Peraica's not only got a new theme song, the Republican candidate for Cook County Board Chairman announced today he has a new campaign manager and a new press guy.
Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica apparently is gearing up for a full court campaign thrust in the Cook County suburbs over the next couple of months. With the debilitating stroke the incumbent Cook County Commissioner John Stroger recently suffered, the Democrats are in disarray trying to determine who will be the candidate on the November ballot. In the meantime, Peraica is staffing up.
Today the campaign announced the addition of Urquhart Media's Eric Kohn, formerly with the Cook County GOP, as the new campaign manager.
Curt Mercadante, formerly with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, signed on as campaign press secretary, an unenviable job in the tough Chicago media market.
Peraica Organizing While Stroger Minions In Disarray
Adds D.C. Political Operative; Names Campaign Manager
CHICAGO, IL... While a growing list of Democrats jockeys for position to succeed John Stroger, Cook County Commissioner and County Board Presidential candidate Tony Peraica announced today that he has made two key additions to his campaign team: Curt Mercadante, former political operative for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will serve as senior media consultant for the campaign; Eric Kohn, former press secretary for the campaign, has been named campaign manager.
Peraica is hitting full-stride while the status of the incapacitated John Stroger remains in question. While the voters are left to wonder who is actually running the county government, key Democrat minions (including Stroger's son Todd, Rep. Danny Davis, Clerk Dorothy Brown and Commissioner Bobbie Steele) continue to fight for the right to face Peraica in the general election.
"From hitting the airwaves to strengthening our campaign team - we are ready for the final, victorious push to November," said Peraica, who last week launched a radio ad telling his personal story from his humble beginnings as an orphaned 13-year old Croatian immigrant who came to America not knowing how to speak English and rising to be a successful businessman and elected county commissioner. The ad also highlights Peraica's reform agenda for Cook County, beginning with improving the quality of health care at Stroger Hospital.
In addition to his work with the U.S. Chamber, Mercadante has worked on Capitol Hill, serving as communications director for both Congressman Greg Ganske (R-IA) and Congressman Tim Murphy (R-PA). He also has directed strategic communications for the Corn Refiners Association, worked as an executive with Chicago-based public relations firm L.C. Williams and Associates, and worked on a number of political campaigns at the local, state and national levels.
Peraica added, "Curt's extensive campaign background - as well as his work with the Illinois and national business community -- will be invaluable resources in our fight to reform Cook County."
Most recently, Eric Kohn has served as a member of Urquhart Media, LLC, a Chicago public affairs/media firm. In addition to serving on numerous campaigns, Kohn has also led several political grassroots organizations. Prior to joining Urquhart Media, Kohn served as the communications director for the Cook County Republican Party.
