Victor Reyes, a member of the Chicago Transit Authority board, has resigned his post rather than quit as a lobbyist in his private law practice, but CTA Chairman Carole Brown has decided to cease her lobbying activities and will remain as head of the transit agency, officials said Thursday.
The action came as a result of a new state ethics measure that prohibits registered lobbyists from serving on certain boards and commissions.
Reyes, a former political enforcer and senior aide to Mayor Daley, is a partner in the law firm of Greenberg Traurig. Brown, who recently was named CTA chairman with Daley’s backing, had been registered with the state as a lobbyist for Lehman Brothers, the investment banking firm where she is a senior vice president.
Brown terminated her registration this week, CTA spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney said.
As one of the seven members of the transit agency’s board, Reyes was critical recently of CTA President Frank Kruesi’s proposal to increase fares. But Kruesi on Thursday welcomed Reyes’ offer of volunteer help and had nothing but praise for his former colleague.
“Victor has been very forceful and articulate in his opinions, and he certainly never has been reticent, but his advice has always been intended to improve what we do at the CTA,” Kruesi said.
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Compiled from RedEye news services
