Continued from www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=29982
paid the rent. And God forbid that I would get sick.
I haven't had a raise in three years, I've never asked for a raise. For me this is not about the money, and never has been. It would not be accurate to say that for the last three years, I wasn't paid, that's not true. But in the early days, that is true; for the last 5 or 10 years, no. I was paid and then finally got health benefits. One of the [ former ] presidents of our board, Mike McHale, found out I didn't have health benefits and he got those for me.
WCT: Did you get a raise when Bernard was hired?
Rick Garcia: I can't recall.
WCT: What do you want to come out of all of this? Do you want to return to Equality Illinois? Do you want to found your own organization?
Rick Garcia: There are a number of people who have suggested that I found another organization. I'm very disinclined to do that because I think that we need to have a more unified community, not a more divided community. But I'm not opposed to that if the new direction of Equality Illinois is to bastardize the organization and turn it into an Illinois HRCa mini-HRC where we have our eyes on the dollar bill and not on the prize. I would absolutely go back to Equality Illinois. I founded it, I know what its mission and goals are. I know what it's about, I put blood, sweat and tears there. And so I would see if we could negotiate something and work something out.
WCT: But given all of that which has happened, are you concerned about a huge personality clash between you and Cherkasov, for instance?
Rick Garcia: He probably would not be able to work with me because he's not from the world that I'm from. In politics, there are no permanent friends and there are no permanent enemies. And I think that even my critics in this community know that when we have been attacked, when we have had to stand up and do something, I and people I have been critical of have stood shoulder to shoulder to get the job done.
I think that Bernard can and does add a very important role and does add a very important element to Equality Illinois and that is raising the necessary funds for our work. But he doesn't understand that politics isn't pretty and that politics isn't polite, and he has a problem with my style. He should understand that we have to play hardball if we want to win. If we just want to raise money and hobnob in D.C. and have cocktail parties … but I'll tell you there is no one, no one there right now that has political experience, that has strategic experience or that knows Illinois politics the way that I do. And I don't know who they're going to get.
WCT: Have you received any offers from elsewhere?
Rick Garcia: In addition to [ being asked ] if I would found another organization, there have been other organizations that have said, "We would love to have you." And there have been some elected officials who said, "Whatever you need from me, let me know. Because we'd love to have you." Although, that's not what my career path is been, I'm not so sure I want to do that. I have time to figure it all out.
WCT: Were you offered any kind of settlement package by EI?
Rick Garcia: Yes, and it's sitting on my attorney's desk, and I have 20 days to accept it or reject it. The package that they offered me, what I can say about it is that it's completely unacceptable.
WCT: Why is it unacceptable? Is it the financial terms or and/or anything else?
Rick Garcia: It's financial terms and some other things that are just unacceptable and that I can't talk about.
WCT: There are rumors of "pending litigation?"
Rick Garcia: Well I have retained an attorney, but there's no pending litigation.