Accused of taking bribes and abandoned by some of Mayor Daley’s closest black allies, Ald. Arenda Troutman (20th) contends her legal troubles won’t affect her bid for a fifth term on Feb. 27.
“Folk in my community understand there can be false allegations when there is someone who is the voice of the people,” Troutman told the Tribune this week, a month after FBI agents broke into her home to arrest her.
But Troutman’s criminal case appears to have energized the campaign of rival Willie B. Cochran, a former police sergeant in high-crime Woodlawn.
Until her arrest, Troutman seemed to be coasting toward another four-year term. Cochran was waging a low-profile challenge, with barely $2,000 in his campaign account at the end of December. His own influential pastor–Bishop Arthur Brazier of the 18,000-member Apostolic Church of God–told Cochran he was sticking with Troutman.
In the wake of the bribery scandal, Cochran received the backing of Brazier and Rev. Leon Finney, who heads The Woodlawn Organization and the Woodlawn Community Development Corp. Brazier and Finney are among Daley’s strongest supporters on the South Side.
They spoke at a rally for Cochran organized last week by the public relations firm of Marilyn Katz, another Daley loyalist. About 400 people were bused to the event last Thursday in Woodlawn, where Cochran accused Troutman of “still attempting to deceive people this very minute.”
Daley campaign manager Terry Peterson said Troutman has not sought or received any help from the mayor, who has campaigned alongside other aldermen.
Troutman has shown increasing independence from Daley in recent years, casting one of three votes against the mayor’s 2005 budget. Her criticism of the administration before the 2007 budget vote drew mock applause from Daley; Troutman still voted for that budget.
Troutman shrugs off the criticism from Daley allies, saying most people at the Cochran rally were not from the 20th Ward. She insists this year’s campaign is like every other re-election bid since Daley appointed her to the City Council in 1990.
“I call myself a public servant and, indeed, that is what I am, a public servant,” said Troutman, 49. “I want to continue to serve my constituents like I have been, in a mindful way.”
On Sunday, Troutman campaigned at six churches. Rev. Gerald Dew said his congregation at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church gave her a “very warm reception.”
“Some stood and clapped,” Dew said. “There are allegations. There has not been a conviction. We reserve the right not to pass judgment until judgment has been passed.”
Federal prosecutors accused Troutman of taking a $5,000 bribe to grease the way for what she thought was a real estate proposal in her ward. Authorities invented the development deal as part of a sting.
The 20th Ward includes some of the city’s poorest and most crime-plagued areas. It’s also at the edge of the spreading wave of new houses and condominiums, prompting fears that the poor will be pushed out.
Five candidates filed against Troutman, but three were removed from the ballot after their nominating petitions were challenged by her supporters.
Besides Cochran, the only challenger left on the ballot for 20th Ward alderman is retired dentist Edward Chaney.
