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* UPDATED x1 * Fioretti launches campaign for Cook County Board President

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Former Chicago Ald. Bob Fioretti announced Monday his intention to run against Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle in the upcoming Democratic primary.

Fioretti announced his candidacy at the Lansing Municipal Airport in the far south suburb Monday morning, choosing that location to highlight the difference in taxes Cook County has faced versus those across the state border in Indiana, he said.

“A penny earned is not a penny saved, it’s a new tax,” said Fioretti, who began circulating petitions to put his name on the ballot once the contentious Cook County sweetened beverage tax fizzled in October. Signatures are due Dec. 4 for the primary election to be held on March 20, 2018.

* Tribune…

During the pop tax debate, Fioretti weighed in by setting up a website calling for repeal of the penny-an-ounce tax on sugar- and artificially sweetened beverages. His was just one of many voices pushing for repeal amid a multimillion-dollar Can the Tax campaign funded by the beverage industry. […]

After being zoned out of his ward during the once-a-decade council redistricting, Fioretti was among four challengers to Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2011. He placed fourth with 7.4 percent of the vote, then endorsed Emanuel in the runoff contest over county Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia.

Late last month, Fioretti filed the paperwork to establish the “Bob for Cook County” campaign fund. To date, he’s reported no major contributions, and his most recent quarterly report for his mayoral campaign fund shows debts exceeding cash in the bank by $86,000.

Preckwinkle, by contrast, had nearly $361,000 in her campaign fund at the end of September and has received more than $27,000 in large contributions since then.

He was also badly clobbered when he tried to run for the state Senate last year, losing a primary to Sen. Patricia Van Pelt 68-32.

*** UPDATE *** Press release…

Preckwinkle for President’s Political Director Scott Kastrup Statement on Bob Fioretti’s Announcement to Run For Cook County President

“President Preckwinkle is focused on navigating the county through tough economic circumstances and leading on behalf of the people of Cook County. Her strong record of reforming county government and improving access to healthcare speaks for itself. She has been a national leader in the efforts to reform our criminal justice system; as a result, we have reduced the county jail population by 30 percent. In addition, the President has championed bail reform efforts that have significantly reduced the number of non-violent offenders and poor individuals in the jail.”

“President Preckwinkle has broad support across the county and is in a strong position to win re-election in March,” said Preckwinkle for President’s Political Director Scott Kastrup.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 12:29 pm

Comments

Fioretti has morphed into the Tony Peraica of the Democratic Party.

That’s not a compliment.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 12:35 pm
Preckwinckle must have asked him to run to be her shill.

Comment by old time golfer Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 12:35 pm
Sounds like a desperate attempt to raise some quick cash to pay off some old debt. Countdown to fundraiser announcement in 3…2…1…

Comment by Not It Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 12:36 pm
Toni Preckwinkle is the luckiest politician ever. She is deeply unpopular and the only person running is the one mope that probably can’t beat her.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 12:38 pm
Preckwinkle, like Rauner, is vulnerable to a primary challenge. But Fioretti, like Ives, is probably not capable of pulling it off.

Besides, the countywide signature requirement for dems this year is 8,200…that’s really tough for a candidate like Fioretti.

Comment by Roman Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 12:40 pm
- OW- Peraica might have ran more times as a Democrat then he did as a Republican. Either way, I am not sure even Fioretti deserves that comparison. But your point is well taken…..

Comment by old time golfer Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 12:41 pm
The pop tax will be gone in 3 weeks but we’re still suffering from the Chicago Parking Meter Fiasco for another 6+ decades.

Alderman Fioretti voted for the meter deal. Alderman Preckwinkle voted against it. Expect to be reminded of that about a million times between now & March 20th.

Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 12:45 pm
–”in a strong position to win re-election in March,”–

Isn’t there an election in November, too?

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 1:05 pm
Boykin’s got an opponent in the primary. Guess the powers that be didn’t like that he asked some tough questions about the soda tax.

Comment by phocion Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 1:11 pm
Bob doesn’t seem to get that nobody likes him. He was elected to office in a quirk (changing demographics in the ward and an unpopular incumbent) but then his colleagues so disliked him that they effectively abolished is ward.

As yet another person who doesn’t like Bob, I admit that this will be fun to watch.

Comment by Gooner Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 1:20 pm
Fioretti is probably not the person who many would choose to take the stand against unpopular Toni. It may be only symbolic. But somebody needed to do it and if Bob runs he will get some votes.

Comment by Responsa Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 1:26 pm
Glad primary voters will have a choice. Some choice, though.

Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 1:39 pm
30% reduction in Cook County jail and what’s the crime rate in Chicago now? Something Toni should be proud of.

Comment by Taxed to death Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 1:44 pm
Fax Machine “The pop tax will be gone in 3 weeks but we’re still suffering from the Chicago Parking Meter Fiasco for another 6+ decades”

I’ve been thinking about this lately and I believe that at some point, as more and more cars disappear from the roads, that this will turn out to be a good deal for the City. I’m actually not kidding too!

The authors of the study believe that parking will eventually become obsolete, so cities will need to rethink planning and road infrastructure decisions.

From Business Insider:

http://www.businessinsider.com/no-one-will-own-a-car-in-the-future-2017-5

“We are on the cusp of one of the fastest, deepest, most consequential disruptions of transportation in history,” Seba said in a press release. “But there is nothing magical about it. This is driven by the economics.”

Comment by paddyrollingstone Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 1:55 pm
Paddy,
The article doesn’t say cars will disappear. It speculates that people will be using shared electric cars. That would change a lot, including parking and reliance on gas tax to fund infrastructure. But it doesn’t mean we won’t need roads and bridges. In fact the biggest loser is likely going to be public transit, especially light rail.

Comment by Bored Chairman Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:13 pm
=== In fact the biggest loser is likely going to be public transit, especially light rail. ===

Until, under this somewhat silly scenario, the streets are too jam packed with cars and people go back to mass transit.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:14 pm
- old time golfer -

I appreciate your deference.

It’s close. Both earned the comparison to each other(?)

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 4:34 pm
As I’ve commented earlier about Preckwinkle, you can’t beat somebody with nobody. Fioretti is probably close to nobody if his mayoral run is any example of his campaigning style. Yes, there is an election in November, but what hope is there that the Cook County Republican party can get a “somebody” either.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 5:05 pm
Haven’t lived in Cook for some time but know lots of folks that do, If he can get some financial backing and some free media she could have her hands full. While passing petitions for a suburban Cook Rep going door to door all folks wanted to talk about was sugar tax ….they were angry very angry.

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Monday, Nov 13, 17 @ 5:36 pm