Newly Appointed Chief of City Cars has DUI Record

Mayor Daley chose ex-CTA vice-president of construction, Pat Harney, to preside over the city’s entire fleet.

Harney, was forced out of his $98K a year job with the CTA after his CTA-owned vehicle rear-ended another vehicle. Harney refused a breath test and was charged with driving under the influence and suspended without pay. Harney resigned from his position two weeks later. He said the incident was a “lapse in judgment and accepted his responsibility.”

Since his 1998 DUI, Harney has held top jobs in Chicago’s Department of Aviation and more recently as first chief deputy of staff overseeing more than $2.2 billion in federal stimulus funds that bankrolled transportation and infrastructure projects throughout the city and created 9,000 jobs.

In a written statement, Daley said Harney, “has the breadth of experience in the management facilties, infrastructure and maintenance needed to make him a good fit for this position.”

New Chief of City cars has DUI arrest in past, www.suntimes.com, January 29, 2011