Firing squad?
Tuesday, Jun 17, 2008 - Posted by Rich Miller
* There have been those who claim that the media is not overreacting to Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s numerous screw-ups. I’ve disagreed, and this lede from a Daily Herald story about last night’s visit to Palatine by Stroger helps prove my point…
Cook County Board President Todd Stroger faced the firing squad Monday in Palatine.
Yeah, that’ll promote sane debate.
If somebody wrote a comment like that here I might call the cops.
* Now, there is no denying that Stroger is a screw-up. And there’s no denying that his tax hike will cause pain. But some of this rhetoric is just goofy…
“No taxation without representation,” said Nancy Golemba. “I don’t feel Cook County represents me. It represents Chicago.”
Whether you “feel” you’re being represented or not, you are. The handful of partisan leftist Democats who talked about emigrating to Canada after George W. Bush was reelected felt the same way as Ms. Golemba. But they were wrong and so is she.
* They’re also being played…
State Rep. Suzie Bassi and State Sen. Matt Murphy walked away encouraged their proposed bill that would make it easier for municipalities to secede from the county gained momentum after Stroger said he wouldn’t oppose secession because it’s a local issue.
Yeah, that’ll happen. Sen. Murphy, who’s an able freshman legislator, is a Tier One target this year. He’s using this issue to get back to Springfield so he can reintroduce legislation that won’t go anywhere.
* Stroger, for his part, was apparently calm and cool in the face of the local “firing squad”…
Stroger, who remained unflappable, said “people don’t trust politicians . . . and that’s they way this job works.”
He also said people near a county or state line sometimes get pinched by a sales tax increase.
“To be honest with you, that’s part of being in a large government,” he said. “There are going to be areas that are harder hit than others.”
* But, as I’ve said many times before, he brings much of this scorn on himself…
On nepotism in hiring practices:
“It’s simply not true,” he said, taking shots at media coverage criticizing him for giving friends and family members jobs.
His cousin, Donna Dunnings, the county’s chief financial officer, was among those in attendance. And he cited Carmen Triche-Colvin, wife of Stroger’s friend, state Rep. Mario Colvin.
“These are two highly qualified women who I’m proud to have serve in my administration,” Stroger said, adding they look out for his best interests, which coincide with Cook County’s best interests.
But when Stroger introduced Dr. Steven Martin, chief operating officer for the department of public health, he didn’t mention Martin is his brother-in-law.
Good grief.
Anyway, try not to let your anger carry you away in comments. Hostile “drive-by” comments will, as always, be deleted.
- ChiCountryGuy - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:01 am:
“If somebody wrote a comment like that here I might call the cops.”
And say what?
- Anon 4:08pm - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:03 am:
Dr. Martin may have a family connection, but he got the job under John Stroger and by all indications is well qualified and doing a good job.
- AH - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:05 am:
I think it’s pretty clear that Murphy is pandering or at least trying to benefit from the Cook County Board ire that is somewhat prevalent in his Senate district.
Maybe some of these “cut and run” Republicans should get organized and try to change the county. I already have a great candidate in mind for the county board: Matt Murphy.
- BandCamp - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:08 am:
If he’d just say it for what it is, maybe it wouldn’t be such an issue.
“Yeah, I’m Cook Country Board President, and because of that I pull strings for others. You wanna my job? You wanna hire your friends/family? Then take my job.”
Right/Wrong…it’s be going on for centuries. Deal with it. If I had an inside track to Stroger, I’d take a job if I could…and so would you. I know this is bombshell, but it happens in private companies as well.
I know…”Oh my god! Really???”
- Steve - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:09 am:
Because towns and counties are a creation of state government in Illinois:the notion that Palatine could convince the state legislature to secede from Cook County is virtually zero.So,what can disgruntled suburban taxpayers do? 1)As suburbanites become almost a majority of Cook County,over time,try and move the county building outside Chicago.2)Promote state referendums that limit politicians from raising taxes.3)Encourage talk about Chapter 9 style bankruptcy like Vallejo ,CA.4)Move to limit county workers to from retiring before the age of 65.5)Encourage the SEC to look at the Cook County pension system which is probably not on the up and up.6)Encourage county land sales which raise revenue and put land on the tax rolls.
The Chapter 9 bankruptcy is the most viable in the long run and will have the best results.A federal bankruptcy judge can gut pensions and cut county workers wages.Taxpayers can’t really overcome country workers who vote and contribute to politicians who overpay them.Over time, taxpayers will realize being ruled by a federal bankruptcy judge is a better deal than being ruled John Daley and Todd Stroger.
- Anon - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:12 am:
That’s a great typo by the DH. All hail Mario!
- Rob_N - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:20 am:
Hope this isn’t considered a drive-by because it’s a valid point that I haven’t heard many talking about.
Ms. Golemba says, “I don’t feel Cook County represents me. It represents Chicago.”
I read that quote this morning and the first thing I thought of was that she ought to take it up with her County Board Commissioner. Then I realized who that person is — Gregg “Gone, Gone, Gone” Goslin.
Sen. Murphy may (or may not) be using this issue for his own personal political gain but at least he’s talking about it, present and accounted for.
Even Goslin’s own site’s “Recently in the News” lists stuff from 2006 as being “recent”.
While Stroger certainly ought to take responsibility for his actions and proposals as president, Palatine’s own commissioner ought to be front and center in working with his constituents — yet he’s gone, gone, gone. (Before anyone gets nitpicky, Cmr. Goslin also represents Inverness, where Ms. Golemba lives.)
- Rob_N - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:23 am:
Steve writes, “2)Promote state referendums that limit politicians from raising taxes.”
Sen. Dan Kotowski has just such legislation in Springfield. His 33rd district (all in Cook) neighbors Matt Murphy’s 27th.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:25 am:
Colvin is an Italian? Huh.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:28 am:
Violent imagery in political reporting is the crutch of hacks.
I would like to see the verb “lash” retired from political reporting. In the national press, you can read half a dozen reports a day where someone has “lashed out,” when in fact they may just be disagreeing.
Unless you’re quoting Indiana Jones or some dominatrix, leave the lash alone.
- PhilCollins - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 10:40 am:
When Stroger ran, in 2006, he promised to decrease salaries. According to a Mar. 2, 2008, article, in the Sun-Times, “Fed-up taxpayers don’t trust Stroger,” he hired his childhood friend, Gene Mullins, to be his p.r. chief, at a possible salary of $105,059.” That article later states, “He hired his cousin, Donna Dunnings, to be chief financial officer, at $142,820. He hired a personal friend, Kim David Gilmore, to be director of human resources, at $141,725.”
- The Doc - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:03 am:
Stroger’s in a no-win situation, and frankly doesn’t seem to care. He’ll take the usual beating from the media, do a poor job of defending his decisions, but continue the legacy of mismanaged county government as long as we continue to pump coins into the slot machine.
Here’s the hypothetical rub - if a so-called reformer like Claypool gets the nod as president next term, will he actually roll back the tax increase? Pare the payroll? Streamline and enhance services?
- fedup dem - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:03 am:
From what a saw on last night’s newscasts, the people of Palatine wimped out. at the very least, they should have had 500 people there, not a mere 150, and they should have been chanting the names of every one of Toddler’s family members and friends in the high-paying, cushy job.
- Cassandra - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:06 am:
Wealthy liberal Democrats and other elites allegedly concerned with government for and by the people supported our Blago as a reformer who would sweep out the corruption engendered by lengthy Republican state rule. So perhaps we can be forgiven for voting for him once, as the anti-Ryan. Twice, I’m not so sure about. But anyway, we know how that turned out.
Stroger…we knew there was a problem and we knew we couldn’t trust the IPO-type elites who were supporting him. We knew his career to that point had been, well, mediocre. We knew we were being manipulated. But he won anyway. There is absolutely no way we can excuse ourselves for
(surprise) the even more massive waste and patronage in the County govt.
My prediction: Stroger runs again and wins. He’ll be in office for decades.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:07 am:
Cassandra, is it possible for you to post a comment without resorting to extreme hyperbole?
- Macbeth - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:09 am:
+++
My prediction: Stroger runs again and wins. He’ll be in office for decades.
+++
Ditto Blagojevich.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:11 am:
You’re both dreaming. Decades? Please.
- Lash bashing - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:13 am:
How about the term “voter backlash”. . does that go out the door with “lashed out”?
- Cassandra - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:19 am:
Well, he is young.
And look at the Mayor. He’s clearly planning to be here in 2016, at least. We do have longevity examples here in Cook County. We seem to like to put people in office and keep them there. Familiarity trumps all.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:24 am:
I’m generally in favor of voter backlash, so use of the noun in describing an actual event is acceptable to me.
- Steve - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:28 am:
Cassandra’s predictions on Stroger’s ability to be in power for decades isn’t so far fetched.Cook County residents don’t seem to mind the highest taxes in the nation.Or corruption.Hopefully,Fitzgerald’s office will realize that Cook County government is a racketeering enterprise from top to bottom.We encourage Mr. Fitzgerald office to look at the voter registration of all county workers and where they reside.It’s hard to believe that only Democrats want to work for county government considering the wages and benefits are far superior to the private sector.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:29 am:
Steve, I’ve seen his numbers among county Democrats. They’re horrible. Don’t project.
- Judgment Day Is On The Way - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:31 am:
The real issue isn’t about the “Exempt” positions (500) at Cook County government, it’s about the 26,500 or so “Non Exempt” positions at Cook County government which have been filled with political hires in violation of the Federal Consent Decree. Been going on for a long, long time.
That’s the real issue, and the feds have been gathering evidence, and eventually it will come to the forefront. Takes a while, and Todd Stroger may not be one of the names, because he’s a fairly recent addition to Cook County government. Other’s will be, though.
Btw, both Donna Dunnings (CFO) and Kim David Gilmore (Director, Human Resources) are both extremely competent at their positions, but are also employed as “Exempt” employees, who’s positions can be hired and fired at the option of the Cook County Board President. They really aren’t the issue, here (and honestly, their particular salaries for their specific jobs are probably a little bit low). Not sure I’d say that about some of the other hires.
But the Feds are digging, and have been for a while. Takes time, but once this gets rolling, methinks it could easily be bigger than City of Chicago.
Pay attention to the Siemens/Cook County Hospital for an example of the issues at stake here. Link is: http://hcrenewal.blogspot.
com/2006/01/alleged-bribe
ry-and-procurement-fraud.html
- Steve - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:32 am:
Rich:
What numbers? project?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:33 am:
Internal numbers. Very bad.
- Steve - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:46 am:
Rich:
Rich:
Stroger’s internal numbers weren’t that good going into his last election against Republican Tony Peraica.He still won.A huge percentage of Cook County residents will always vote Democratic,no matter what.Rich,could you give us some current polling numbers on Stroger?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:47 am:
I can’t because it was embargoed. But they’re horrible, and just as bad among Democrats.
- voter - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:56 am:
AH- you would complain if Matt Murphy said nothing- don’t kid yourself. I overheard many people complain that Goslin sat in the upper level and said nothing. At least Murphy represents the people who PUT HIM THERE. It is easy for others to accuse the elected of grandstanding on hot issues for political gain.
Stop over alyzing their intent and use your greatest power- STOP VOTING FOR SELF SERVING FAMILY CONNECTED DEMS and vote for the fiscally conservative to protect your hard earned northwest suburban dime.
- Steve - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:56 am:
Rich:
I have talked to a number Democrats who might not like Stroger but still support him at the ballot box.Yes,I realize this isn’t a large empirical sample.But,they are thinking about their pay raise or their pension which Stroger is a strong defender of.Tony Peraica is going to find he’s no more successful running for States Attorney than Cook County President.Cook County residents don’t believe in change,term limits, or the separation of powers,but the zealous advocacy of the status quo.
- Independent - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:56 am:
Stroger’s path back in is similar to Blago’s. Hope the primaries are littered with candidates splitting the “reform” vote and then beat the hapless Republican in the general.
Stroger is clueless but he’s essentially a symptom of the real problem on the Fifth Floor of City Hall.
- Bill - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:58 am:
Rod and Todd both in office for decades…
YESSSSS! I’ll drink to that!
- Captain America - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 12:33 pm:
Rod’s political career in over in 2010 no matter what happens legally. Stroger could hang on for another term, but I doubt it. Todd’s probably the only candidate who could lose against Rod next time around.
- Levois - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 12:54 pm:
This is a mess. I wish the people of Palatine and northwest cook county luck in leaving Cook. I just wish I could have some faith that voters in Cook might decide that it’s time to make a change. Stroger may be unpopular but it would have to take something I don’t know if it’s a serious crisis or a better candidate to change nepotisim in cook.
- AH - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 2:20 pm:
Voter, that’s a pretty sad endorsement of political grandstanding.
It’s a great thing that these kind of “patriots” (weak-kneed suburban Republicans) weren’t calling the shots at Valley Forge or we’d be having tea time right about now.
- Voter - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 2:40 pm:
AH- Were you even there last night or do you choose to remain a voter who only believes what he reads in print? There are those of us who seek knowledge at forums such as these and then choose to vote Republican.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 3:06 pm:
Voter, enough with the capital letters and bumper sticker slogans. Chill out, please.
- Anon - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 4:55 pm:
Senator Murphy and State Rep. Basi were both pandering to the crowd blaming Stroger for everything under the sun. Want to be a hero? Roll back the state share of the sales tax ( currently 6.25%) 1% and then we won’t have the highest sales tax in the nation. At least Palatine taxpayers can sneak across county line for cheaper gas and cigarettes.
- Truth - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 6:04 pm:
Rod and Todd, both endorsed by the Chicago Sun Times. I wonder how that editorial board feels about their endorsements today? They should take this cycle off.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 6:06 pm:
Yeah, well the Tribune endorsed George Ryan, so whatareyougonnado?
- Truth - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 6:11 pm:
Well their track record is even worse than I thought. They should take the next two cycles off.
- Wisdom - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 8:00 pm:
In Cook County, and elsewhere, government and politics are businesses to Democrats–not hobbies.
And, lately, potential GOP voters have had uninteresting choices featuring a cavalcade of dilettantes and fops as candidates; depressing even more potential enthusiasm.
Many voters (Cook County especially) who naturally would gravitate to the GOP do not have the time, inclination or desire to get involved in actual, non-Quixotic political pursuits (such as succession from a county which is unrealistic, not to mention, pretty much impossible–or recall which are is ridiculous for reasons I will not addres here), due to their other family and business obligations.
To the political animal, elections are their sole obligation. Their thirst for power cannot be slaked.
I hope this observation reconciles everything on this post. LOL.
But, not really LOL, if you think about it.
- Snidely Whiplash - Tuesday, Jun 17, 08 @ 11:23 pm:
Rich, did you not author a column last year entitled, “Goon Peraica Not Fit to Run for State’s Attorney?” As I recall, that arose out of an incident in which a Lee Roupas campaign worker who used to work for Peraica had made some threatening calls to another commissioner’s office.
Not a slam on you, but on your basic argument. You guys ALL do it.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jun 18, 08 @ 7:47 am:
Yeah, I wrote it. I didn’t write the headline. And I didn’t say the man was put in front of a firing squad.