Terrence O’Brien has spent much of his campaign for the Cook County Board presidency touting his management of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and pledging to clean up Cook County government.
But a few donors on O’Brien’s latest campaign finance disclosure forms have a familiar name from headlines of scandals past: Roti.
The Roti family figured prominently in the city’s Hired Truck scandal, taking in more than $5.5 million in city funds, according to published reports. Read more...
Cook County is often criticized as being a lumbering, inefficient and out-of-date entity. But a new program championed by County Board President Todd Stroger aims to change the county’s reputation.
The program, known as OPTIMA, will streamline county government and improve the county’s profit margin by an estimated $300 million after three years.
Under the leadership of county chief financial officer Jaye Williams, the county will build on a commitment Stroger made three years ago to streamline government, further reduce the workforce and modernize the county. Read more...
Alderman Toni Preckwinkle received a $1,500 campaign donation from the law firm of Michael Daley, the mayor's brother, according to campaign finance disclosure forms filed yesterday.
While the mayor isn't backing anyone in the race for county board president, he has appeared at a Preckwinkle fundraiser, and other Daley associates have hosted events for her. The latest revelation may indicate tacit support from the mayor exists.
Preckwinkle says the donation does not reflect an endorsement of the mayor. Read more...
Mayor Richard M. Daley announced today he wouldn’t lend his endorsement to any candidates running in the Feb. 2 primary. Sorry, Pat Quinn. Sorry, Todd Stroger.
According to the Tribune, Daley said he’s too busy –presumably dedicating ‘L’ stops – to worry about elections, and that his endorsement might hurt a candidate:
"If I do endorse, you'll say 'Boss Daley does this,' you guys will spin that," Daley told reporters after a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated CTA Brown Line station on Fullerton Avenue in Lincoln Park. "In this day and age it's completely different, it's a completely different environment in politics, I'll be very frank. Endorsements don't mean as much as they used to mean in the past." Read more...
When Congressman Danny Davis lent his support to Clerk of Court and county board president candidate Dorothy Brown, he praised her for her experience and her independence, calling her the people’s choice.
But then he said something that really stuck out:
"After looking at all the candidates, I want to be with the one who's going to win." Read more...
