If you believe Commissioner Tony Peraica's Twitter account, then the future of democracy in Cook County is up for grabs. But, judging by a scene from yesterday's board meeting, political decorum may be on the way out, too.
Peraica is no stranger to controversy. He tends to invite it with his harsh rhetoric and candid takes on government in what he often calls “Crook County.”
At the county board meeting, where commissioners voted to repeal half of the unpopular 1 percent sales tax, he drew criticism from his colleagues for bringing Commissioner John Daley’s nephew into the debate.
Trying to make about about county management, Peraica reference Patrick Daley, the mayor’s son, who now resides in Moscow. But it angered Daley, and other commissioners backed him up.
"You're not going to attack my nephew," Daley said.
"I'm not attacking him," Peraica said.
"Bullshit," Daley replied.
Republican Commissioner Peter Silvestri, who sits next to Peraica in the county chambers, criticized the lack of respect and decorum in board meetings.
“I think the status quo can be changed and made better,” he said.
“This board has sunk to an all-time low. Any time that you bring a family member of a commissioner into a debate, that’s totally disrespectful,” said Commissioner Deborah Sims.
Peraica apologized to Daley and said he meant no harm.
Peraica was lucky his microphone worked after another verbal skirmish with President Todd Stroger.
After Stroger told commissioners that the poor of Cook County would be harmed by rolling back the sales tax, Peraica expressed his thoughts.
“This is not about the battle of haves and have-nots. We are all in this together,” he said. He continued on past his one minute allotted time.
“Vote now!” shouted Stroger into his microphone. Peraica kept talking and his microphone was turned off. He asked Stroger if the microphone was off.
“Yeah, we turned your mic off. You don’t know when to shut up,” Stroger said.
Peraica, raising his voice to be heard, shouted, “Is this the democracy we’re talking about?”
Windy Citizen 