Outfit Connections?

In Chicago? In politics? (Tribune password needed - or Google the headline)

• John Bills fits right in to the world of colorful characters who do the heavy lifting for Chicago politicians every election — raising donations, knocking on doors and delivering all of the vote.
  
  But in Bills' case, the colors have often been a bit brighter. A South Side native, his family history is dotted with connections to organized crime. A huge White Sox fan, he got a job with the club, celebrated the World Series victory on the field with players and still sports a replica championship ring.
  
  A veteran political worker for House Speaker Michael Madigan, he earned a reputation as a top fundraiser and vote-getter in the vaunted 13th Ward Democratic Organization who fell in and out of favor with his boss and with fellow precinct captains who turned to him when they couldn't make their numbers.
  
  Federal investigators last week painted another picture of Bills, as the linchpin in a decadelong corruption scheme that brought red light cameras to Chicago.

Gee, the Outfit-involved connections in politics and connected companies making money off taxpayers. The Tribune is careful not to say that the Mob is actually running Chicago as a sideline to their other "legitimate" businesses, but they are definitely pointing out that yet again, another person on the periphery of the Organized Crime circles seems to be in a position of ...maybe not actual power to direct things, but certainly close enough to nudge or steer things to benefit other figures who can keep the light out of the shadows. Friends of Friends perhaps.