William Joseph Panebianco Banks (born July 28, 1949[1]) is an attorney and former alderman of the 36th ward in Chicago from 1983 to 2009.
[1] Before his election as alderman, Banks served as Chief Research Aide and Legal Counselor to Congressman Morgan F.
[6] An important facet of Banks' aldermanic career is his position as chair of the Zoning Committee of the Chicago City Council.
Garneata admitted that, in December 2007, he acted as a go-between to pass on a bribe to a city plumbing inspector while pocketing some of the cash.
Garneata and his companies have made $23,000 in campaign contributions since 1999, including $4,000 to the 36th Ward Democratic Organization run by William J. P.
[12] In late April, 2009, Banks announced his intention to retire from City Council and asked Mayor Daley to appoint his driver John Rice as his replacement.
[15] Banks is co-counsel with Morrill and Associates, P.C., a law firm specializing in Illinois state and local government relations.
Other directors of Belmont Bank & Trust include Samuel V. P. Banks (William's brother and law partner and James' father and law partner), State Senator James DeLeo, and waste management consultant Fred Bruno Barbara.
Samuel V. P. Banks made a name for himself as a criminal defense attorney representing Mob-linked and corruption defendants.