Questions continue to abound as to who is running Cook County as news came out today that Board President John Stroger was readmitted to the hospital after suffering a stroke several weeks ago.
While Stroger's wife has called on him to retire, Stroger's son Todd is positioning to become the potential replacement for his father. With that revelation, various Cook County Democrats began rumblings that they were also interested in Stroger's job.
In the meantime, GOP Cook County Commissioner and Board Presidential candidate Tony Peraica raised questions today about who is currently in charge of Cook County government and expressed curiosity about who exactly he will be facing in the November 2006 election.
One board commissioner called today for a legal opinion as to the Board's presidency succession protocol.
It's a fair question. Just who is in charge?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Contact: Curt Mercadante
MAN VS. THE MACHINE:
Peraica Statement on John Stroger's Readmission to Hospital
Chicago, IL... Cook County Commissioner and Board Presidential candidate Tony Peraica released the following statement today following the news that John Stroger has been readmitted to the hospital:
"My family and I join the voters of Cook County in wishing John Stroger a full and speedy recovery. Our prayers continue to be with John and his family during this trying time.
"Today's news, however, raises fresh questions about John's physical ability to run Cook County government - and about who is in charge during this time of crisis. Each new day brings new, conflicting signals from the Stroger camp, and voters continue to wonder who is running their government.
"It is unfortunate that Todd Stroger has sent a number of these confusing signals to the Cook County voters. By first telling the voters his father was healthy enough to continue as Board President - and then offering himself as a potential replacement for his father on the ballot, Todd opened up a can of worms that has left the voters in the dark, and a growing list of Democrats jockeying for the right to replace John on the ballot.
"Todd Stroger, Alderman Beavers, and other Democrat politicians may want the voters to wait to find out the future of their President. But with the county budget looming on the horizon, with over 40 union contracts to be negotiated, numerous executive appointments to be made, and Cook County hospitals about to go bankrupt, the Cook County voters can no longer wait to deal with the gathering storm of crises that face the County."
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