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Democratic ward bosses will meet next week to replace retiring County Board President John Stroger on the November ballot and Stroger’s son has a majority of the weighted votes, Ald. William Beavers said Monday.Twelve days after predicting that Ald. Todd Stroger (8th) would replace his father on the Democratic ticket, Beavers boldly repeated the prediction and said the outcome of the July 18 vote was never in doubt.
“I’ve got the votes….I haven’t counted them up, but I’ve got the majority,” said Beavers, self-declared spokesman for the Stroger family.
And it looks like Beavers had to toss in a sweetner to make the deal, which includes Todd getting the ballot spot, Beavers getting the county board seat and Beavers’ daughter taking his slot on the city council.
On Monday, Beavers disclosed that he has decided to relinquish his powerful job as chairman of the City Council’s Budget Committee as a favor to John Stroger.
No word yet on who would get Todd Stroger’s city council slot.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 2:50 pm
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Given how nepotistic this Stroger/Beavers succession thing is, I wouldn’t be surprised if Daley nominated yet another Stroger to take Todd’s council seat.
Comment by Tom Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 2:54 pm
I believe we will see the debut of Ald. Marlow Colvin soon. Now who will be the state Rep.?
Comment by The G Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 3:10 pm
The whole thing makes me sick.
Comment by Lost Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 3:14 pm
Dusty Baker ought to be out of a job pretty soon, perhaps he could fill Todd Stroger’s seat.
Comment by Ozzie Guillen Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 3:21 pm
Say hello to President Peraica!
Comment by Wild Onion Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 3:21 pm
Only in America can someone who is not necessarily the best qualified candidate for a political office aspire to political greatness, then achieve it, and reap the many financial rewards that come from being born with the right last name. Yes, I have a dream———
Whoops! Did I say America? I meant to say only in the City of Chicago.
Comment by Beowulf Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 3:22 pm
Tony Peraica must be grinning ear-to-ear right now.
Comment by Bluefish Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 3:24 pm
“Weighted votes”? I thought that all committeemen were created equal. What is the weighting formula?
Comment by Ivory-billed Woodpecker Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 3:29 pm
I have said this iin other threads: Tony Peraica doesn’t have a chance to win in November and will lose his 16th District seat. I asked one blogger to name five elected Republicans in Tony’s own district who supported him and the first name I get is John Sinde, the late mayor of Westchester! Tony is only supported by hacks and dead people! Isn’t this what I call reform!
Comment by Chick McGann Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 3:48 pm
The weighted vote is the number of democratic ballots pulled in a particular ward or township. The committeeman with more dem ballots has more “weight” in his/her vote than those with lesser democtratic ballots. Therefore, the committeeman from New Trier’s vote isn’t as important than the committeeman from Thornton Township. The same goes for the 41st ward having less weight than the 13th ward and so on.
Comment by Scat O'Itchy Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 3:52 pm
Does Todd Stroger also have a son that will one day be inheriting the position of Cook County Board President?
Comment by Beowulf Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 3:55 pm
Suburban Dems are not happy. This is being imposed by a few of the weighted commiteemen and Daley behind the scenes. Not much suburban Dems can do. Some in the GOP are shooting themselves in the foot for having a so so candidate, though Tony might still pull it off.
Comment by Niles Township Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:04 pm
The Alderman spot in the 8th ward, I heard was going to Rep. Colvin and that his wife would be appointed to the Rep spot. WOW it just does’nt stop….help!
Comment by Nepotismo Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:09 pm
Tony can’t pull it off. In fact, Rich, I would like to read a thread on how people believe Tony could pull it off (like: “if Mike Madigan and Frank Zuccarelli peel off support from Todd and give it to Tony, he might have a chance”). There aren’t that many disenfranchised voters out there and those that are on this blog 24/7. Just look at the Lipinski congressional race from this past March. Where was the voter apathy? The voters in the 3rd CD sent small Lip back to congress with 65% of the democrat vote!
The GOP’s only chance to catch lightning in a bottle would be with a name like O’Malley or O’Grady. Not a stooge’s stooge, Tony Peraica.
Comment by Scat O'Itchy Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:13 pm
What I don’t understand from the upset posters is who they expect the committemen to select? Do they think they should select someone who gets the most posts on this blog? The Democratic Party is selecting someone to replace someone who won an election and then became incapacitated. Maybe we should open up the process to everyone. That way maybe a Republican can even have a shot at it. Maybe even open it up to someone who doesn’t live in the county.
Lighten up. If you don’t like the way the law is written to select a replacement just don’t vote for the candidate in November. Otherwise you will have to head down to Springfield next session and have the law changed.
Comment by anon Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:27 pm
If Peracia wins the PRez seat, but loses his commisioner seat, what happens?
Comment by Rico Shakman aka Wumpus Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:30 pm
anon - Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:27 pm:
You are beautiful! Thank you for putting a lid on this nonsense talk. Can you please come up with something equally profound to stifle and silence those who actually think Tony Peraica has a chance of winning in November. Please?
Comment by Scat O'Itchy Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:34 pm
Rico Shakman aka Wumpus - Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:30 pm: “If Peracia wins the PRez seat, but loses his commisioner seat, what happens?” He is still a loser.
Seriously, he can keep the Presidency but not be a voting member of the Board of Commissioners. You are onto something except he’ll lose both! So there is nothing to fear.
Comment by Chick McGann Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:36 pm
Tooohnnnnn-EEE!! Tooohnnnnn-EEE!! Tooohnnnnn-EEE!!
Comment by Bubs Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:46 pm
Afterthought:
Has anyone asked Todd Stoger how old his children are?
I’d just like an idea on how long he is planning on serving.
Comment by Bubs Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:50 pm
Anon. 427,
Yes, we all expect the committeeman to rubber stamp Stroger’s kid replacing him on the ballot. After all, it’s the right thing to do. Heaven forbid it should go to someone qualified, or to someone not related to a current Dem heavyweight office holder (wait a minute, both choices are equal, aren’t they?). Hey, if the voters chose John Stroger, then they should pick someone who voted just like Stroger, right? Okay, so is it Steele, Maldonado, Moreno, Butler, Simms or Murphy? They rubber-stamp every time, after all. Hey, why not one of THEIR kids?
If Todd doesn’t want it, will the Ward bosses put Stroger’s dog on the ballot to replace him?
Comment by Anomama Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:50 pm
I see “President Peraica” and “Tony is smiling” and I think to myself that you can’t be serious.
Do you really…truly…believe Tony Peraica can win squat in November?
I mean, stop for a moment, now. Yes, I know everyone is mad about Claypool losing. I know this. I know everyone just HATES all things Stroger right through here. And thats okay, too (hey, I mean, this is politics in Cook County).
But, come on, man, Tony Peraica?
This guy has done nothing on the Board. NOTHING! He is little more than a regular contrarian, using his thrice-a-month Board meeting pulpit to run for County Board President on the taxpayer dime.
Seriously. Come on. Tony? Peraica?
I really detest most of what goes on in Cook County politics. Truly, I do. But Peraica? Under any circumstances? I gotta think: “No. Hell no.” Curmudgeon of the year? YES! Mr. Lemondhead look-a-like? YES! Republican County Board President? Um…no.
I know you folks like to come into blogs and say all these incredulous things (I have been guilty on occasion), but Good Lord, man! You have ceased being rational.
Yet you are all quite funny. President Peraica…waaahahaaha! Funny, I tell you…even when you’re not trying.
Comment by Prez of the FTPC Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:58 pm
Scat O’Itchy–
“Silence and Stifle” ? On a public blog? Pretty Nasty Stuff there “sweety”
Comment by Shampoo and Tooth Brush Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:59 pm
Anomama - Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 4:50 pm:
Like I said earlier, just don’t vote for him. I don’t understand who you want as the replacement. Just because you are a relative does not mean you are not qualified or wanted by the voters. What makes you say Todd is not qualified. He has been an elected official for years, either in Springfield or as the alderman.
Ironically, there has been some grumbling about Todd because he is NOT a clone of his father. I personally think Houlihan would have been a good replacement. But, at this time, in order for him to be the candidate for the Democratic Party he would need the majority of the weighted vote. Guess what? He doesn’t have it. So move on.
To those that think Peraica has a chance in November, I say look at the numbers. I know that the candidate in 2002 was a nobody and Peraica will receive a lot more votes, but to pick up 245,560 more votes to get to 51% doesn’t seem do-able. See the numbers below for the 2002 election.
November, 2002 General Election – Cook County Board President
Total Bullock Stroger
Suburban Cook 649,570 289,148 44.51% 360,422 55.49%
Chicago 661,484 120,819 18.26% 540,665 81.73%
Total 1,311,054 409,967 31.27% 901,087 68.73%
Comment by anon Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 5:09 pm
Hasn’t Beaver made this claim before? If he has the votes, why doesn’t he name what committeemen have made their commitments?
The most likely explanation would seem to be that Beavers is bluffing somewhat. He’s probably close to having the votes, but it trying to bluff his way over the top.
Of course, if Beavers is as competent as many Stroger hacks, he may be nowhere close to having the votes and he’s just bluffing to save face and hoping that something will happen to avoid the humiliation of learning the truth.
Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 5:45 pm
Those who would use 2002 election totals to justify a claim that Tony Peraica has no chance of winning in November do so at their own risk. The dynamics of this contest are now so different from any countywide race of the last quarter-century or more to make predicting the outcome based on the 2002 election results (when the Republican candidate for Board President was a total joke) a fool’s errand.
Certain Democratic politicans (such as Thornton Township Committeeman Frank Zuccarelli) need to realize that they risk voter retribution should they try to cram Todd Stroger down the public’s throat. (In Zuccarelli’s case, voters can get even with him at next April’s elections for board members of South Suburban College, where he serves as that Board’s President.)
Comment by Randall Sherman, Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 6:30 pm
I agree that the dynamics of this race is very different than 4 years ago. Can Peraica win ??? I believe he can !
Both Democrat and Republican organizations are not what they once were, and the electorate is more sophisticated then they have been in the past. I believe for many people the choice in this election will be an easy one.
Mr Peraica does not strike me as a right wing Republican, but with President Bushes approval rating so low and gasoline prices so high it is going to be tough for anybody with an ( R ) next to their name to get elected. The freaking Republicans won’t even raise the minimum wage.
On the other hand, Cook County is in such a big mess that the voters might just decide to give a Republican a shot at fixing it up. Lord knows any democrat slatted is just going to make it worse and continue the same old crap.
Peraica does have a chance
Comment by Bobby Douglas Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 7:14 pm
Pardon me, but about the topic….
Now, now, we all know that–Committeeman—is a Party Post not a Public Office and that they rarely get a chance to flex their limited muscle now-a-days. So, they can and will do whatever is in their best interest. The options? One can run in a Primary. Remember? Then the party’s electors can decide directly. Right? But hey– next con-con if everybody……aw never mind.
Comment by Ignatius J. Reily Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 7:16 pm
Hey “Prez of the FTPC”:
Seriously. Come on. Todd? Stroger?
He’s never served a day on that Board. I’m not sure he’s ever had to work a full day since he entered politics.
No one works harder than Peraica. No one.
Comment by Bubs Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 7:40 pm
Rep Colvin would have made a better choice then Todd Stroger as board president. oh well… Does anyone know how strong is Beaver’s organization since it appears he came up short on the clout list?
Comment by anon Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 7:53 pm
I must agree with Randall Sherman…I hope thre is so much voter backlash with this appointed stooge whose purpose is to protect Dad’s patronage hires, and do whatever Daley and Madigan tell him to do to keep the unions happy…The Suburban Committeemen from west Cook County may support Cong. Danny Davis…I say to Cook County Dem voters either vote for Peraica, who will lose anyway, or LEAVE YOUR BALLOT BLANK FOR THIS RACE…TELL THE POWERS THAT BE WHO PUT THIS CHARADE TOGETHER TO STICK IT WHERE–
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 8:54 pm
The boys and girls on the Cook County Board should be careful what they wish for. This guy Fitzgerald gets the same warm and fuzzys looking at these board members as he did with Sorich,Slattery,McCarthy, and Sullivan. Tiny Todd is the only one safe from the long arms of the law.
Comment by Tin Cup Monday, Jul 10, 06 @ 8:57 pm
I hope Todd Stroger loses so that he can go back to the 8th Ward and face the music. Perhaps 8th Ward residents will be so disgusted that they boot him out of office since his dad won’t be there to help him keep his job.
Comment by Levois Tuesday, Jul 11, 06 @ 12:02 am
Say Todd gets in but with clear backlash. Does this set the stage for someone like a Jesse Jackson, Jr. to make a push in 2010? He’d have a better shot against Todd instead of Daley. He’s able to split enough of the black vote whereas Claypool couldn’t.
Comment by Rod's Brush Tuesday, Jul 11, 06 @ 12:23 am
Remember the good old days when the relatives of the hack politicians (or the retired politicians themselves) just became judges?
Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Jul 11, 06 @ 8:54 am
Getting Blacks and Hispanics hired is not patronage it is called diversity. Cook County employees before Stroger became President were mostly White. Before President Stroger many Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites with little, or no political contacts were not getting hired into county government. President Stroger made sure that the county employees looked like the people in the county and not just one group. Alderman Todd Stroger will continue where his father left off. If you have the media, tell it everyone who works for the county is from the 8th ward, which is not true. Blacks and Hispanics still make up a small percentage of county employees. People get a life the Strogers have done alot for Cook County and the City.
Comment by EOW Tuesday, Jul 11, 06 @ 3:38 pm