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The session has had me pretty preoccupied lately, so we haven’t had a chance to talk about the upcoming Cook County races, particularly the state’s attorney contest
Another Cook County politician is jumping in the race to succeed retiring State’s Attorney Dick Devine. County Commissioner Tony Peraica, a Republican, will announce his campaign later this morning.
Here’s the audio from Chicago Public Radio’s story…
Have at it.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 8:00 am
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Tony Peraica is like the dog chasing the bumper. He wouldn’t know what to do with it if he caught it.
I would like to thank Tony, however, for some of the best political theater to come along since the Council Wars. His torch-light and pitch-fork parade from his “victory party” to elections HQ was classic. I still have it TiVo’d and watch it when I am feeling blue. It gives me instant sunshine.
Comment by On the Other Hand Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 8:38 am
Phony Tony will get his behind handed to him and it won’t even be close.
The new state’s attorney should make sure there is plenty of security to protect public property from Peraica’s goon squad this time.
Comment by GOP'er Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 8:44 am
Larry Suffredin also is looking at running for state’s attorney.
Comment by DeepFriedOnAStick Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 8:49 am
Yeah Peraica will probably lose, but it could be hari-kari in the Dem primary, esp. if it comes down to a black/white contest between Ald. Brookins and Cook County Board guy Larry Suffredin.
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 8:51 am
I like Suffredein but am interested in Tom Allen. I didn’t realize he is a former public defender - that would be some real experience for a state’s attorney. I don’t know if Allen can get the committeemen support that Suffredin can. The two of them make it an interesting - and positive primary for me.
Comment by babs Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 9:25 am
How much more money will Tony Peraica pour into his certain-to-fail bid for State’s Attorney on top of the almost $2 million he has already loaned himself?
Am I the only one who questions the sanity of one who will spend himself into the poor house in an attempt to “be somebody”?
Comment by The Wonderer Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 9:43 am
Rumor has it that Joe Birkett is looking to run for Cook County State’s Attorney while simultaneously holding the same post in DuPage. He is alleged to be buying a house that straddles the Cook/DuPage line, with the bathroom on the Cook side and the rest of the house on the DuPage side. This way, he can report for “duty” in both DuPage and Cook.
Comment by Wheaton Willie Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 9:51 am
Why does Peraica continue to staff his campaigns with people that don’t have any experience or have won a campaign before? Weird.
Comment by Super Mega Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 9:58 am
Babs,
Suffredin is a former public defender too. Not sure about the other candidates but maybe them too. I agree that is a good perspective to bring to the office. Peraica is a cook county version of Oberweis. Just stop running for stuff, man. It’s embarassing.
Comment by Pingback Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 10:01 am
I’m with Brookins.
Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 10:21 am
Brookins barely won his ward in a run off and the unions are still targeting him for his support of wal mart I dont think Daley is going to give Brookins money and people for this race he is lucky to be alderman the unions had him on the ropes until Daley saved him.
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 10:29 am
Looks like Brookins will have all of two votes [his own and Just Observing].
You don’t bash cops if you want to be State’s Attorney.
I just hope that the GOP puts up a real candidate. Peraica has no business in that job.
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 10:29 am
Yeah the Cook County GOP should put up somebody else to run.
Comment by Levois Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 10:43 am
Pingback,
Thanks for that info on Suffredin. Now I’m really interested in both of them. I think Suffredin knows more people than Allen. That will be the difference in getting committeemen to support him. We’ll have to see what the new Cook County Dem Party does with this…
Comment by babs Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 10:55 am
Peraica….no class whatsoever. Suffredin and Allen are both very smart and Tom Dart is pretty smart too. Brookins was an ASA for a year and has no quality. If the African American community
is serious about a candidate for the post they
have to look beyond the Pincham/Jackson realm and
treat this position with respect. Find a former
Assistant State’s Attorney who actually did the job well and is respected. look among the judges.
Comment by amy Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 11:06 am
If I was one of the power players, I would actively recruit a strong African-American for this post. Then when the next election for Cook County Board President takes place, I could dump Todd and still have a racially balanced ticket. Plus an AA State’s Attorney will give the justice system more credibility with African Americans than electing another white guy.
Comment by Objective Dem Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 11:27 am
Devine left a mess of an office and a lack of trust with most communities.
Comment by Milan Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 11:28 am
Super Mega: For the same reason many Republicans in Cook County do. They don’t have experience and have not won many campaigns.
The consulting class doesn’t care as long as they get paid.
Peracia may win but the “Powers That Be” will do anything they can to stop the guy from having control over that office.
Comment by Hobby Corner Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 11:32 am
Two words why Tony Peraica should never assume such an important office: Mike Manzo, a.k.a. Fredo. “I’m not dumb, Tony, I’m smaaaaaart!”
Enough said.
Comment by Buster McGraw Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 12:05 pm
Suffredin knows a lot of people, all right. But that is what you would expect from a former tobacco lobbyist, a former gaming industry lobbyist and a former lobbyist for the bar association. Not to mention the hypocrisy that spews from his mouth every time Suffredin claims, “I’m a progressive, I’m an independent.” Tony Peraica would make a better State’s Attorney in his sleep than Suffredin (not to mention one who would actually battle corruption instead of looking the other way, like “Lap Dog” Devine did and Suffredin would).
Comment by fedup dem Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 12:15 pm
Tommy Brewer has the best resume to be states attorney. He has been screwed over by the Dems in every race he has run. He’s a former FBI agent and a protege of Judge Pincham. Its time the committeemen unite behind a minority and give him some money.
Comment by Frank A Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 12:21 pm
How is being a former public defender an asset when running for state’s attorney? It’s a giant negative!
Here’s a preview of the t.v. ads and direct mail you’ll see: “As a defense attorney, he helped a serial rapist go free, and now he wants to be your state’s attorney?”
Amazingly, almost all the pols whose names have been floated are former public defenders: Tom Allen, Howard Brookins, Larry Sufferdin, Mike Quigley. Peraica must be licking his chops over the embarrassment of riches his opposition research with uncover. Even he has a chance of beating one of this crew.
The Dems better nominate someone with prosecutorial experience like Dart, or Devine’s assistants Milan or Avalerez. Otherwise they run the risk of losing this office.
The big question is who will Daley back?
Comment by R.A. Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 12:22 pm
Peraica is in for a healthy dose of reality. It’s fair to expect the Dems will field a candidate this time who will fight back (and he may well have a primary challenger too). The bully won’t have someone like Todd Stroger to beat around this time. And the press isn’t going to be Peraica’s friend this time either.
Making Peraica the chief law enforcement officer of Cook County is one of the worst ideas of all time. Think Cook County can’t get any worse? Wrong. It can.
Comment by can't wait Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 1:01 pm
I’m obviously a dem, but will consider crossing over in some limited circumstances. Peraica’s march on the Board of Elections on election night permanently puts him on my “do not vote for” list.
Comment by Objective Dem Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 1:19 pm
Peraica is the only guy who even trys. He’s the best thing going at the moment.
Comment by Bill Baar Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 1:39 pm
I think it would be fun to have Peraica looming over Daley’s shoulder, but that’s not going to happen. Brookins barely won his own ward so his support won’t be deep. I’m not sure Suffredin can win without Daley’s backing. I’d bet on Dart.
Comment by Independent Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 1:47 pm
Dart is young and in the beginning stages of his career. He should go for AG. Don’t know that Suffredin needs RMD’s backing as long as he has Brother John on his side.
Comment by jaundiced eye Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 1:56 pm
1. Funniest thing about Tony’s march to the county election headquarters that night is at first they marched NORTH from the InterContinental on Michigan Avenue, and had to turn around en masse.
2. Regarding a first assistant, what about Andre Zopp? I think she’s at Sears or Motorola or something. What’s her politics?
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 2:18 pm
skeeter,
You may not be able to BE state’s attorney by bashing cops, but you may be able to WIN the state attorney’s office by bashing cops. There’s a lot of anger in a lot of neighborhoods about the police right now. Some of them are just shy of exploding into open warfare with the police, and no one wins in that scenario. When the police are more feared and hated than the thugs, no one wins except the thugs.
Comment by cermak_rd Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 2:24 pm
Speaking of John Daley - I eard at his golf outing yesterday he introduced another possible candidate that nobody has mentioned. Sheriff Sheahan’s oldest son “TJ” Sheahan. Apparently he was a former Prosecutor, lives in Evanston and is close with Larry Suffredin.
Comment by No nickname Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 2:24 pm
But jaundiced eye is John going to endorse a candidate without Rich’s blessing?
Comment by Independent Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 2:32 pm
Cermak –
Let’s be honest here.
The police are hated in some neigbhorhoods because the residents are thugs who hate police. When the parents are gangbangers, it is no wonder that kids grow up hating cops.
The fact that people are outraged because the cops shoot convicted drug dealers who point guns at them is outrageous.
If that is the electorate, then we have greater problems that I thought.
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 2:43 pm
I really hope Sheahan’s son stays out. I have no clue about him but I’m really sick of the multi-generational politicians. How about a multi-generational term limits law? Children, step-children, and grandchildren will be banned from ever holding office or for that matter working in a governmental unit that their relative worked in. They can move out of state if they want to enter politics.
Comment by Objective Dem Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 2:48 pm
The police are hated in some neigbhorhoods because the residents are thugs who hate police.
That’s gotta be a real vote getter for Democrats.
Comment by Bill Baar Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 2:56 pm
I share your frustration, Objective Dem, on multi-generational politicians. But as much as we complain about it, THEY KEEP WINNING. Voters in Cook County, (and all of Illinois for that matter,) seem to go for brand names. If Todd Stroger and Dan Lipinski can get elected based on name identification, then anyone can.
Comment by hal Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 3:03 pm
Sure it is, Bill.
You see, most Democrats don’t like gangbanger and most Democrats appreciate the work of the POs.
Democrats don’t like crime. We are funny that way.
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 3:06 pm
Skeeter, I gotta go with cermak on this one, there is more reason for folks to dislike/distrust the cops than the stereotypical situation you describe. Bad laws (alcohol/marijuana/seat belts), unconstitutional authority (”safety checkpoints” are a clear violation of the 4th Amendment), and cop mustaches all tend to rile up the electorate. I think you could get a lot of votes by bashing cops.
Comment by Gene Parmesan Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 3:07 pm
Nothing personal, Gene, but the people who think like you are right wing Republicans who never in a million years would vote for an African American Chicago alderman for State’s Attorney.
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 3:13 pm
Actually those are Libertarian positions that have nothing to do with the Republican party, except maybe the mustaches.
Comment by Gene Parmesan Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 3:17 pm
Anita Alvarez might be a smart choice - she’s not Irish but she is sharp, knows the office inside & out & should she win the Dem primary, would cruise.
Comment by paddyrollingstone Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 3:22 pm
Not For Nothing, but one woudl think that one who wishes to run for the Highest Law Enforcement office in the land would follow the County Ethics Ordinance
I mean having your Campaign Announcement at 118 N. Clark, what, couldn’t you afford a hotel?
Section 2.12 - Prohibitions on Political Activity
Performance of Political Activity by County Employees
• County employees shall not engage in political activity during any compensated time (other than
vacation, personal, or compensatory time off) and shall not use County property or resources
for political activities for the benefit of any candidate or political organization.
Please see the last line
Comment by I'm Just wondering here? Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 3:37 pm
I heard word that Mike Noonan is consulting for Brookin’s in the State’s Attorney race. Can anyone confirm?
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 3:38 pm
Peraica is publicly viewed as a bit of a nut, but honest and trying to gain reform. Whether any of those views are justified can be debated. Plus he has strong name recognition.
He will be a stronger candidate than many of you think.
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 3:49 pm
A Refomrer would know it’s against the law to hold a campaign announcement at a Governmental facility
Comment by Reformer My Arse Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 3:58 pm
A Refomrer would know it’s against the law to hold a campaign announcement at a Governmental facility
Like Durbin’s YouTube video for kos?
Comment by Bill Baar Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 4:11 pm
Big Difference btwn using a Senate Seal and having your announcment at the County Building
Comment by I'm Just wondering here? Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 4:16 pm
Let me get this right, Baar:
1. According to the GOP, Durbin is a crook;
2. The GOP candidate for State’s Attorney does the same thing that you believe a crook has done;
3. Because a Sen. Durbin also did something you don’t like, you find it acceptable for a Republican candidate for State’s Attorney to do something illegal?
Is that really your logic Baar?
Do you spend a lot of time wondering why the Cook County GOP gets no votes?
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 4:23 pm
Does it matter that he held the announcement in the hallway, and not his office?
Comment by Gene Parmesan Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 4:34 pm
Yes, County Security, Air, Light and the space it self
if he was to have it the Allergo, it would cost him $1K, he was too cheap and had it there
NO-NO
Comment by I'm Just wondering here? Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 4:35 pm
Larry Rogers, Jr. is another strong African-American possibility. Successful personal injury attorney who works for Joe Power and he also sits on the Cook County Board of Review.
Comment by gulag Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 4:36 pm
How about Tim Evans or A.C. Cunningham? Both are highly respected African American judges. Either would a fine job as SA.
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 4:41 pm
Gulag, Larry would have a tough time explaining some of the things he has presided over at the Board of Review. He may be the only one Peraica could actually beat. But Larry would probably get a ton of backing from Jesse Jr. too.
Comment by gemma Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 4:47 pm
Independent, I don’t know if John Daley has to get Richie’s okay to back someone any more than Bill had to in order to write the Trib op ed piece cautioning Rod on his behavior recently. “Okay” may be a strong word; I’m sure there are agreed-upon opinions among the brothers although they may be unspoken or unknown to the public. And there is a difference between endorsing and backing a candidate. No need to publicly do the former when you can provide the footsoldiers to produce the numbers on election day.
Comment by jaundiced eye Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 5:26 pm
What about Art Hill? he’s a judge, former ASA.
Comment by amy Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 6:16 pm
Mike Noonan is consulting for Howard Brookins in the State’s Attorneys office. That could be the kiss of death. The HDO link and Todd Stroger.
Comment by Victor Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 11:31 pm
TJ Sheehan would be a good candidate for Sheriff or States Attorney.
He is the attorney for good police officers like Jon Burge who know how to put criminals in line.
If your loved ones were hurt or killed you would want Burge torturing a confession too.
TJ Sheehan has lead the defense of persecuted police officers like convited felon William Pedersen.
If John Daley is pushing Sheehan than he can definitely win.
Comment by James Tuesday, Aug 14, 07 @ 11:33 pm