Metra Board Member Resigns, Gov. Appoints Transit Commission

Deborah Bayliss | As of Thursday, September 5, 2013


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Stanley Rakestraw is the fifth Metra Board member to resign in recent weeks.

Metra Board member Stanley Rakestraw is the fifth Board member to resign from the commuter rail agency following resignation of four other Board members in recent weeks. Rakestraw’s resignation comes after questions arose regarding his residency and in the midst of the recent $718,000 severance payment to Alex Clifford, Metra’s former CEO, patronage allegations and allegations of construction contract interference by recently resigned Board members.

Because he was appointed by Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle, as a suburban Cook County representative, Rakestraw is no longer eligible to serve on the Metra Board as he is currently a Chicago resident.

In his resignation letter to Preckwinkle, Rakestraw explained his point of view regarding his residency, “I understand that issues have arisen regarding my Metra Directorship as it relates to my residency. My long-time permanent residence in Flossmoor was destroyed by (fire). It was always my intent to rebuild and return to Flossmoor. However, because of declining property values, rebuilding my home became economically unrealistic. However, I still own the land.”

Rakestraw added that throughout the process, he informed Metra counsel about his residency and was repeatedly reassured that given his personal situation, his residency was not an issue.

“My overriding concern is, and has always been, doing the right thing for Metra,” Rakestraw continued in his resignation letter. “That includes eliminating any potential controversy which distracts the Board from its business. Accordingly, I hereby tender my resignation, effective immediately, to you and, in so doing, thank you for the opportunity to serve. I wish both you and the Board the very best going forward.”

Preckwinkle explained in a released statement how Rakestraw was allowed on the Metra Board: "When Stan Rakestraw applied for the position, he listed a Flossmoor address. Since he no longer resides in suburban Cook County, he is ineligible to serve as my appointment on Metra. As soon as I was notified of this fact I requested Stan Rakestraw's resignation."

Rakestraw reportedly moved from south suburban Flossmoor to a million-dollar condominium in downtown Chicago, two years ago after his home was destroyed in a fire but continued to list his suburban address as his residence, including on the ethics statement he filed earlier this year with the Cook County clerk's office.

Rakestraw's company, Chicago-based SCR Medical Transportation, has had a long-standing contract with PACE to provide Para transit service for the disabled which has also been questioned as a possible conflict of interest.

Michael Gillis, spokesperson for Metra told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper that SCR has a contract with PACE and that Metra has an intergovernmental agreement with PACE to provide the service but that PACE decides which company they use.

“SCR did not have any say in PACE’s decision as to the company they use (for the Para transit service),” Gillis said. “SCR’s contract predates Rakestraw’s 2012 appointment to the Metra Board.”

Regional Transit Authority (RTA), which serves as Metra’s oversight Board but does not have the power to reject appointments under state law, is pushing for legislation that would prohibit appointees from doing business with the CTA, Metra, PACE or the RTA while serving any of the sister transit boards.

Gov. Quinn however, wants someone to watch over the RTA and has issued an executive order, naming a 15-member commission, the Northeastern Illinois Public Transit Task Force that includes former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, to investigate fraud and suggest reform at the Regional Transportation Authority.

“It’s clear that the mass transit system in northeastern Illinois is not working for taxpayers,” Gov. Quinn said in a released statement. “This task force is a step forward to make our transit system worthy of the public’s trust. Their recommendations will be valuable as we work in both the veto and spring sessions to reform mass transit in northeastern Illinois.”

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