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Buried way down at the end of this Tribune piece about the Cook County Board interim president battle (it was buried yesterday as well) is this little nugget.

Peraica voiced support for retiring Commissioner Carl Hansen, a fellow Republican, for the interim job, and he said Hansen needs the backing of only one more commissioner to guarantee him the needed votes. All of the Republican commissioners and three Democrats, whom he declined to name, are prepared to support Hansen, Peraica said.

I’m wondering if that means the “reformers” are on board for Hansen. Could all of the Westside vs. Southside, black Dems vs. white Dems silliness be for naught?

Meanwhile, the person who was thought to be the leading contender for interim president, Bobbie Steele, refused to answer questions about her family members on the payroll after demanding that the county be cleaned up.

Steele wouldn’t say much when asked about the relatives she has on the county payroll or receiving county contracts.

At least four of her seven children are county employees, though she wouldn’t get into specifics or say if others are being paid by the county. […]

“I’m glad they’re not at the county jail,” she said. “They are, obviously, qualified people. Wherever they work is cool with me.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 9:00 am

Comments

As Anne Burke takes her seat on the IL Supreme Court, add another dynasty to the IL political zoo. At least she appears to be qualified.

I really hope Hansen gets the nod. He is on his way out and is knowlegeable of the county board. He lost his seat because his opponent, who seems like he’d do a good job if he wins, linked him to Stroger and the corruption that is rampant at the board.

Comment by Wumpus Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 9:12 am
It would not surprise me to see multiple votes taken before someone is elected Board president to fill out Stroger’s term. To win election, a commissioner will need nine votes. If there is any delay in filling Stroger’s 4th District seat, an 8-8 dealock is possible. Also, should a third candidate enter the race (such as Board President Pro Tem Moreno), then the chances of no one having the needed nine votes initially increase.

Comment by Randall Sherman, Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 9:38 am
Does the law say majority? If there were three candidates and the vote split 7-5-4, could the one getting 7 win?

Comment by Anonymous Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 10:15 am
Tax increase hawk Hansen stands to get a significant bump in his pension — perhaps as much as $70,000 a year — if he were to serve as interim president (any of the commissioners would). Some retirement gift from Cook County taxpayers to this guardian of the public interest!! This is one of the elements that make it interesting — John Daley would likely have retired had he been named interim president, just to keep the pension bump. There is virtually no chance Hansen would get a budget passed before he left office if he were interim president, leaving the mess for the next man or woman in line, a nifty strategy on the Republican side.

Comment by Tax hawk Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 10:15 am
Hey, so what if Bobbie Steele is coconductor of the Patronage Train? Most of Steele’s 7 kids are on the county payroll, and at least 4 of them raking in over $70k a year; Jesse Jackson says she deserves the interim presidency because of her “integrity!” A race baiting extortionist certainly knows a lot about integrity, right?

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 10:43 am
Steele’s only chance at the big job is probably
to get appointed to the interim one and demonstrate that she won’t embarrass. She’s a hack, but she’s a Daley hack, so nothing would change much. Or maybe they could get a tax increase through and blame it on her, leaving the road clear, or at least clearer, for Todd or whoever black voters decide to support.

In any case….of course da Mare is going to run and of course the purpose of all this is to shore up any weaknesses in his re-election prospects. And for that, you need John Daly’s to be the real county board pres, which he is and will be if Steele or Stroger (or both) serve as president.

If Steele doesn’t get anointed for the top spot, would that push some female voters over to JBT for the gubernatorial? Blago is such a superhack and women haven’t had much of a chance to show what they can do in Illinois politics. Plus, JBT would be a clear lead-in for Lisa, whereas I suppose there is always the possibility that Blago would try to hang on as governor forevever, upsetting Lisa’s plans.

Comment by Cassandra Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 10:45 am
I was so dissappointed yesterday, seeing in the news the press conference for Bobbie Steele. I could’nt believe my ears, when I heard Commissioner Maldonado introduce Steele by saying he always makes sure to see how she voted,before he votes because he follows her lead and can’t think on his own!!!!!!
What a Hack !!!!!! What an Imbecile !!!!!
Why is this guy in any public office?
Is that the reson why Hispanics have no county contracts under Stroger and Steele, because Maldonado votes as told by Steele??
Maldonado just killed his poltical future, and he will be contested in future elections.
Hey Mr. Maldonado or Mr. Hack or “tell me how to vote Ms. Steele”Maldonado, enjoy the next four year term, because it will be your last years as an elected official!
I can imagine the campaign liture in Maldonado’s district showing him talking and stating how he votes, by doing as he is told by Bobbie Steele, and then showing him complaining why there’s no hispanic contractors,no hispanic employees and no hispanics working for his district!!!SWEET IRONY!

Comment by What a disgrace Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 11:07 am
Tax hawk-
how likely is the passage of the budget (prior to the end of this term) under Steele if she is busy campaigning?

Comment by nobody important Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 11:26 am
It would be a very nice touch to let Carl Hansen be Interim President for a few months before he departs. He has ably served the public on that Board since the McKinley Administration, and he deserves the opportunity, the recognition, and the pension bump.

For the Daleys, it eliminates the charge of reverse racism in filling the ballot with a Black in November, and keeps people from upsetting Todd’s apple cart.

Comment by Bubs Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 11:33 am
I don’t see how Hansen can get 9 votes. He could probably get thr 5 Republicans + Quigley and Claypool. Suffredin has been pushing Steele and it is highly unlikely Collins will vote against a black female Democrat for a white Republican male.

I don’t see the vote counts, unless Moreno comes on board and brings someone with him.

Ashur Odishoo
Candidate
State Representative 11th District

Comment by Ashur Odishoo Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 1:51 pm
Bobbie Steele is the perfect choice. She’s proven she can get her entire family on the county payroll, so she obviously knows how the patronage system works. That’s the number qualification for anybody wanting to be head of Cook County.

Comment by She's the One Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 5:35 pm
To be fair, I don’t think anyone knows that much about her at this point. She has offered her candidacy in the middle of a a firestorm–and on that alone–she warrants an honest look. Does she have a web page? Bio? Voting Record. Info sources anyone?

Comment by Ignatius J. Reily Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 6:31 pm
None of these morons should get the chance to serve as interim president. They’re all a bunch of cronies who have ruined Cook county. I’m a loyal democart, but if Todd Stoger is appointed I will absolutely NOT vote for him. This entire process is similar to a soap opera.

The only commissioner that even has an ethical bone is Sufredin, and he hasnt expressed any interest.

Isnt it time they found someone who wants the job for more than the pension benefits?

Comment by None of these morons Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 7:06 pm
Actually, Jerry Butler is a common sense Commissioner of integrity, perhaps best demonstrated by the fact that he seems to be the only black Commissioner NOT jockeying to be interim president.

Comment by Anonymous Saturday, Jul 8, 06 @ 8:16 am
“None of these morons - Friday, Jul 7, 06 @ 7:06 pm:

None of these morons should get the chance to serve as interim president. Theyâ€™re all a bunch of cronies who have ruined Cook county. Iâ€™m a loyal democart, but if Todd Stoger is appointed I will absolutely NOT vote for him. This entire process is similar to a soap opera.

The only commissioner that even has an ethical bone is Sufredin, and he hasnt expressed any interest.”

Uh, are you aware that Larry Suffredin is a lobbyist, and that he is a so-called reformer who is the primary force behind Bobbie “Votes Stroger’s Way Every Time” Steele for interim President? The condition of Larry’s “ethical bone” can sometimes get a bit questionable during weather changes.

Comment by Snidely Whiplash Saturday, Jul 8, 06 @ 8:22 am
“The only commissioner that even has an ethical bone is Sufredin, and he hasnt expressed any interest.”

Perhaps the ethical Commissioer Suffredin could explain why as a lobbyist for real estate developers he has blocked the demolition of the white elephant Cook County hopsital which has cost the taxpayers over $3 million to date to heat and light an unused building.

Also, as an ethical “reformer” perhaps he would like to explain his inaction and lack of interest in cutting the budget by streamlining and eliminationg duplication in Cook County government. In many ways the Commissioner acts like a lady of negotiable birtue rather than a “reformer”

Comment by Patrick C. Kansoer Saturday, Jul 8, 06 @ 9:25 am
So asthe Tribune documented in their timeline in Sunday’s editorial section, the date for third party candidates passed on June 26 and the decsion to take Stroger off the ballot and have his son replace him was “made” or should I say announced on June 27 or 28th. I am not sure if I should feel sorry for Mr. Stroger. He is most likely in no condition to be in charge of cook county board and is being taken advantage of. But it is his own son/friend (Beavers) and party who is doing it. The last defenders a man should have is his family. He raised his son, picked his allies, so part of me is thinking this is what he deserves.

Comment by Wumpus aka Todd Jong Il Sunday, Jul 9, 06 @ 10:56 am
I have a novel idea. Make Tony Peraica the interim board president. This is the only way he’d ever become board president and it would be a nice send off for when he loses his 16th District seat to an unknown in November.

Comment by Chick McGann Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 9:03 am
What happens if Peracia wins the Prez spot, but loses his 16th spot?

Comment by Rico Shakman aka Wumpus Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 9:10 am