Illinois Campaign for Political Reform to Participate in Forum on Corruption.

CHICAGO -- A panel of government reform experts will discuss ways to curb government corruption at a public forum on Tuesday, Feb. 3, in Chicago.

The forum, "Twenty Ways to Stop Corruption in Illinois," will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Chicago Temple First United Methodist Church Sanctuary, 77 W. Washington Street, Chicago.

"Thanks to the scandal revolving around Gov. Blagojevich, It seems like the entire nation is talking about corruption in Illinois government," said Cynthia Canary, Director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. "This is a good time for Illinoisans to talk about what we can do to reduce corruption in our government."

In addition to Canary, the panel will include Patrick Collins, a former federal prosecutor now chairing the Illinois Reform Commission; Chicago City Clerk Miguel del Valle; who served 20 years in the Illinois General Assembly; and Dick Simpson, political science professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and veteran participant and observer of Chicago politics.

The public forum is sponsored by the Crossroads Fund and the Woods Fund of Chicago. The event is co-sponsored by the Better Government Association, Business and Professional People for the Public Interest, the League of Women Voters, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), and the Wieboldt Foundation.