Emanuel Announces Pick To Replace Indicted Comptroller

CHICAGO (STMW) -- Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Friday announced Daniel Widawsky as his choice to replace Amer Ahmad, who abruptly resigned as city comptroller in July and weeks later was indicted in an alleged $500,000 kickback and money laundering scheme in Ohio, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

Widawsky has served as managing director at Citadel, LLC, since 2007, overseeing transactions for the investment firm's largest customers. Previously, he served as a senior executive at GE and prior to that was a vice president at NBC, according to the mayor's office.

"I am pleased to have Dan Widawsky join the city of Chicago's finance team. With more than 20 years' experience as a finance, tax, and legal professional, he brings with him considerable knowledge and expertise from both the private and public sectors to serve Chicago taxpayers," Emanuel said in a statement.

Widawsky will assume his new role Jan. 31, and his position is subject to City Council approval.

"My efforts will be focused on managing the City's resources efficiently and effectively on behalf Chicago residents and taxpayers," Widawsky said in a statement.

Campaign contribution databases show Widawsky contributed $5,000 to Emanuel in September, and $4,000 in 2011. But he also donated to Republicans, including a $2,500 campaign contribution to Mitt Romney's political campaign in 2012 and $2,400 to Sen. Mark Kirk in 2010.

Earlier this week, consultants concluded Ahmad did not defraud Chicago taxpayers, as he is accused of doing in Ohio. A 47-page forensic audit jointly prepared by the law firm of Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and the Grant Thornton accounting firm found no evidence that Ahmad abused his influence as Chicago's comptroller to defraud the city or taxpayers.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)