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* I was talking to Paul Green yesterday about my speech to the City Club of Chicago next month (we’re gonna use this as a charitable opportunity - more details later) and he told me that Todd Stroger was speaking in his class. We both wondered if Stroger would make any sort of announcements.
He didn’t disappoint. Stroger will be running for the county board…
“I’ve had almost four years to kind of relax and think about things, and I think it’s time to get back in,” said Stroger after the paid speaking engagement.
The announcement is not a surprise. Beavers’ seat on the County Board was still warm when Stroger began reaching out to Democratic committeeman in March in hopes they would appoint him to fill the vacant position. The seat ultimately went to Stanley Moore.
Stroger said he will maintain his job as an insurance salesman during his upcoming campaign.
The nonchalant announcement came several minutes after he told the college class how much he disliked being County Board president. “It was four years of just hell. I was fighting all the time, the newspapers were just crucifying me,” he said.
He most definitely was not a good county board president. But he wasn’t a bad alderman at all. He was a classic “Peter Principle” case.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:30 am
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He was in way over his skis during his tenure as County Board President. Considering the beating he took from just about everyone I am shocked he’s running for anything again.
Comment by Stones Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:38 am
It’s a good gig. After four years, I imagine the federales have closed the books on the Stroger administration.
Comment by wordslinger Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:39 am
I don’t know how much impact Gene Mullins or Carla Ogelsby will have running in that particular district, but those scandals under his administration sure give him a low ceiling for Act II of his political life.
I’m sure he didn’t know anything about that stuff though. I mean, how could he know what his own staff was doing right in front of him every day?
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:45 am
===I’m sure he didn’t know anything about that stuff though. I mean, how could he know what his own staff was doing right in front of him every day?===
- 47th Ward -, I am surprised at you.
Todd Stroger had no clue what he was heck he was doing … every day, ….so, …. now you expect Todd Stroger to have known what others were doing then too?
That is a “big ask”.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 10:51 am
Question, I have heard that with Cook County pensions, the amount used to calculate is the salary on the LAST DAY of work for the county.
If your last day pay is lower then what you had previously been getting, it LOWERS your pension.
Todd’s rate of pay as County Board President was way higher then what he would get as County Board Member. Possible unintended consequence?
Comment by DuPage Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:07 am
Ahhh, the Toddler. Rich, you are absolutely right about the Peter Principal. I dealt with him as a state legislator and he was pretty inoffensive. That said, 47 is absolutely right. Having your closest aides indicted for conduct they performed while working for you should be a serious limiter on your career ambitions.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:09 am
In the article I read, it said that Paul Green “led” his class in a round of applause at the news.
What the heck was that?
Comment by LincolnLounger Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:23 am
I would say being county board prez not long after his father had been incapacitated wasn’t a good look.
Also while many may not believe Todd was not a very good county board prez, there are many who believe he was. Do I believe he was in over his head politically at least? Yes I do and being a commissioner at least would’ve been a much better fit than trying to head the government of a very populous county.
Comment by Levois Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:28 am
Just what Cook County needs another lucky gene pool guy to serve us.We can do better than this type of rehash. Todd nobody missed you.
Comment by Mokenavince Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 11:46 am
i’d love to know if michelle harris is going to support him…
Comment by bored now Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 12:18 pm
There were this who thought that Mr Private Elevator was a good county president? Really?
He should be ashamed of his performance and learn to work for a living
Comment by Plutocrat03 Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 1:12 pm
He was in over his head and I can only hope he learned from some of his mistakes. It will take more than 4 years for me to forget what a wretched mess he brought to the county.
Comment by Belle Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 1:17 pm
APRIL FOO… wait a minute, it’s November.
This isn’t funny.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 2:25 pm
Paul leads his class in applauding every guest who visits. It’s good for the students to meet all sorts of people from the real world of Chicago politics.
Comment by walkinfool Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 2:37 pm
Two of his closest aides were convicted of corruption during the past 3 months alone. The damage and scandals from his tenure are still red-hot, and he wants to run again?
Eugene Mullins - “when a federal jury found Stroger’s pal and former spokesman guilty of seven counts of bribery and wire fraud.” October 2013, Sun-Times
Carla Oglesby - “Carla Oglesby joined Stroger as deputy chief of staff in 2010 “to help promote his legacy” but then stole more than $300,000 with a second aide through the use of fraudulent contracts and kickbacks paid in cash-stuffed envelopes.” August 2013, Tribune
Then there’s this:
“One often-told tale around Springfield has it that Madigan would sometimes have to call John Stroger to get Todd to show up for votes.” August 2009 Chicago Magazine
And this:
“Stroger reportedly hired the troubled Tony Cole because he was impressed his service as a waiter at Ruth Chris’s Steak House - reminiscent of the time Stroger gave a patronage job to a work-out partner at the East Bank Club… After Dunnings - Todd’s cousin - bailed Cole of out of jail twice, Stroger fired her.” April 2009, NBC
Oh Todd, how we missed you.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Nov 15, 13 @ 2:51 pm