Six Shakman-exempt hired since Feb. 2

When county commissioners voted in favor of a county-wide hiring freeze last week, they did it with the goal of preventing County Board President Todd Stroger from going on a spending spree in his last months in office.

Wary of past hires that embarrassed the county, and with the bad taste of several current scandals in their collective mouth, commissioners voted 16-1 in favor of the freeze.

Stroger has hired six Shakman-exempt employees since he lost the Democratic primary Feb. 2, including deputy chief of staff Carla Oglesby, a $120,000 a year employee hired on Feb. 16, now on unpaid leave as an investigation into contracts here company received is underway.

Also new on the county payroll since Feb. 2:

• Ammar M. Rizki, hired Feb. 16 as assistant revenue director. Salary: $107,000
• Andrea M. Burrell, hired Feb. 24 as an administrative assistant in the president's office. Salary: $70,362
• Brendan K. Beggin, hired March 2 as deputy chief financial officer. Salary: $150,000
• Robert A. Dwyer, Jr., hired March 15 as an assistant public defender. Salary: $105,970
• Juquita T. Johnson, hired April 12 as an administrative assistant in the planning and development department. Salary: $55,108

Stroger vetoed the hiring freeze yesterday, citing an encroachment on his office's powers. If commissioners veto it, which they are likely to do, Stroger has hinted he'll go to court.