Chicago politician fresh out of prison is running to replace Chicago politician headed to prison

Al Sanchez, the former head of Streets and Sanitation Department under Mayor Richard M. Daley and the Hispanic Democratic Organization, is out of prison and ready to jump right back into Chicago politics.  It's the Chicago Way.

Sanchez was reportedly the highest-ranked Daley appointee sent to prison for his role in a scheme reserving city jobs for Daley's political allies. But on Monday, Sanchez put his criminal past behind him and filed to run for the Cook County Board.

"Yeah, I spent some time in a federal facility, but I think my record is pretty clear when you look at how I ran that department," Sanchez told the Chicago Tribune.

In true Chicago fashion, however, Sanchez isn't the only felon involved in this race.

The Tribune notes that the County Board seat is up for grabs now that incumbent William Beavers is doing hard time. Beavers was convicted of federal tax evasion and was scheduled to report to prison on Monday.

In another bid for the County Board, another convicted felon -- former Chicago Alderman Issac "Ike" Carothers -- has also filed for a primary bid. According to the Tribune, Carothers resigned from his post in 2010 after pleading guilty to charges of bribery and tax fraud. He was sentenced to 28 months in the slammer for his crimes.