Todd Stroger for Cook County Board president
We don't like the way Stroger was put on the ballot to replace his father, who stepped down after suffering a stroke, and we wish Stroger had a stronger record on which to run. But we recognize the reality that if change is going to happen in this Democrat-dominated body, it's going to come from within the Democratic party. If there's any good that came from the questionable way the younger Stroger was placed on the ballot, it's that the party was forced by all the public attention to acknowledge the need for reform. And we take Stroger at his word that he is committed to that process.
He says he'd start his tenure by asking all employees who are exempt from civil-service protections -- most of them no doubt picked by his father -- to resign, to weed out those who are doing nothing and to send a message that he won't do things the way his dad did. He wants to give an inspector general plenty of tools to root out corruption and waste. He promises big changes at the top and in the guts of the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center and the Bureau of Health. He warns county workers and other county elected officials that the budget process must change -- and budgets must be reduced -- to address the financial mess he would inherit. He admits his father was dictator but he says his style is one of accommodating and working together with people who have good ideas.
We're taking a risk in supporting Stroger, but he's saying the right things and seems genuinely committed to change. And we're going to assign extra reporters to watch him to make sure that he follows through on his promises.
In the races for county commissioner, Democratic incumbents Deborah Sims (5th), Joseph Mario Moreno (6th), Roberto Maldonado (8th), Mike Quigley (10th), Forrest Claypool (12th) and Larry Suffredin (13th) have no opponents, and Democrats Earlean Collins (1st) and William Beavers (4th) have only token opposition.
2nd District: Incumbent Democrat Bobbie Steele has served capably as the caretaker board president in the last four months of the elder Stroger's term. She is supported over attorney Scott Kummer.
3rd: Incumbent Democrat <Jerry "Iceman" Butler seems unwilling to recognize the need for radical reforms, but Republican Maurice Perkins, a social worker, doesn't make much of a case for change. We back Butler with some reservations.
6th: Incumbent Democrat Joan Patricia Murphy has done little to distinguish herself and doesn't appear ready for reform. Republican Michael Hawkins, a real estate broker, is the better choice.
9th: Incumbent Republican Peter Silvestri has been a strong advocate for change at the county. We see no reason to switch to Democrat Jodi Biancalana, a Chicago public school teacher.
11th: Incumbent Democrat John Daley has a strong challenger in Carl Segvich, a political consultant. We give the endorsement to Daley and urge him to use his experience and knowledge about county finances to help the next president fix the budget.
14th: Incumbent Republican Gregg Goslin has been creative, dedicated and dogged in his efforts to solve the county's many problems. He is upported over Democrat Michelene Polk.
15th: Republican Timothy O. Schneider defeated incumbent Carl Hansen in the March primary and personifies the kind of change needed at the county board. Democrat Jim Steven Dasakis is also a strong candidate, but we give Schneider the edge.
16th: While we do not support him for County Board president, incumbent Republican Tony Peraica deserves re-election to his spot on the board over Democrat William Edward Gomolinski, an attorney. We trust Peraica will continue to prod Democrats to change the government.
17th: Incumbent Republican Elizabeth Doody Gorman is also one of the forces for reform in county government. She deserves re-election over Democrat Thomas Kraus.
