* She ran an absolutely horrible race for mayor, so I’m not sure that this threat is credible. Then again, others have bounced back from terrible races to win their next one…
Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown today criticized County Board President Todd Stroger’s leadership and said she is mulling a run for his office next year.
“We have certainly given it some thought, and we are considering all of our options in that regard,” she said, when asked at a meeting with the Chicago Tribune editorial board whether she was considering taking on Stroger. A decision, she added, will come “probably next month.”
If Brown does run, there would be at least three African-American candidates in the Democratic primary, including Stroger and Ald. Toni Preckwinkle. Forrest Claypool appears to be the only white guy interested in the primary to date, but that can always change.
I chatted a bit with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin yesterday about Paul Vallas. Nagin, who was in town on a speaking engagement, said he thought Vallas might run for governor, but then said Vallas will likely remain on the job as the city’s school superintendent for another year. That would rule out a gubernatorial bid because of the potential of a large GOP primary field. But he could still run for county board president if the field was effectively cleared for him.
Back to Ms. Brown…
Brown today also declined to address whether the county should roll back the controversial penny-on-the-dollar sales tax approved last year, even though it’s the most prominent issue of Stroger’s tenure.
“I’m not getting inside that battle,” she said.
She’ll have no choice but to get “inside that battle” if she runs.
* Meanwhile, the absence of a decision by GOP Congressman Mark Kirk about whether to run for the US Senate seat is starting to create a vacuum that some candidates may try to fill…
After 23 years of sitting on the bench, Donald Lowery is considering a new life on the Hill.
The retired judge from Golconda in southern Illinois said Tuesday he is considering a bid for U.S. Senate in 2010 as a Republican. He will make an official decision within 45 days.
“I’m watching where the economy is going and what they’re doing to help the economy, and I’m not happy with what the government is doing,” Lowery said.
Lowery, who retired two years ago, visited Bloomington last week to attend a breakfast hosted by Republicans. He also has toured southern Illinois since notifying party officials in March.
* And Illinois Issues takes a look at the upcoming census…
The Land of Lincoln likely will lose a U.S. House seat after next year’s census, according to a December analysis by the Washington, D.C.,-area firm Election Data Services. But Illinois would have plenty of company in the Midwest. Also expected to lose a House seat are Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Missouri. Ohio could lose two.
Other industrialized states in the Northeast — Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania — also likely will forfeit a seat.
Many of the states expected to make gains in the next census are the same ones hit hardest by the housing crisis that touched off the current recession. Arizona, California, Florida and Nevada far outpace the rest of the nation in foreclosure rates; all but California are expected to gain House seats. Arizona and Florida may be in line for two. Texas would by far be the biggest winner, with a projected gain of four seats. […]
Under [Kimball Brace’s] latest projections, Oregon would gain a sixth seat by just two people. California would lose a seat by 18 people.
The count is all important.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 10:50 am:
This year’s census results could mark the first time California fails to gain a House seat since 1920 and the first time it loses a House seat ever.
The census will reflect gains in Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, etc., but things aren’t all hunky-dory out there now. And it’s getting awfully dry….
- Abe Froman - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 10:51 am:
A retired judge from a county with less voters than some precincts I know of is not likely to change the dynamic of the senate race. Time remains solidly on Kirk’s side in the GOP contest (if there is one).
- Idle Speculator - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:09 am:
Re county board prez, if the regulars find a black candidate they can control, they can comfortably ditch the Toddler. Even better if it’s a woman. That will never be Preckwinkle, she doesn’t deal. So from that standpoint Brown makes sense. (While they could certainly cut a deal with Sir Forrest of Claypool, that would break the decades-old understanding wherein the mayor is white and the board president is black. That accommodation has been key to preserving peace between hacks of all races for the past quarter century.)
- Hank - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:10 am:
Puleeze
Dorothy Brown didn’t run a horrible race, she didn’t run any race. After her declaration she literally disappeared until right before the election, made a few statements and promptly lost every single ward to Daley. She may be a “friendly” candidate to keep others from entering a crowded field against Stroger.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:13 am:
Word-
Just think if IL and the rest of the Great Lakes rust-belt states start to absorb some of the thirsty population that has previously settled in the desert. Where will they go, and can we keep up with the influx? US Census says 420 million by 2050; that’s an increase of 3 Californias.
- Just Observing - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:30 am:
If Dorothy won the Cook County Board Prez race… how much would her entourage of vehicles and security expand? I’m thinking she will need at least a seven SUV motorcade wherever she goes.
- Downstater - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:44 am:
Interesting how the 3 black candidates are referred to as African-American,while the caucasian candidate is referred to as the white guy!
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:51 am:
Idle Speculator said,
“…that would break the decades-old understanding wherein the mayor is white and the board president is black.”
John Stroger served from 94 until his stroke in 06. As far as I know, he was the first African American Board President in Cook County, his son is the second. Before Stroger it was Phelan. Before Phelan it was Dunne. Before Dunne it was (I think) Olgilvie. White, white, white all the way back to Dan Ryan and beyond.
Not exactly a decades-old system, but whatever. There is no race based deal on power in Chicagoland.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 11:59 am:
Downstater, why is that so interesting?
- Rob_N - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 12:05 pm:
Kirk’s stalling on a decision is also affecting the 10th.
Bond is already in and a few others are this|close to getting in on the Dem side, but the folks on the GOP side that would like to step into a primary if Kirk decides to move are left in limbo … not able to raise Federal campaign dollars.
I don’t know know that L. Madigan and the Dems had this intent, but it’s a very interesting side effect which I’m sure the DCCC is happy about (whether or not the DSCC gets its wish w/ L. Madigan).
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 12:06 pm:
If three black candidates stay in the race, I think you could look for more “white guys” to get in. Maybe Terry O’Briem from the MWRD would take a shot in what could become a free for all?
Personally, I think that would be the best for the electorate. It would help get rid of the racial aspects and force candidates to run on issues.
- Rob_N - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 12:06 pm:
PS - Downstater, read the blog more often.
The terms African-American/black and Caucasian/white get used interchangeably.
- Idle Speculator - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 12:32 pm:
47W: Not exactly a decades-old system, but whatever.
Me: Sorry, decade and a half.
47W: There is no race based deal on power in Chicagoland.
Me: As you put it so well ‘whatever’.
- Steve - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 12:36 pm:
Dorothy Brown supported the Cook County sales tax hike. Don’t forget that.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 12:44 pm:
IS, you’re entitled to your own opinion, but not to your own facts.
- Concerned Observer - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 2:25 pm:
Judge Don! Good guy. Smart. Tough on crime. Great stories.
No chance he wins a statewide election, but hell, I’d vote for him.
- Truth - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 2:46 pm:
Did a little research and here is what I foundout about Dorothy Brown.
Dorothy Brown did not support the Cook County sales tax.
Dorothy Brown does not have an entourage even though her life has been threatened on several occasions.
Dorothy Brown is an attorney with a CPA and MBA.
If Dorothy Brown decides runs for County Board President she is unbeatable.
- Anon - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 2:52 pm:
==Texas would by far be the biggest winner, with a projected gain of four seats.==
Tell them Illinois will support a constitutional amendment allowing them to secede, in exchange for 2 of those seats. For 3, we’ll propose the amendment ourselves.
- Niles Township - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 4:56 pm:
TRUTH:
Are you Dorothy Brown or a friend? In truth, Dorothy does have a security detail and car. For the clerk! She is an elected record keeper for a position that should even be elected. She justifies her security by saying she handles criminal complaints in her records. But, c’mon, every Cook County Criminal Judge that actually sentences people to jail doesn’t get a security detail. Brown looks good on paper which is why the lakefront liberals loved her in her first election, but in reality she is a mess.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 5:06 pm:
As long as Illinois continues to flounder and lose it’s position in economic importance, it will continue to lose political power.
A pro-growth, pro-family, smaller state government is badly needed in this state. We’ve known this for a generation, yet continue to live off the gains made by previous generations in building Chicago and other Illinois cities.
Once the home to the latest and global changing business models and products, now Chicago looks to government for jobs. The City That Works, is now the City That Sits.
Illinois will continue to lose as it’s big government mentality erodes reasons for global industries and organizations to locate within it’s borders.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 5:14 pm:
VMan,in what part of Illinois, or planet, do you live? Your hostility to the city and state are not based on any facts or reality.
Where in this country is your “pro-growth, pro-family, smaller state government” that we should aspire to? Where on the planet, for that matter?
Back it up, playa, or put it away.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 5:35 pm:
VM,
The state government itself is small in comparison to other states. Lowest state employee to population ratio, etc. A case could be made for the $ value of all the outsourcing that goes on.
- Shopping at National with Politicians - Wednesday, May 27, 09 @ 8:27 pm:
Elected officials should be entitled to reasonable security details. I see your point about the judges being the ones that sentence people; however,it is usually the Clerk’s name that is stamped on the order, along with the attendant correspondence and paperwork which has the clerk’s name name pre-printed or embossed on same.
There are a lot of psychos in the world.
Where do we draw the line between “legitimate security and safety concerns” and “concierge?”
Rich–possible QTOD–I’d like to see the responses.
That said, I know that for state constitutional officers, ISP evaluates the threat level and makes recommendations based on that info.