Check out Alderman Troutman’s raucous news conference here. Unedited video. Must see. Chicago politics at its craziest.
Tribune story:
At a raucous City Hall news conference before today’s City Council meeting, Ald. Arenda Troutman asserted that she has been “an upstanding alderman for 17 years,” and will continue to seek reelection in February.
She said she “will continue to fight for my people and this city and the 20th Ward and stand strong.”
With about 50 supporters behind her, Troutman would not talk specifically about the bribery charges lodged against her, but her attorney, Sam Adam Jr., said the government’s case is baseless.
To Troutman’s challengers in February, Adam said, “Bring your ‘A’ game because Ald. Troutman is back.”
“I am bringing my ‘A’ game,” shot back David Neely, one of her challengers, who attended the news conference. “I will be the alderman of the 20th Ward,” he said as the Troutman supporters booed.
Sun-Times:
Attorney David Neely, who is on the Feb. 27 ballot trying to unseat Troutman, attended Troutman’s City Hall news conference, Neely repeated his call for a two-term limit for Chicago aldermen and, to the jeers of Troutman’s supporters, said: “If you look at the history of Chicago, every time a politician has been charged with committing a crime, they have press conferences. Their attorneys stand up and say they didn’t do it. There are tape recordings. There are videos. She will be indicted by Friday. And the people of the 20th Ward are being neglected.â€