Andy Shaw boosts funding, tries to broaden Better Government Association’s reach

Melissa Harri -Chicago tribune


CHICAGO CONFIDENTIAL

April 18, 2010



Fundraising hits almost $1 million, staffing at seven since former political reporter took over

As a veteran political reporter, Andy Shaw had access to many of Chicago's most powerful citizens. And in 10 months since taking over the Better Government Association, a watchdog group, he has raised almost $1 million from many of the people he used to interview.


"In the initial build-up phase, it had to be largely about me because I was better known and had a higher level of credibility than the organization," Shaw said. "I was fresh off all of those years covering politics, including the Obama campaign. I was coming off a big, big year, and I had to sell me because I couldn't sell an organization that had struggled for a decade."

Venture capitalist J.B. Pritzker, private-equity executive John Canning, lawyer Bob Clifford, banker Harrison Steans and other CEOs and foundations have contributed to the nonprofit, including the Alphawood, Joyce and McCormick foundations.

When Jay Stewart left as BGA director in January 2009 to become Gov. Pat Quinn's attorney, the staff had dwindled to two and annual contributions had fallen to less than $200,000. Now with additional funding it has grown to seven staffers, including veteran television reporter Mark LaMet and Rita McLennon, former executive director of the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law.

Shaw also has found pro bono legal help to file suits to dislodge records when freedom of information requests have failed. Last year, for example, Cook County denied media requests for the cell phone records of several current or former county employees, including County Board President Todd Stroger. But in July they were released after the association sued.

"This is not about gotcha journalism," Shaw said. "It's about exposing problems at all levels of the bureaucracy, including waste, duplication and unnecessary branches of government. And when we find things that involve violations of good-government principles, we're going to suggest remedies and get behind all kinds of structural changes."

The organization is overhauling its Web site, bettergov.org, which Shaw envisions becoming an aggregator of Chicago investigative journalism, a collection center for tips and a source of pressure campaigns against public officials. He said the group will continue working with local media, developing story ideas and sharing grunt work.

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