* Sun-Times…
Todd Stroger — the former Cook County board president who was easily unseated by Toni Preckwinkle amid furor over a county sales-tax increase — told WFLD-Channel 32 on Monday morning that he plans to run against Preckwinkle in the next county board president’s race.
Stroger cited the outcry over the since-repealed penny-an-ounce soda tax that Preckwinkle pushed as a primary reason for his political comeback attempt.
“I felt vindicated when they had to bring the whole tax back,” Stroger said of the soda tax. “There’s a lot of people who are not happy with the current administration, and I think there’s a lot of people who had felt I did a good job.”
* CBS 2…
Stroger said Preckwinkle’s decision to raise sales taxes in 2015 proves he was right when he did so in 2008.
“I believe what that showed was that tax was needed. What we’ve seen in the last seven years is the budget has gone from $3.2 billion to $4.8 billion. The question is where is all that money going? Why do we need such a large increase?” he said. “I won’t be able to tell you that until I’m able to get in the books.”
Stroger also said he opposed the idea of a sweetened beverage tax when he was county board president.
“I thought it was a bad idea back then. So we’re not looking at the same race that was happening in 2010,” he said. “This isn’t 2010. This is 2017. So this is a different age.”
Video of his announcement is here. Stroger had about $111K in his campaign account at the end of the last quarter.
*** UPDATE *** From the Preckwinkle campaign…
“After inheriting a broken system as Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle closed budget deficits of more than two billion dollars, cut wasteful spending, and improved the County’s bond ratings. She remains focused on protecting essential services, reforming our criminal justice system, and strengthening access to medical care for Cook County families.”
“Cook County voters know what Toni Preckwinkle has accomplished and we are confident that she will be successful in both the Democratic primary and general election in 2018,” said Preckwinkle for President’s Political Director Scott Kastrup.
* Related…
* Cook County commissioners get behind Preckwinkle’s budget cuts
- JoanP - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:18 am:
“I think there’s a lot of people who had felt I did a good job”
“Me, myself, and I.”
- Lunchbox - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:18 am:
If two has-beens run against Toni Preckwinkle, do they make a sound? I’m setting the over/under for Fioretti and Stroger’s combined vote share at 20%– I will take the under.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:20 am:
If Tony Peraica decides to jump in, that will make my Thanksgiving Week complete.
- Montrose - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:22 am:
I think they call this “misreading the moment.”
- wordslinger - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:23 am:
Christmas comes early for Preckwinkle.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:26 am:
It’s called “Rewind, Reform”. Reject.
- Professor - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:31 am:
For Stroger this may be a different age but he is the same hapless character that performed poorly, to say the least, as County Board Chairman and was a disgrace when he was in the Illinois House.
- We'll See - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:32 am:
When Todd took (more like given) the helm of the County Board he was totally unprepared for the job. What has he done (learned) since Preckwinkle took over?
- Austinman - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:37 am:
Amazing how you all are so Anti yet he’s the only person that did 5′budgets bcz Steele didn’t do a budget she left it for Todd with one tax increase. And yes when I was out door knocking PEOPLE not poltical folks saying he should run for President.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:42 am:
Two words: food desserts.
Cupcakes for everyone!
- TopHatMonocle - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:45 am:
Are we sure Fioretti and Stroger aren’t being put up to this? They make Preckwinkle look like Abraham Lincoln in comparison and are the only two people who are sure fire losers. Also there’s probably no way Stroger makes the ballot considering filing starts next week.
- Fax Machine - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:48 am:
This is idiotic. He would have beat Preckwinkle’s candidate for the 2 year water rec term because of name recognition & people feeling bad plus the fact that he’s essentially powerless at Water Rec. However, by running for a position with actual authority people will be reminded of why he got blown out 7 years ago.
He is screwing himself out of an easy electoral win for water rec. As the saying goes, you can’t fix stupid.
- Fax Machine - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:55 am:
I also heard that Stroger is circulating not just for himself but actually has a full slate (Assessor Sheriff Clerk & Treasurer) on his sheets.
- PublicServant - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:56 am:
===What has he done (learned) since Preckwinkle took over?===
Don’t implement a Pop Tax?
- A guy - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 10:58 am:
Toni must be elated.
- Fax Machine - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 11:03 am:
Fioretti’s should be thrilled because it means that the black voters who would have voted for Preckwinkle just because it was black versus white will now split their votes between Stroger & Preckwinkle while almost none of the white & Latinos who would have gone for him just to vote against Preckwinkle will be voting for Stroger.
- Roman - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 11:03 am:
We’ll see if Todd can file 8,200 good signatures. I’m betting against it. Have my doubts about Fioretti, too.
If you set Todd’s raging incompetence aside (I know, it’s hard,) he does have a legit point about taxation and Preckwinkle’s hypocrisy. Preckwinkle beat him vowing to eliminate the “Todd Tax,” reinstated the tax after repealing it, then doubled down by enacting the new “Toni Tax” on beverages.
- Gone, but not forgotten - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 11:05 am:
Oh no — not the Toddler.
- Boone's is Back - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 11:11 am:
===We’ll see if Todd can file 8,200 good signatures.===
Yep. Took the words right out of my mouth.
- anon2 - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 11:13 am:
Todd vs. Toni would prevent a Sophie’s choice to conservative leaning primary voters.
- Ducky LaMoore - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 11:14 am:
I forgot there were people out there that make Toni Preckwinkle more palatable. Thanks, Todd, for that reminder.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 11:40 am:
I guess I’m voting for Preckwinkle then.
- Lucky Pierre - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 11:48 am:
What we’ve seen in the last seven years is the budget has gone from $3.2 billion to $4.8 billion. The question is where is all that money going? Why do we need such a large increase?”
Can Cook County Democrats defend a 33% increase on 7 years in the County Budget that is paid for by a citizenry whose incomes have stagnated because of their policies?
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:18 pm:
==Can Cook County Democrats defend a 33% increase on 7 years in the County Budget that is paid for by a citizenry whose incomes have stagnated because of their policies?==
I would think that kind of record would be impossible to defend. It would almost as hard as defending a “republican” who created $12 Billion in new debt in 3 short years and is fine with providing taxpayer-financed abortions. Now that I think of it there are one or two people that frequently comment here at Capfax who try their darndest to do just that, so maybe one of them will be able to lend their “defending-terrible-records” expertise to the cook county dems? Could be a lucrative opportunity for the right person…..
- Lucky Pierre - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:31 pm:
Lester if you want to make the case that Governor Bruce Rauner has been advocating for increasing state spending more than the Democrats make your case.
If I recall the abortion bill was proposed and passed by Democrats. Did the Governor introduce HB40 or just sign it as a political calculation?
I see him advocating for the taxpayers in regards to a fairer deal for them on labor contacts, work rules, workers comp, government consolidation, pensions, outsourcing flexibility etc.
I see the Democrats resisting every single one of these reforms because the unions have veto power over all legislation, which has led to higher government spending and the taxes that go with it.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 1:59 pm:
===If I recall the abortion bill was proposed and passed by Democrats. Did the Governor introduce HB40 or just sign it as a political calculation?===
If you say the Rauner Veto to stop the tax hike was Rauner stoppping something by choosing something only a governor can do…
Than Rauner’s signature for HB40 and the “Chicago School Bailout”, fine by Rauner’s signature, are owned by Bruce Rauner.
Can’t have it but ways.
Signatures, vetoes, they are owned by governors, the food and the bad.
- Lucky Pierre - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 2:16 pm:
Yes OW you are correct the Governor owns the veto and the Democrats in Cook County and statewide as well as a few Republicans own the spending and permanent tax increases. A number of them are not running for reelection. See a connection?
Both OWN their records and will run on them, or choose to retire.
I think the Democrats will try to distract and try to run on something else like resisting Trump or some other nonsense but voters will have their choice.
They can continue the tax and spend “blue model” policies in effect for decades or vote to reform Illinois and stop our debilitating outward migration and tax increases.
Voters will have a clear choice.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 2:24 pm:
===Yes OW you are correct the Governor owns the veto and the Democrats in Cook County and statewide as well as a few Republicans own the spending and permanent tax increases. A number of them are not running for reelection. See a connection?===
I see a connection that Rauner is the most Liberal Democrat Illinois ever elected.
Rauner signed taxpayer paid abortions, sancuary state status, if you think having no signed budgets and those vetoes also meaning…
No funding for higher education
Refusing to pay social services
No money for state agencies… what will be different in a Rauner second term.
You keep touting all these legislators leaving, then there’s no need for term limits, as you seem to point to voters having a big influence as to legislators fearing to be replaced… lol
===I think the Democrats will try to distract and try to run on something else like resisting Trump or some other nonsense but voters will have their choice.===
In a purely statewide way, Virginia statewide showed the sustain for Trump and Republicans.
The choice is turning your back on Republicans.
If you want to embrace Rauner is a Liberal Democrat socially, with no moral compass in social services, refusing to pay them, and refusing to fund higher education… with Rauner trying to passively close stste universities.
Please, make this a referendum on Rauner.
If you want that, or Rauner wants that… with Trump’s midterm…
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 2:41 pm:
So let me get this straight. Preckwinkle is historically unpopular and the best the Democratic Party can muster as opponents are Bonehead Bob and the Toddler? Was Tony Peraica unavailable?
Four more years…four more years…
- Responsa - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 3:12 pm:
This is a job that requires competence, good communications skills and ethical standards. What a bunch of horrible choices Cook County residents have in this race so far.
- Christopher - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 3:24 pm:
In the Preckwinkle campaign’s response, where they state “Cook County voters know what Toni Preckwinkle has accomplished . . . ,” oh no they don’t. She has been tarred with the soda pop tax debacle and the voters have easily forgotten any accomplishments of hers. The Preckwinkle campaign needs to remind voters what those were very clearly and repetitively.
- wordslinger - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 3:42 pm:
So where are the GOP BIg Hitters? Griff and Rauner can’t put millions behind some fancy Loop lawyers to take on Preckwlinkle or Berrios? In this environment?
If not now, then never,
Goes to show, Rauner has been attempting to build a cult of personality, not a party.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 3:52 pm:
===Lester if you want to make the case that Governor Bruce Rauner has been advocating for increasing state spending more than the Democrats make your case===
That’s my point. He has spent years advocating for lower state spending than the Dems - telling me and every other Illinois voter repeatedly that he would make this happen - and since then has proceeded to do the exact opposite! This while in a “strong executive” office with options like limiting agency spending and line-item veto power.
===Did the Governor introduce HB40 or just sign it as a political calculation?===
You’re saying he was forced to sign it into law? He couldn’t have vetoed it, or AV’d it? I mean, he doesn’t have a “social agenda” so….why not?
==advocating for the taxpayers in regards to a fairer deal for them on labor contacts, work rules, workers comp, government consolidation, pensions==
Some of us believe that there is a whole lot more to “conservatism” than just being rabidly anti-union. Things like fiscal constraint and honoring contracts should be important too.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Monday, Nov 20, 17 @ 4:01 pm:
Also, LP, I think you’ve made my point - you are by far the best at creating credible-sounding defenses at least one terrible Illinois politicians. If you’d like to help out the cook county dems with their defense of the ridiculous, I’m sure there are several of us here that would be happy to provide a reference.