Lisa Hernandez meddling

[buzz]

More excellent reporting from the Sun-Times !

Cicero state rep allegedly complained to Clifford about 'mistreating' of husband at Metra job

BY BECKY SCHLIKERMAN Staff Reporter August 31, 2013 1:20AM

When Democratic committeeman Charles "Charlie" Hernandez apparently had a problem at work, he knew the right person to turn to.

His politician wife.

So, state Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez (D-Cicero) allegedly complained to then Metra CEO Alex Clifford and said her husband was being mistreated at work.

Having a wife as a politician isn't the only government benefit Charles Hernandez has.

The 61-year-old is collecting not one but two pensions from other government jobs, in addition to his Metra salary — for a total of more than $158,000 a year, pension fund records show.

He currently collects more than $73,000 a year from the Cicero police pension fund; nearly $20,000 a year from his time as a Cook County "investigator" and more than $66,000 a year from his job as a security project coordinator for Metra, according to records and a Metra spokesman.

Neither Charles Hernandez, nor his wife, responded to requests for comment.

Charles Hernandez worked for the Cicero police department for more than 25 years, records show. He retired as a lieutenant effective 2005 and, at that time, was paid nearly $82,000 a year, records show.

He is now paid $6,090 a month from the Cicero Police Pension Fund and also was on the fund's board as recently as the end of May, according to records. It's not clear if he's still on the board. Members of the board did not respond to questions about Charles Hernandez.

Charles Hernandez also worked for Cook County in the Bureau of Administration as a senior investigator. He started in 1999 under former county President John H. Stroger and left the job in 2009 — ultimately earning $75,000 a year, records show. He's paid about $1,600 a month from the County Employees' Annuity and Benefit Fund, records show.

And since 2009, Charles Hernandez has been collecting a salary from Metra.

It was in that job that the Cicero Township Democratic committeeman had some kind of issue.

The political meddling regarding Metra's rank-and-file employees was revealed during Clifford's explosive testimony that showed deep-rooted patronage at the transit agency.

Clifford told the Regional Transportation Authority board in July that House Speaker Michael Madigan allegedly pressured Clifford to give a raise and promotion to certain employees, without saying why they deserved them.

Clifford also told the board that Rep. Hernandez approached him in March 2012 and told him that a supervisor was "mistreating" her husband, Clifford told the RTA.

"I indicated to her that it was inappropriate," Clifford said at the public meeting. "We don't discuss personnel matters with the public."

Meanwhile, the allegations, Clifford testified, were "ironically" not totally true.

"The supervisor of Ms. State Representative Hernandez's husband is not the person that she was alleging was not treating her husband right ... the individual's direct supervisor, ironically, is [state] Rep. [Luis] Arroyo's daughter."

[mustang54]

  It amazes me Ms. Schlickerman that nothing ever happens in the city of Chicago. Never any murders,no alderman retiring and giving their ward to a daughter, More about what goes on in Cicero,Berwyn and other small towns and cities. Hmmm I wonder why? Afraid of an onslaught of inspectors at the times? Traffic citations for your papers drivers? Nah they don't do business like that in Chicago. LMFAO!!! And don't forget how those safe zone signs are stopping the criminals from committing crime. And all those new speed cameras around the schools and parks are to prevent speeding not for taking in revenue, LMFAO again!!

[markberwyn]

Yeah, the Sun-Times never covers Chicago.

[Good Time Charlie]

Cicero's a whole lot more fun than Chicago!

[mustang54]

Cicero's a whole lot more fun than Chicago!

LMAO, Charlie I have to agree with you!!