Ousted CFD Trying for the Bench

An ousted CFD Union leader is running for judge. And firefighters aren't too happy about it:

• In July 2007, John Chwarzynski was removed as president of Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2 by an internal panel that found him guilty of violating the union's constitution and bylaws.

  Eleven of the union's 13 executive board members had accused Chwarzynski of fraud, financial malfeasance and a host of other violations. Among other things, he was accused of filing a fraudulent expense report for an extravagant dinner for two at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

  Chwarzynski denied the charges, accused his union brothers of trying to "cover up their own acts of misconduct and payroll fraud" and filed a lawsuit against Local 2's executive board. The suit has since been dismissed.

  Now, Chwarzynski is one of 11 candidates running for judge in a subcircuit that takes in virtually all of the Northwest Side's 36th and 38th wards, portions of six other wards and parts of roughly 10 suburbs.

Former union boss and SCC reader Bill Kugelman is leading the charge. This doesn't seem like anyone we'd want to end up on the bench. Our north side readers might want to take note and find an alternate candidate to support.