Heavyweight lobbyists hold 'oversized' influence

Fredric N. Tulsky and John Sullivan

 

State Senate President John Cullerton is a registered lobbyist. [Photo/Jose More)

 

Elected officials who lobby face conflicts of interest when matters coming before them as office holders also affect their paying clients.

 

In Cook County, the list of elected officials who have also lobbied includes three county commissioners, two Chicago aldermen, the Cook County Democratic Party chairman and even John Cullerton, the state senate president since 2009.

 

Those numbers alarm outside ethics experts.