QUESTION: How is a temporary replacement for the County Board president selected?
ANSWER: When a County Board president steps down, state law requires that the board select a replacement from among its remaining members.
John Daley, the chairman of the County Board’s Finance Committee, is considered by board members the favorite for the interim position. Daley has said that he would not seek the party’s nomination, and that he supports John Stroger’s son, Chicago Ald. Todd Stroger (8th), as candidate.
Commissioner Bobbie Steele also wants to replace Stroger, but her colleagues say her bid appears to be a long shot. John Stroger said he would stay on as president until July 31. John Daley said he expects they will hold special meetings in early August to choose his replacement.
QUESTION: What happens to John Stroger’s elected County Board seat?
ANSWER: Historically, the County Board president also serves–and is separately elected–as one of the board’s 17 commissioners. Only board members are allowed to vote on matters before the board; the president’s position has no vote, unless he is also elected as a commissioner.
John Stroger’s resignation letter indicated that he would also give up his board seat on July 31. Chicago Ald. William Beavers (7th) has expressed interest in running for the district seat. Under this scenario, Todd Stroger would run only for board president. But Beavers and Todd Stroger have said this part of the plan has not been finalized.
QUESTION: How and when will the decision be made on John Stroger’s replacement on the November ballot?
ANSWER: Once Stroger’s resignation letter is forwarded to Cook County Democratic Party Chairman Thomas Lyons, a meeting would be set for the 50 Chicago ward committeemen and 30 township committeemen to select a replacement for the ballot. Committeemen say that Todd Stroger already has a lot of support, based largely on their respect for John Stroger. They said it appears likely Todd Stroger will be nominated.
However, some committeemen who supported John Stroger’s primary race opponent, Forrest Claypool, may seek an alternative candidate. Party leaders largely agree that the nominee should be an African-American because that voting bloc is so important to Democrats, and because that bloc won the primary for John Stroger. Many say it would be seen as a betrayal by party leaders if an African-American were not slated.
QUESTION: Can anyone else get in the November race?
ANSWER: Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica of Riverside is the Republican candidate in the race. An independent candidate cannot run. The deadline for an independent to file petitions to get on the ballot was June 26.
QUESTION: What pressing issues face the board president?
ANSWER: Summer is when the president’s office typically begins planning for the next year’s budget, which is usually proposed in the fall. Commissioners have said that a visible executive is needed to craft the document and kick-start the process.
Commissioners also have said that executive leadership is needed to deal with the county’s current financial problems. Revenues are falling short of expectations in the county’s health system and commissioners are concerned about a year-end deficit that could create problems now and next year.
QUESTION: What does the county government do?
ANSWER: Cook County government has five major responsibilities: public hospitals and clinics, the jail, the courts, elections and the property tax system. Stroger called the county a “government of last resort.” It’s the place where the sick and poor turn for health care and where the criminals are locked up. Still, few county residents pay attention to its existence on a daily basis, making it something of an invisible entity.
