The Cook County state's attorney's office is threatening to sue a mayoral candidate in Markham should he win and take the oath of office.
Roger Agpawa, fire chief in Country Club Hills, pleaded guilty in August 1999 to mail fraud as part of a federal medical insurance fraud case. With that conviction on his record, Agpawa, by law, would not be eligible to take the oath of office, the letter to him, dated Thursday, stated.
As part of a federal court conviction, Agpawa avoided jail time but was ordered to pay restitution, serve three years' probation and perform 200 hours of community service work. He would need a presidential pardon in order to hold municipal office.
The letter asks for Agpawa to respond by the end of the day March 31 about “how you intend to proceed should your candidacy for mayor of the city of Markham be successful,” and the correspondence also notes that should he attempt to take office, the state's attorney's legal action “would cause significant disruption to the citizens of the city of Markham as well as unnecessary financial hardship to the citizens of Cook County.”
In January, Agpawa told Daily Southtown columnist Ted Slowik that he believed he would still be able to hold office if elected, despite the conviction.
Agpawa said Friday that he believed the letter was “a little premature” and that “I have to be elected for anything to occur.”
He said his attorney would respond to the letter, but that if he is elected, “the decision rests with the (Markham) City Council, ultimately, for me to be sworn in.”
Agpawa is one of two candidates on the ballot seeking to replace Markham Mayor David Webb Jr., who is not seeking re-election next month. Agpawa is a longtime Markham resident who served as the city's deputy fire chief for 20 years. Also on the ballot is Perry Browley, owner of Tumbling for Success and previously a longtime coach for the Jesse White Tumblers.
Seeking to become Markham's mayor as write-in candidates are Kenneth “Mojo” Muldrow Jr., who has served as a police officer in the city for 31 years and is president of the Markham Park District, and Errol Powell, who also ran a write-in campaign for Markham mayor in 2013.
In several other south and southwest suburbs in Cook County, voters will have multiple choices for who they want to serve as mayor, including:
Alsip: Mayor Patrick Kitching is not seeking re-election, and looking to take the job are John Ryan, a village trustee running on the Better Government for Alsip slate, and Steven Daddona, a former longtime police officer in the village who retired in 2009 and who is running on the Alsip Citizens Alliance ticket.
Blue Island: Mayor Domingo Vargas, heading up the Blue Island Independent Party ticket in that city, is challenged by Joseph Gatrell.
Chicago Ridge: Charles Tokar, who was elected mayor in 2013 after the retirement of longtime Mayor Gene Siegel, is being challenged by Trustee Sally Durkin, running as an independent, and Trustee Frances Coglianese, running on the Results Now slate.
Dixmoor: Mayor Dorothy Armstrong faces four challengers in the April 4 election. Trustee Michael Smith is running against her as a Democrat; Trustee Yvonne Davis is the Dixmoor Citizens Matter ticket's candidate; Trustee Fitzgerald Roberts is running as an independent candidate; and Charles Longstreet is running as an independent.
Flossmoor: Mayor Paul Braun is challenged by former village Trustee Jeanne “Gigi” Gummerson. Both are nonpartisan candidates.
Ford Heights: Mayor Charles Griffin is challenged by LaDell Jones Sr., a park district commissioner running on the Community Action ticket, and Annie Coulter, a library district trustee.
Glenwood: Ronald Gardiner, previously a village trustee, was named acting mayor after Kerry Durkin resigned from the job in 2015. Gardiner is seeking election to a full term, running on the Greater Glenwood ticket, and is challenged by Trustee Adam Winston, running as a Democrat.
Hazel Crest: Seeking a second term, Mayor Vernard Alsberry Jr. is challenged by attorney McStephen O.A. “Max” Solomon, running as a Democrat, and Roderick Bashir, a former Hazel Crest trustee running on the Hazel Crest New Leadership ticket.
Lemont: Mayor Brian Reaves previously announced he would not seek re-election because he is taking a job out of state. Running to replace him are Trustee Paul Chialdikas and John Egofske, both as independents.
Matteson: Mayor Andre Ashmore is not running for re-election, and four people are seeking the job. Trustees Sheila Chalmers-Currin and Paula Farr, as well as Robbie Craig and Bryan McGraw, are running as independent candidates.
Midlothian: Mayor Sharon Rybak is being challenged by Trustee Gary L'Heureux, running on the United Midlothian slate.
Oak Lawn: Mayor Sandra Bury faces a challenge by 3rd District Trustee Robert Streit. Both are running as independent candidates.
Olympia Fields: Mayor Debbie Meyers-Martin is seeking another term and is challenged by Sterling Burke. Both are nonpartisan candidates.
Posen: Mayor Donald Schupek is running on the Posen Party 2017 ticket and is being challenged by a former village trustee, Frank Podielniak, running on the Posen Community slate.
Robbins: Mayor Tyrone Ward is challenged by David Dyson, running on the Major Change ticket, and Loyal Moore Jr. and DeLean Fuller, both running as independents.
Sauk Village: Mayor David Hanks is not running for another term, and three trustees — Rosie Williams-Baig, Derrick Burgess and Lynda Washington-House — are running as nonpartisan candidates for the post.
South Holland: Mayor Don De Graff is seeking re-election on the Heritage Community Party ticket and is being challenged by Michelle Royster, a Democrat.
Steger: Mayor Kenneth Peterson Jr., running for re-election on the United for Action ticket, is being challenged by Trustee William Joyce, running as an independent.
Tinley Park: Appointed mayor to fill the remainder of Ed Zabrocki's term, Dave Seaman is running on the Tinley First slate and is being challenged by Trustee Jacob Vandenberg, running on the Concerned Citizens for Tinley Park ticket.
Worth: Mayor Mary Werner is challenged by Randy Keller, who was previously mayor and lost to Werner four years ago. Both are running as independents.
mnolan@tribpub.com
Twitter @mnolan_j
