Ex-Metra CEO Speaks Publicly for First Time Since Resignation (Live Blog)

By Ben Feldheim

Metra’s former CEO will speak publicly for the first time Wednesday since resigning during the Regional Transportation Authority’s regular meeting.

Alex Clifford resigned from Metra with a 9-1 vote from the board on June 21, and a severance package that awards him over $400,000, followed by the chance for another $300,000 if he doesn’t find a new job in 14 months.

Since then, a memo has been released detailing Clifford’s accusations that Metra board chairman Brad O’Halloran and board member Larry Huggins pressured him to make political hires, and that House Speaker Michael Madigan pressured him to raise a connected worker’s salary.

One week ago, O’Halloran spoke before the RTA board and said that Clifford made no claims of impropriety with the Office of the Inspector General himself, and that two investigations into the matter have not resulted in findings of wrongdoing.

O’Halloran also said that the sizable severance would be less than potential legal costs if Metra and Clifford went into litigation against each other.

Follow our live blog starting around 8:30 a.m. of Clifford speaking before the RTA board for live updates.

Patch has been keeping up on the scandal:

• O’Halloran Takes Shots at Clifford, Makes Metra Promises
• Brad O'Halloran Speaks Before the RTA Board (Live Blog)
• O’Halloran: Metra Settlement Avoids Higher Litigation Costs