45 Comments - Northshore Sox Fan - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:30 pm: I’m interested to see what other candidates will jump in this race. Does Forest Claypool expect the others to clear the field for him? What about a Tom Dart, Anita Alvarez (maybe too soon for her), Larry Suffreden, etc. I also read Paul Vallas is considering this. That would make things interesting! - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:33 pm: ===I also read Paul Vallas is considering this.=== Vallas said he’s not running for anything in 2010. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:38 pm: Preckwinkle would be an unmitigated disaster. She may be the single most arrogant person in local Chicago politics today. And that’s saying something. Even, gulp, Quigley would be preferable. - Macoupin County Kid - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:40 pm: “Preckwinkle would be an unmitigated disaster. She may be the single most arrogant person in local Chicago politics today.” That would make her a shoe-in…. - The Doc - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:44 pm: Alvarez just began her tenure as Cook Co. State’s Attorney, so she’s out. Suffredin caught a lot of heat for casting the decisive vote for the sales tax increase, so he’s probably out. Claypool seems destined to run, although I’m interested to see how that will play out when Quigley presumably doesn’t win the 5th CD race. Claypool says the right things, but he’s a ex-Daley aide, and that alone gives me pause. - HPK - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:50 pm: As a resident of the 4th Ward, I couldn’t be happier that Toni is stepping up to the plate. Her no-nonsense approach and independent, progressive politics is exactly what Cook County needs now. - Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 2:50 pm: Easy thing to post Forrest…er, I mean “Anon”. Who cares about Metro 2020? The big question is, what will the Chicago Federation of Labor do? Labor carried Stroger, in large part because they HATE Claypool. But they LOVE Preckwinkle, atleast over at SEIU. As the CFL goes, so goes this election. - Ron Burgundy - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:04 pm: That’s ok, Tony Peraica will save us all! (Yes, I’m kidding.) - SweetLou - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:22 pm: If the only viable options are Stroger, Claypool or Prekwinkle, Toni’s got the CFL in the bag. - Cynic - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:22 pm: I like Preckwinkle, but I like Claypool more. In either case, Todd has to go. - Skeeter - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:25 pm: I think the “split the black vote” comment is interesting. This assumption of racial politics may not apply to this race. As somebody who believes in “anybody but Todd”, I am more concerned that Toni and Forrest would split the “anyone not named Stroger” vote. - Phineas J. Whoopee - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:26 pm: How about this scoop? Watch for Terry O’Brien to make a run at Board Pres. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:28 pm: If Preckwinkle wins (and she certainly could be the most appealing candidate to the most county voters), that would set up a pretty interesting relationship between her and Daley. - bored now - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:34 pm: what about tom dart? seems like he’s been positioning himself to run, as well… - Fresh Face - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 3:58 pm: What about Clerk of the Circuit Court Dorothy Brown. She has a MBA, JD and she is a CPA and eight years as a County Elected Officail. - chimack - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:01 pm: I was hoping Precwinkle would take on Mayor Daley. All it takes is the AA vote to come out for her plus the Lakefront Liberals and she would win. She knows how the City works, has stood up to Daley in an intelligent manner on important issues. And then Quigley could run against Stroger. And Claypool stays where he is cause he is really just a Daley tool. - Northshore Sox Fan - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:02 pm: Rich, Barack also said he wasn’t running for President in 2008. Politicians can change their mind - can’t they? (Although Vallas needs to run now or stop having the papers write about it) - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:04 pm: Northshore, the papers have stopped writing about it. When was the last time you saw Vallas mentioned as a probable candidate? - Red Ranger - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:13 pm: I remember when the Secret Service announced they were closing off the streets around the Obama house while he was still a candidate for President. Ald. Preckwinkle was interviewed about the Obama effect on the neigherborhood in general, and I remember being stunned when she told the reporter she was not aware of the announcement, and that if the Secret Service was going to do it, they should run it through her. I dont know if it was arrogance or ignorance that made her say such a thing, I just remember being stunned that she thought she could tell the Secret Service what to do. - Thomas Westgard - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:15 pm: Can we get Preckwinkle and Claypool to join forces somehow? - Anonymous ZZZ - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:15 pm: Fresh face - she also has a habit of accepting (perhaps seeking?) campaign contributions from employees. I would definitely not want to see Dorothy Brown as President. - rbd - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:32 pm: Toni was my Alderman for 7 years. She has an over-abundance of arrogance in her belief that the Alderman is in charge of everything in the Ward - including when stores have special events. I sat in front of her on the bus once listening to her have a snit because Borders had not gotten her OK on when they would have their grand opening events, etc. She said she expected them to clear everything through her. I also have been in public events when she refused to recognize any questions from white constituents. It was so blatant that jaws of all colors were dropping. She can come off as a very distinguished person but she can also appear to be just another Aldermanic hack. While she may have spoken out against Daley, she’s not succeeded in making any differences. Claypool at least ran for office against Daley’s endorsement. - Just Observing - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:37 pm: Terry O’Brien doesn’t have the name ID. Anyways, why would he want to leave a powerful, cushy job position at the MWRD for a huge headache? - rbd - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:49 pm: Just Obs - The MWRD race (or at least the primary) is more a lottery than an election. The voters don’t know any of the people on the long list. Votes get cast based on characteristics gleamed from the names. O’Brien has said that he has gotten elected before by virtue of being the only Irish name on the list. So maybe a real elected job appeals to O’Brien. Certainly it is one with much more status. - Skeeter - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 4:53 pm: FreshFace: Are you referring to “The Honorable Dorothy Brown.” Nothing like hearing her staffers repeatedly refer to her as “The Honorable” when talking about her for 20 minutes, when the staffer should have be talking for two minutes. There is an interesting arrogance to her which would not play well if people cared about a race she was running. - Northshore Sox Fan - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 5:12 pm: Rich, I saw him as a candidate the last time anybody ever talked about this race. Sneed wrote about it on Nov. 28th. - Levois - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 5:46 pm: I had no idea about Preckwinkle bein arrogant. That being said I want to see credible challengers to Stroger. I wonder what might happen to the hog with the big nuts! - Cynic - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 5:47 pm: Fresh Face — Dorothy Brown may have initials after her name, but she’s an intellectual lightweight. - Amy - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 5:59 pm: word from greek land is that Vallas is running. if it’s Stroger vs. Vallas i’d gulp and pull republican. hope the Vallas notion is not true. what are Preckwinkle’s qualifications? can anyone possibly imagine her running County government and making real changes? cause she is wordynerdywonky and such a sourpuss in work. Terry O’Brien is very interesting. Isn’t that from the O’Connor branch of politics even though O’Brien is from the 50th? he’s certainly no reformer (the real reformer in the race is Claypool, if he’s in) but he would be a power. - IrishPirate - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 6:07 pm: If you think Dorothy Brown is a great candidate then watch this Fox32 investigative report. She has a driver who is listed as a systems analyst and she complains about her $105,000 salary. She looks foolish in this interview. Between that and “the honorable” crap I can’t see her as a serious candidate for any higher office. Of course most candidates or office holders don’t seem very serious to me. - Rocketman - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 6:31 pm: Both Preckwinkle and Brown act as if they have been crowned Queens of the Universe rather than alderperson and Court Clerk. Their downright arrogance is exceeded only by their lack of engagement in their positions. Suffredin could actually do a good job but has an uphill battle due to his vote on the sales tax increase. Tom Dart could do it but I think he is looking statewide (perhaps AG if Lisa moves). Alvarez really wants to be SA and she will be a good one judging from the team she’s assembled. Teery O’Brien has no name recognition but could do a good job. Quigley will be impecunious due to his inevitable loss in the 5th CD race. Looks like Claypool may have a good chance. The theme will be anyone but Urkel. - Anon - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 8:28 pm: Fresh Face- Did you see her run for mayor? she would get killed in a run for President. In fact that comment was so stupid i think Fresh Face is Dorothy. - Randolph Jackson - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 9:32 pm: >if it’s Stroger vs. Vallas i’d gulp and pull republican I’m not so sure. What is Vallas’ REPUBLICAN position on abortions at Cook County Hospital? This is why I gulp and pulled Stroger’s lever instead of Periaca’s. The thought of restricting funding for that makes my skin crawl. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 10:51 pm: –Can we get Preckwinkle and Claypool to join forces somehow?– I think they just did. Do the math. “Toni Loves Forrest,” a low-budget remake of the 2002 classic, ” When Burris Met Blago,” Anybody out there want to loan a million bucks that will never be repaid? - blackdem - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:23 pm: If anyone really pays attention Stroger is not as bad as people make him out to be. What gives Preckwinkle or Dart or Vallas the credibility to run a 3 billion dollar government? They would go through the same growing pains as Stroger. While our Mayor is selling off the city, raising fees to keep us out downtown Stroger at least has a balanced budget. He has also appointed inspector geneneral and created a hospital board . In the 3 budgets he has been a part of he has not raised taxes but once for a penny. Asa black male I would like to say that we need to keep some type of voice in government and we do control a major part of this decision. Preckwinkle foes not have that base. You go Todd - blackdem - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:25 pm: Levois…You write for the Sixth Ward Blog and the Alderman is a Stroger supporter ..I thought you would understand what is going on. - blackdem - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:26 pm: and you Thomas Westgard post my comments on your blog stop whimping out - blackdem - Tuesday, Jan 13, 09 @ 11:30 pm: Rich…Sorry for so many post but I have a few things to say. When did Claypool become a reformer? When you are Daley’s Chief of Staff for 2 terms until you leave you wife and he moves you out..just how does that happen. I heard that he is not on any County committess is that true anyone? - Don Smith - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 8:47 am: BackDem Claypool became a reformer when Mayor Daley backed Ted Lechowicz for the Commissioner seat. Daley also backed John Stroger in 2006. Let’s go back a little farther. He was Deputy State Treasurer under Pat Quinn and was intrumental in Harold Washington’s run for mayor. He is not on any committees because Stroger didn’t put him on any. Prior to 2006 Forrest chaired a number of committees and alas he used those committees to publically challenge John Stroger. Paul Vallas was Mayor Daley’s Budget Director for Mayor Daley when hired trucks was put into place. I wonder why John Kass never brings that up? Dart, Preckwinkle, Pappas are all nice people, but Claypool is the top candidate. It is clear Stroger is beyond incompetent. It is also clear that the things Claypool was saying back in 2006 were true. Blagojevich and Stroger have been disasters. Claypool is the best candidate period. - Zora - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 8:51 am: Wow, the operatives are out early for their candidates. Hope they get to substance soon. - Don Smith - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 8:51 am: To Yellow Dog, SEIU hates Claypool. SEIU also is Blagojevich’s enabler. I do recall that during the 2006 budget battle with Todd Stroger it was Clayool protecting SEIU workers, not Stroger. As typical, people presume things, but Claypool is not anti-union. If SEIU were smart, they would take a good look at Claypool and not summarily arrogantly dismiss him. That’s stupid politics. - James the Intolerant - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 9:07 am: Preckwinkle may have spoken against the mayor, but I believe she voted to invest $85M in taxpayer money to buy the hospital for the Olympic Village (and don’t worry if we don’t get the Olympics, in this real estate environment we can’t lose on this investment), voted for guaranteeing another $500M to the Olympics (but don’t worry, we won’t need the money), and voted for the parking meter lease where the city will use 40% of the proceeds during the first 4 years of the lease. I know she is just one vote, but I don’t have any interest in seeing ANY alderman move to higher office. - Amy - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 9:38 am: blackdems comments about Claypool are very personal, also, they don’t seem correct re timing and his divorce. correct matters. - ANON - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 11:19 am: Red Ranger Ald. Preckwinkle lives a block from President-elect Obama’s house so i think they should have informed her seeing as it was her street the secret service blocked off! All we should be talking about is any candidate competent for the job of president? Ald. preckwinkle is one of the longest serving Alderman and is qualified period! - Tutti - Wednesday, Jan 14, 09 @ 3:09 pm: Claypool was a puppet for Daley, Brown got clobbered by Daley, Preckwinkle stood up to Daley. Do I need to say more Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.