Michael Scott Commits Suicide

Back during the Olympics debate, Michael Scott became a symbol of the corruption and waste in the Olympics. It was revealed by the Tribune that Scott had bought a prime piece of real estate right next to Washington Park. Washington Park was going to be home to some of the Olympics sites and thus the real estate was going to be worth exponentially more. Scott was on the committee of outreach. In other words, he was in charge of getting business and community leaders on board with the Olympics effort and show them that there would be plenty of opportunities for business and commerce if the Olympics arrived. Given his own deal, I always said that the line for deals started right behind him.

At the same time, Scott was embroiled in another scandal. This one involved his position on the school board in Chicago. He was linked to a scandal in which kids of parents with clout received special privileges as far as admissions at several highly ranked Chicago Public Schools like Whitney Young.

There were several concurrent investigations. This morning Michael Scott was found dead from what is being reported as a suicide.

The death of Chicago School Board President Michael Scott was ruled a suicide this afternoon by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. He died of a gunshot wound to the head, officials said.

When police found his body early this morning, Scott was face down in a foot of water along the Chicago River downtown, a .380-caliber handgun under his body, a source said.

Chicago School Board president Michael Scott was reported missing from his home in the Monroe police district on the Near West Side in Chicago Sunday.

The 60-year-old Scott, Mayor Daley’s go-to-guy for years, had a gunshot wound to his left temple.

An official close to Rod Blagojevich also committed suicide earlier this year. Hopefully, the tale of Michael Scott will be a lesson in the corrosive power of clout in politics.