Tony Peraica

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Tony Peraica

Cook County Commissioner
In office
2003 – present
Preceded by Allan C. Carr
Succeeded by Incumbent
Born April 14, 1957
Croatia
Residence Riverside, IL
Constituency 16th District
Political party Republican
Occupation Attorney
Religion Roman Catholic

Anthony J. "Tony" Peraica (born April 14, 1957) is the Cook County Commissioner for the 16th district, and was the Republican nominee for Cook County Board President. Tony Peraica is currently the Lyons Township Republican Committeeman. Peraica won reelection in 2006 by 125 votes over Michael LaPidus, who had the support of several local Republicans. [1] Peraica (a Roman Catholic), his wife Nilofar Peraica (a Sunni Muslim), and their two children Marko and Anisa live in Riverside, Illinois.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Peraica was born in Croatia in 1957 and was orphaned at the age of 11, Peraica immigrated to the United States when he was 13. He lived in Bridgeport, a neighborhood in Chicago with his aunt and uncle, where he learned to speak English.

Peraica attended the University of Illinois at Chicago[2], where he earned his B.A. in political science. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the John Marshall Law School. He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1984, and continues to work as a lawyer in private practice at Anthony J. Peraica & Associates.

[edit] Political career

Peraica has served as a Special Assistant for the Attorney General of Illinois, (1990-1992), the National President of the Croatian American Association (1992-1995, 1997), and the International Vice President for the Boy Scouts of America (1995-1997). Additionally, he was appointed by then-Governor Jim Edgar to the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, serving from 1996-2000. Peraica also founded the South Loop Chamber of Commerce in 1990, and today serves as the Commerce Secretary.

In 2002, Peraica was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in the 16th District after beating 14-year incumbent Allan C. Carr in the Republican primary and Melrose Park Mayor Ron Serpico, in a rough campaign[3].

In the race to retain his seat, Peraica was opposed by Democrat William Edward Gomolinski.

Peraica serves on 20 committees, which include: Education, Human Relations, Environmental Control, Law Enforcement and Corrections, Health and Hospitals, Finance, Zoning and Buildings, and Roads and Bridges.

[edit] Campaign for Cook County Board President

Peraica is currently the Republican candidate for Cook County Board President, opposing Democrat Chicago 8th Ward Alderman Todd Stroger, son of former Board President John Stroger.

Stroger replaced his father on the ballot on July 18, 2006 after his father suffered a stroke. Stroger won out over several other more prominent Demcorats, which has fueled a controversy around his candidacy. This controversy has been a key factor in a race that normally would not be competitive, with Peraica's campaign running about even with Stroger. A Chicago Tribune poll[4] released on October 16, 2006 showed Peraica and Stroger in a statistical tie, while an ABC 7 / Daily Herald poll released October 30, 2006 showed Peraica with a 9 point lead over Stroger, 51%-42%[5]. Additionally, Peraica’s campaign released a poll on October 10, 2006 showing him with a 48%-40% lead over Stroger.[6] Should Peraica win the election, he would be the first Republican elected to the post since Richard B. Ogilvie in 1966. [7]

Peraica has won the endorsements of the Chicago Tribune[8], the Daily Herald[9], the Daily Southtown[10], Crain's Chicago Business[11], the Pioneer Press Newsgroup[12] and the Star Newspapers group[13].

Peraica lost the November 2006 race for Board President. He did, however, win reelection as a County Board Commissioner.

[edit] Criticisms

Peraica has come under fire from Todd Stroger, his opponent in the race for Cook County Board President, for being against gun control, abortion, and gay rights. Peraica has contended that he will not restrict access to abortions in county hospitals or revoke employee benefits to same-sex couples.[14]

Additionally, Peraica’s son Marko holds an entry level position at the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County[14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.rblandmark.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=1304&TM=50711.82
  2. ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060307/ai_n16177771
  3. ^ http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20021106/ai_n12482373
  4. ^ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-0610160221oct16,1,95276.story?coll=chi-news-hed
  5. ^ http://www.dailyherald.com/polls/103006/countypresident.html
  6. ^ http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/90357,1ABN5-10.article
  7. ^ http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/elections/15859434.htm
  8. ^ http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0610150383oct15,1,6753477.story?coll=chi-opinionfront-hed
  9. ^ http://www.dailyherald.com/search/searchstory.asp?id=241258
  10. ^ http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/opinion/editorials/106319,1EDT1-22.article
  11. ^ http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=22621
  12. ^ http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/news/forum/112551,pp-ctypresident-102506.article
  13. ^ http://www.starnewspapers.com/chicagoheights/news/opinion/115446,1EZ2-29.article
  14. ^ a b http://www.suntimes.com/news/elections/105996,CST-NWS-peraica22.article

[edit] External Links

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