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Looks like the deal is almost cut.
Cook County Commissioner Bobbie Steele (D-Chicago) said today she is withdrawing her name from consideration as Democratic nominee for county board president in the November election.“I’ve made this decision… in the interest of party unity,” Steele said at a West Side news conference.
Steele said she would focus her energy on winning the county board’s approval Wednesday to serve out John Stroger’s remaining four months in office. Stroger, 77, who suffered a serious stroke in March, is resigning at the end of the month.
Asked about her prospects of winning the interim post, Steele said, “You never count your chicks until they hatch.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 3:49 pm
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Bizarre, I am losing a lot of faith in elections and government
Comment by Bobbi Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 4:26 pm
Has someone been playing “Let’s Make a Deal?” Commissioner Steele, you’re no Monte Hall!
Comment by Randall Sherman, Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 4:27 pm
I think this is the most telling part of the article:
“Despite dropping out of the running, Steele contended that she remained the most qualified candidate.
‘But if there’s a movement out there to not pick the qualified person then I just take myself out of the race. Why should I fight for it?’ Steele said.
‘I don’t have a legendary last name,’ she added, in an apparent reference to Todd Stroger. ‘My dad was a farmer. And I’ll say no more.’
Comment by Anon Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 4:40 pm
I’m wondering if Rev. Jackson’s support for Steele was the deal breaker. I also wonder if Sandi Jackson’s announcement that she is considering running for Alderman had any influence on the decision. On one side you had the Jackson’s supporting Steele another set of Democrats supporting Todd Stroger.
Either way, the decision to not run ‘for party unity’ leads to soooo many other questions about who is controlling the Cook County Democrat strings.
I was hoping that Forest Claypool could still run for the position against Peraica. Because at this point, there are many disaffected people in the Democrat party.
Comment by Marta Elena Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 4:58 pm
I am voting Republican for the first time in my life. This is ridiculous!
Comment by Abandon Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 5:12 pm
An interesting problem for responsible, ethical Democrats, particularly the white and Hispanic ones (assuming blacks will vote en bloc for the black candidate, that is, for Todd Stroger, and I don’t know that assumption is necessarily correct…but it is certainly a possibility).
So, can responsible white and Hispanic Dems vote Republican and against the Daley Machine. That what it will take to beat Stroger.
I doubt it, but we’ll see.
Comment by Cassandra Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 5:19 pm
Well, they finally managed to even intimidate Bobbie Steele. This just shows that Todd Stroger and Alderman Beavers have the necessary “thug-like qualities” that makes for a good Cook County politician.
Bobbie Steele really meant to say, “The Boys said that were going to play “Whack a Mole” with Bobbie Steele playing the part of the mole if she didn’t do what they told her to do.”
That’s okay Bobbie. You obviously weren’t what the Cook County voters had been looking for to represent them anyway or you would have had the guts to stand up to these other political thugs and trusted in the people of Cook County to “do the right thing.”
Comment by Beowulf Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 5:44 pm
Next group to pretend that they are major players, the insignificant hispanic committeemen will announce that they also “for party unity” will support Stroger, because they to cut a deal which will benifit Latinos.
Maldonado, Munoz, and Gutierrez and the other hacks, will have there faces splattered all over the spanish newspapers saying how they stood up to the “big,bad wolves” and made sure hispanics were’nt taken for granted!
So typical of the latino hack poltiticians of Chicago!
Comment by who represents Latinos Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 6:08 pm
Finally some closure. I am tired of seeing Tony Peraica get free publicity because he was chump enough to run for the Presidency at the same time Stroger falls victim to a stroke. Todd Stroger 83%, Peraica 17% on election day. Most of you saying you’ll vote Republican either don’t live in Cook County anyway and are probably Republicans to boot. Peraica is going to lose his district seat, too.
Trust me on this. NOBODY likes him in the 16th District, especially my aunt, Maureen Murphy.
Comment by Chick McGann Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 6:24 pm
Cassandra rasies the big question. Where will Claypool Democrats go, who constitute almost half of the Dem primary voters in Cook County? Do they hold their noses and go with young Stroger out of party loyalty, even tho they rejected the old man? Does party trump reform?
Comment by respectful Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 6:27 pm
In other words, how many of the Claypool supporters are yellow dog Democrats?
Comment by respectful Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 6:33 pm
I hope some of my neighbors in the 47th ward who voted for our Cook County Board Representative, Forrest Claypool, vote for my guy Tony Peraica just to spite Stroger’s crew. Or, at the very least, leave the ballot blank for Cook County Board President.
I agree with respectful. This will be the ultimate litmus test for lakefront/reform liberals: Do you vote for Prince Todd just because there is a (D) after his name? Or do you make a stand against cronyism and vote for Peraica/leave the ballot blank? Eric Zorn & Mary Mitchell, let’s hear from ya!!!
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 7:04 pm
“Is” a NOBODY
Comment by Chuck McGoon Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 7:28 pm
Don’t vote Republican, Abandon; vote Green instead.
Comment by Squideshi Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 7:36 pm
Could the Greens Party field a candidate for Cook County Board President? Is Claypool blocked from being their candidate because he ran in the Dem. primary?
Comment by Anon Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 7:51 pm
It is too late for a third party (such as the Green Party) to field a candidate for the race. The antics of stalling out the truth about John Stroger’s condition were apparently done in part to avoid a third party candidacy.
Comment by Randall Sherman, Secretary/Treasurer, Illinois Committee for Honest Government Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 8:31 pm
I feel sick to my stomach…ten to one the Mayor is behind all of this crap…he is the only one all these folks fear/need at re-election time. Prediction: Blago will go down to Fitzgerald, not so Daley…I would have loved to be a fly on the wall at the dinner Richie shared with the President…did he ask W to call off the dogs? Stay tuned…
Comment by Loop Lady Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 9:18 pm
I knew both forest claypool and todd stroger from their years in springfield. both are able, knowledgeable democrats capable…and preferable to any republican. nobody needs to hold their nose to punch for todd. and hopefully, we havent seen the last of forest. he is a bright and rising star.
Comment by knew them both Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 10:22 pm
As a long time Democrat, I am appalled by the antics of Stroger and Beavers as well as the Democratic establishment. I will vote for Peraica because he has advocated reform and honest goverment for four years only to be rebuffed by the county board hacks and there allies! I wish Claypool or Quigley were the canididate but the last chance for reform and honest goverment left to vote for is Peraica and I along with my family and neighbors will go vote for him on election day!
To those bloggers who hate Peraica, I guess you guys and gals love corruption and wasteful spending!
Comment by Michigan Ave Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 10:23 pm
Of all the names I heard circulated, Todd Stroger was my last choice. I personally think the whole process of selecting a replacement has been a shmae and has become a complete travesty.
Much like Eugene Sawyer, Todd Stroger, seems ill-equipped for the task of managing a multi-billion corporation. He’s probably a lamb going to the slaughter 4 years from now. One can only hope that he can grow into the job.
The only bigger disgrace than the Cook County Democratic Party is the Cook County Republican Party which can’t even field a credible challenger for the Cook County Board Presidency or any other County office.
Peraica is a right wing ideologue who has no chance of winning in November. He will do fairly well on the lakefront simply because many Claypool voters will cast a protest vote - but Peraica won’t come close to winning. The Peraica- Stroger contest will actually enhance the Governor’s reelection prospects by bringing out a larger number of African- American voters.
I will be a good team player and support Todd Stroger, simply because Peraica’s personal ideology conflicts with my own progressive political philosophy. I really care about Stroger Hospital and the vital public health services that the County provides.
Reform will have to wait for 4 more years for Claypool or some other credible challenger, Democrat or Republican, to emerge and triumph.
The Cook County Democratic Party obviously is counting on the public’s limited attention span and short memory. I think they will be in for a rude awakening 4 years hence. Slatemaking has become irrelevant for all the major offices. Todd Stroger’s nomination may well be the Cook Conty Dmeocratic Party’s last hurrah in terms of determining the outcome of any major public office.
Comment by Captain America Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 10:25 pm
Wow, now Old Man Stroger is back in the hospital. Well, he raised Todd to be the man he is today. How does his wife stand by an dlet this happen? Bobbie Steele is worthless, a quitter. If Stroger gets on the ballot an dhe wins, Cook COunty deserves any mismanagemant that occurs….
A cook county resident
Comment by Wumpus Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 11:16 pm
This is BS. I’ll be a Peracia vote in November. I WON”T forget.
Comment by Holding my nose Monday, Jul 17, 06 @ 11:28 pm
I’m certainly voting Peraica. This double nepotism is insulting.
Comment by Schiznitz Tuesday, Jul 18, 06 @ 8:40 am
Rich: You left out the most intersting part of the Chicago Tribune article…
“While she strongly hinted at it, Steele refused to predict that Todd Stroger would win the party’s nomination over Davis. Steele said many Democrats are upset at the prospect that Todd Stroger will be the candidate in November and those people are prepared to vote for Republican Tony Peraica, a county commissioner from Riverside.
“A lot of people are saying that they’re going to cross over,” Steele said.”
That’s quite a statement for a a life-long member of the Democrat machine.
Comment by Thom Yorke Tuesday, Jul 18, 06 @ 9:19 am
It promises to be an entertaining fall. The candidate will have to run for Board Presienct and for District Rep. Should be no problem.
Comment by Truthful James Tuesday, Jul 18, 06 @ 10:49 am