03132003 - News Article - Grand jury probes Cantrell playing politics on public dime - North Township served subpoena seeking work records - ROBERT CANTRELL

Grand jury probes Cantrell playing politics on public dime
North Township served subpoena seeking work records
NWI Times
Mar 13, 2003
nwitimes.com/news/local/grand-jury-probes-cantrell-playing-politics-on-public-dime/article_034e3769-82d2-5e39-8880-3f8ce085c4e4.html
HAMMOND -- A Lake County grand jury is investigating whether former East Chicago Republican Chairman Robert Cantrell was playing politics when he was supposed to be working for taxpayers.

North Township Trustee Greg Cvitkovich said Wednesday he has received a subpoena from the county prosecutor's office demanding he turn over Cantrell's work records by March 24.

The subpoena also seeks any township documents connected with Woodrow Rancifer Jr. and Dorothy Johnson, two poor relief recipients who claimed Cantrell recruited them to run in the spring Democratic primary.

The prosecutor's office declined comment Wednesday on the subpoena or investigation. Neither Cantrell, Rancifer nor Johnson could be reached Wednesday for comment.

Cvitkovich said he has spoken with Cantrell, who has hired a lawyer to represent him in the probe. Cvitkovich said he and the Township Board will discuss the subpoena their attorney.

Cantrell has been on the township payroll for more than a year as an investigator for its poor relief operation, which provides emergency food, shelter and medicine for indigent people awaiting eligibility to obtain welfare.

Rancifer claimed in a written statement to the Lake County Board of Election and Registration that he and Johnson were paid an undisclosed amount of cash by Cantrell to run as Democrats in the May 6 primary against incumbent East Chicago City Clerk Mary Morris Leonard.

Rancifer claimed Cantrell recruited him and Johnson Feb. 13 during a meeting at the Trustee's office during business hours.

The subpoena specifically demands Cantrell's time cards.

Cvitkovich said Cantrell is not a ghost employee and many on his staff are politically active.

"I've talked with my attorney on this and I don't think I can interfere with their right to be involved in politics as long as they do their job and put in the hours here," he said.

For more than two decades, Cantrell, as city Republican chairman, helped round up indigents from an infamous East Chicago flophouse to work as election officials at precinct polling places and bolster Cantrell's position in the party. He previously said he stopped eight years ago after the practice was exposed.

The Election Board voted Tuesday to remove Rancifer and Johnson from the ballot because they each have been convicted of a felony, making them ineligible to hold office.