Mayor’s sentencing shows towns can’t afford corruption

People clapped and cheered May 7, 2021, when Lou Presta took the oath of office for mayor of Crestwood.

“I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of mayor of Crestwood to the best of my ability,” Presta repeated as he was sworn in for his third term.

Video shared on social media captured the moment. Presta smiled and projected confidence, as if he could somehow escape the shame and remorse that awaited him. A federal judge Monday sentenced Presta to a year in prison for bribery, official misconduct and filing a false tax return.

“I’m so sorry for bringing this scandal to the village of Crestwood,” Presta told the courtroom. “I never thought that I’d be a criminal defendant.”

Presta, 72, was caught on tape accepting a $5,000 cash bribe from a representative of a red-light camera company. Ticket fines were a major source of revenue for the community of about 10,800 residents.

Presta’s sentencing should serve as a warning for public officials who think they can escape consequences for misconduct and a reminder that oaths of office are supposed to represent more than hollow words.

I appreciated how Presta always answered his phone whenever I called. He spoke frankly about the sweepstakes for a south suburban casino and other issues.

Crestwood was among several towns that pursued casino proposals. The Illinois Gaming Board ultimately chose a location west of Halsted Street and south of Interstates 80/294 on the border of Homewood and East Hazel Crest.

Presta committed a crime in

March 2019 when he took an envelope stuffed with cash. He seemed to express genuine remorse at his sentencing. He choked back tears in court, the Chicago Tribune reported, and apologized to his wife, Jeanine.

The couple celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary on June 5, 2021, according to a public post on a social media page for Presta’s political organization.

One might feel more compassion for Presta and his family if his transgression was a single, momentary lapse of judgment. He was mayor since 2013 and accomplished many good deeds while in office. But that’s what people expect from their elected officials, the judge said at sentencing.

Sympathy for Presta, however, is tempered when one considers that the act of accepting a cash bribe was one of many events that abused the public trust. Presta lied about the bribe, prosecutors said. Presta claimed there was no money in the envelope he took, despite evidence to the contrary.

What makes people in power believe they are invincible? The public learned Presta had been caught red-handed when authorities announced criminal charges in August 2020.

Due process is as hallmark of our criminal justice system. People are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Everyone is entitled to their day in court, and Presta received his.

Presta knew all along what he did. Despite the federal charges against him, he campaigned for another term as mayor, and won. Last April, Crestwood voters rewarded him with 62% of the vote.

Presta abused the public trust again when he ran again for another term. Maybe he thought he could escape a felony conviction that would render him ineligible to hold municipal office. Perhaps hubris convinced Presta that he had done nothing wrong.

Presta seemed to adopt the attitude that he was entitled to personal rewards for holding public office. The late newspaper columnist Mike Royko once wrote that the city of Chicago’s motto ought to be changed to Ubi Est Mea, Latin for, “Where’s mine?”

Crooks like former Gov. Rod Blagojevich displayed this attitude when he expected something in return for appointing someone to the Senate seat vacated when Barack Obama became president.

Blagojevich was not entitled to campaign contributions or other personal reward for doing the job that citizens elected him to do. Public officials are expected to fulfill their oaths of office. By swearing to uphold the law, public officials promise they will not engage in corruption.

The reality of Presta’s situation seemed to have escaped him as recently as October, when he planned to step down as mayor. The Daily Southtown reported Presta planned to take a job as Crestwood economic development director, a newly created position that would pay him the same salary of $65,000 per year. The Crestwood Village Board was set to consider the proposal but did not approve the deal.

Presta must have figured he would avoid serving any time in prison. Serving as economic development director while incarcerated in a federal prison would seem to push the limits of working remotely.

Reality seemed to catch up to Presta the following month. He resigned as mayor in November when he pleaded guilty to criminal charges.

“It has been an honor serving the residents of our Village as a Trustee and as Mayor,” Presta wrote in his resignation letter.

Many communities in the south and southwest suburbs face daunting challenges. High property taxes discourage business investment and burden parents who work to support their families.

Southland communities need to use precious resources to serve residents. There is no room for elected leaders who feel entitled to skim a portion of the proceeds for their own pockets.

The Southland cannot afford public officials who act in their own self-interest instead of serving their communities.