, that isn’t good. His constituents will have to weigh that out.”
State Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton, says Hoffman’s relationship with Blagojevich has meant a boon of state resources for the area.
He credits his colleague especially for “keeping Blagojevich focused” on bistate negotiations for a new Mississippi River bridge in St. Louis.
“Jay’s the go-to guy for me and lots of others when it comes to getting something from the second floor,” said Haine, referring to the location of the governor’s Capitol office. “But (that relationship) can be a two-edged sword. Obviously, it’s difficult for him, with this drumbeat of negative inferences from this trial.”
According to testimony last week by former Blagojevich administration official Ali Ata, Hoffman was part of a 2002 gathering in Rezko’s Chicago office with Blagojevich and others. Ata said he was told the group was the “Kitchen Cabinet” of unofficial advisers to the governor-elect.
Ata was seeking a government position, and he claims Rezko was arranging it while pressing for campaign donations.
At one point in the meeting, Ata testified, he was alone with Blagojevich, gave him a $25,000 campaign donation, and Blagojevich talked to him about joining the administration.
The testimony didn’t indicate that Hoffman had any involvement in that conversation.
According to a Chicago
Tribune account of the testimony, Ata testified that Rezko later told him his first choice of position was off the table, because Hoffman had told him that the position had been reserved for someone from outside the Chicago area.
Hoffman last week didn’t respond to reporters who stopped by and left phone messages at his home, law office and legislative offices seeking comment.
Blagojevich hasn’t been charged with any crime, and his office has repeatedly denied he engaged in any wrongdoing.
(Nicholas J.C. Pistor of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is a Lee Enterprises newspaper.)