Isaac Carothers facts for kids

Isaac "Ike" Sims Carothers was a former alderman for the 29th Ward in Chicago. An alderman is a local leader who represents a specific area, or "ward," in a city's government. Carothers was first elected to this role in 1999. He later resigned from his position in 2010 due to issues related to his public service.

Early Life and Education

Isaac Carothers grew up in Chicago. He went to public elementary school and then attended De La Salle High School. He continued his education at DePaul University, where he earned a degree in Political Science. Later, he received his Masters in Criminal Justice from Chicago State University.

His family had a history of working for the city and being involved in local politics. His grandfather, Isaac "Ike" Sims, worked for the Department of Sewers and was also an Illinois State Representative. His father, William Carothers, was a superintendent for Streets and Sanitation. Both his grandfather and father were also "committeemen," which means they were important local political leaders.

Beginning His Career

Isaac Carothers and his brother both worked as deputy sheriffs for Cook County. After that, Isaac Carothers worked for the Cook County Defender's Office.

In 1989, he became a Superintendent for the Department of Water. He then moved to the Chicago Park District in 1993, where he was hired as the Director of Internal Audit. By 1997, he was named Deputy Commissioner of Streets and Sanitation. These roles gave him a lot of experience working for the city before he became an alderman.

Serving as Alderman

In 1999, Isaac Carothers was elected as alderman for the 29th Ward. He won against several other candidates to get this important job.

During his time as alderman, Carothers worked on several projects to improve his ward. Some of his achievements included helping to bring a new police station, a senior housing development, a movie theater, and new restaurants to the area.

He was also a member of several important city council committees, including Finance, Aviation, and Transportation. Just two years after being elected, he was chosen to be the chairman of the city council's Police and Fire Committee, which showed his growing influence.

In 2008, Carothers was one of several aldermen whose children got summer jobs with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Also, in 2008, it was noted that Carothers paid a relative over $30,000 from a special payroll account available to aldermen. He stated that many aldermen had family members on their payrolls.

Challenges and Resignation

In 2007, Isaac Carothers accepted money for his election campaigns from a real-estate developer who was working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This developer was trying to get changes made to zoning rules, which control how land can be used.

Later, the office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois asked Carothers for many documents, including his expense records and information about zoning changes he supported.

Starting in 2008, Carothers began working secretly with the FBI. He wore a hidden microphone and camera to record meetings with a local businessman. This businessman offered Carothers money, hoping Carothers could help him open restaurants at Chicago's airports.

In 2009, Carothers faced federal charges related to his actions as alderman. These charges involved accepting benefits, like home improvements, from a real-estate developer in exchange for supporting zoning changes for a large project called Galewood Yards.

In 2010, Isaac Carothers admitted to wrongdoing. He pleaded guilty to not reporting the home improvements on his taxes and to accepting benefits for supporting the zoning change. As a result, he agreed to a prison term and to pay back $40,000. Hours after admitting his guilt, Carothers resigned from the city council. He was released from prison in March 2012.

It's interesting to note that both Isaac Carothers and his father, William Carothers, faced similar challenges related to their public service many years apart.

Running for Cook County Board

After his release, Carothers announced that he would run for a position as Commissioner on the Cook County Board. This is another important government role in the county. Alderman Emma Mitts supported his candidacy. However, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle stated she would not support him. Some news outlets commented on his decision to run for public office again after his past issues.

Personal Life

Isaac Carothers is married to his wife, Sharron. They have two sons named Sherman and Matthew. Carothers attends Original Providence Baptist Church on Chicago's west side.

His aunt, Anita Rivkin-Carothers, is currently a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County. She has also worked as an attorney, representing various people in court. In 2004, she ran for Congress but was not elected.