The booming preacher's voice he often used to staunchly defend Mayor Richard Daley's policies at City Hall was missing Monday as a stone-faced Ald. Isaac "Ike" Carothers quietly pleaded guilty in federal court to bribery and tax charges, bringing to 29 the number of aldermen — his father included — to be convicted over the last four decades.
The felony conviction capped a stunning fall for Carothers, who admitted his guilt in exchange for a 28-month prison term. Carothers was that rare alderman who agreed to work undercover for federal authorities, wearing a wire and secretly recording other public officials and businessmen. Next month he is scheduled to testify at the trial of a developer accused of providing Carothers with $40,000 in home improvements for backing a controversial project in his 29th Ward.
How about handing out sentences of 12 to 20 years in the pen? That would loosen some tongues and get some investigations rolling along.
