Stroger grabs last ballot spot
County Board chief files just 22,000 signatures in re-election bid
About 40 minutes before deadline on the last day to file Monday, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger filed 22,000 signatures to run for re-election -- about half as many as some of his main rivals.
It wasn't that people were reluctant to sign his petitions, he said.
(John J. Kim/Sun-Times)
"Normally, you have people who collect signatures," Stroger said. "It's hard getting people out there to collect signatures."
By contrast, veteran U.S. Rep. Danny Davis collected a self-reported 50,000 signatures. Davis also filed Monday to run for re-election to Congress. He has a week to decide which race to pull out of. Ten other Democrats have filed for Davis' seat.
Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) filed 45,000 signatures to run for Cook County Board president, she said.
Davis, Preckwinkle, Terry O'Brien and Clerk of the Court Dorothy Brown all filed a week ago, making them eligible for the lottery for top ballot position. Stroger will be last.
Also Monday, Cook County Democratic Chairman Joe Berrios got a strong challenge for his County Assessor bid from former Judge and Ald. Ray Figueroa, who filed 30,000 signatures. Real estate agent Gene Staples and activist Andrea Raila also filed.
In Springfield, the last day of filing brought a flurry of activity in the governor's race, where three Republicans, a Democrat and a Green Party candidate submitted nominating petitions.
Republicans who filed Monday included former Attorney General Jim Ryan, former state GOP chairman Andrew McKenna and Republican activist Dan Proft.
The new Democrat to file is Oak Park trial lawyer Ed Scanlan.
For U.S. Senate, three more Republicans and three more Democrats filed for the seat being vacated by Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.)
Democrats who filed Monday include Chicago Urban League chief and ex- spokeswoman for Rod Blagojevich, Cheryle Jackson; Corey Dabney, of Aurora, and Willie Boyd Jr., of Downstate Greenville.
Among Republicans to file Monday were Patrick J. Hughes, of Hinsdale; Robert Zadek, of Rockford, and Thomas Kuna, of Downstate Jerseyville.