Pucinski to Dems: no refund // Party leader calls for resignation, restitution

Cook County Commissioner Calvin Sutker called Friday for CircuitCourt Clerk Aurelia Pucinski to resign her post and give back anycampaign donations raised from Democrats, in the strongest reactionyet to her Republican conversion.

Sutker said Pucinski betrayed Democratic leaders and voters whoelected her when she decided this week to switch parties to run forthe same office he is seeking - County Board president.

"I would hope that the people would see the crassness of thismove, the cynicism of this move, the opportunism of this move," saidSutker, who is opposing incumbent John Stroger for the Democraticnomination.Pucinski said through a spokesman that she will not resign anddoes not intend to return any campaign contributions. However, thespokesman said Pucinski intends to "set aside" the $75,000 currentlyin her campaign fund and will not use it in her pursuit of the CountyBoard presidency.Stroger continued to take a softer approach than Sutker, sayingthat while he is disappointed by Pucinski's party switch, it is herright.Stepping aside would be the "honorable thing for her to do,"Sutker said during the taping of WBBM-AM's "At Issue" program. Hecited the example of U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas, who resigned as aDemocratic congressman to switch parties and then successfullyregained his seat as a Republican."She won it as a Democrat. She was funded as a Democrat. Shewas from a Democratic family," Sutker said of Pucinski's county post.He said Pucinski should provide restitution to all Democrats whocontributed to her 1996 re-election campaign or who have given moneyto her since then."While she was negotiating and initiating a relationship withthe Republican Party, she was seeking Democratic money. I find thatcrass," Sutker said.He said she could start with a $150 donation he gave her threemonths ago."I never dreamed that money would come back and I would see itagain used by her in a candidacy against me for the presidency of theCounty Board in November of 1998, but it might well do that," Sutkersaid.Sutker, a longtime Pucinski supporter, said he was moredisappointed and embarrassed than angry about her switch.The 74-year-old Skokie Democrat traces his current estrangementfrom Stroger to his decision four years ago to back Pucinski overStroger for the board presidency. Sutker also said he wasinfluential as state Democratic chairman in Pucinski's 1986 slatingfor secretary of state, a primary race she lost to a follower ofpolitical extremist Lyndon LaRouche."I've spent a lot of time, effort and funds on her behalf," saidSutker, who is the Niles Township Democratic committeeman.Most Democratic leaders have been cautious in their commentsabout Pucinski, whose office employs many Democratic patronageemployees. Even if she loses the County Board campaign, her term asCircuit Court clerk will not conclude until after the 2000 election.Sutker said that if Pucinski had wanted to move up, she shouldhave run for statewide office again next year as a Democrat."At the same time she was flirting with the Republicans, sherejected the opportunity to be a statewide candidate," Sutker said.Pucinski was first elected to the clerk's job in 1988. Shepreviously had served as a commissioner of what is now theMetropolitan Water Reclamation District.