Todd Stroger

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Todd Stroger
Alderman
In office
September 5, 2001 – December 4, 2006
Preceded by Lorraine Dixon
Succeeded by Michelle A. Harris
Constituency 8th Ward, Chicago
State Representative
In office
1992 – 2001
Constituency 31st District, Illinois
Born January 14, 1963
Political party Democratic
Residence Chicago
Occupation Politician
Religion Roman Catholic

Todd H. Stroger (born January 14, 1963) is the current Cook County, Illinois, Board president and former alderman for the 8th Ward (map) in Chicago. Stroger is a member of the Democratic Party. In 2001, he was appointed to the Chicago City Council by Richard M. Daley. Stroger's father is John Stroger, a long-time Daley ally who served as County Board president for 12 years.

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[edit] Early life

Stroger was raised in the Chatham-Avalon neighborhood, located on Chicago's South Side. Stroger received his bachelor’s degree from Xavier University in New Orleans. Before becoming an alderman he worked as an investment banker for SBK-Brooks Investment Corporation.

[edit] Public service

In 1992, Stroger was elected as state representative for the 31st District of Illinois. Stroger worked as a statistician for the Office of the Chief Judge of Cook County; later he was also a jury supervisor with the Cook County Jury Commissioners.

Currently, Stroger is an active fundraiser for the United Negro College Fund and a member of the Young Democrats.

[edit] Aldermanic career

In 2001 Stroger was appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley to replace the late Ald. Lorraine Dixon. Stroger served on seven committees: Budget and Government Operations; Committees, Rules, and Ethics; Housing and Real Estate; Human Relations; Police and Fire; Special Events and Cultural Affairs; and Traffic Control and Safety.

[edit] Controversial nominee

On March 14, 2006, John Stroger, Cook County Board of Commissioners president since 1994 and Todd Stroger's father, suffered a serious stroke one week before the Democratic primary. John Stroger eventually won the Democratic nomination, winning about 53 percent of the votes cast, defeating Forrest Claypool. For months after John Stroger's stroke the Cook County Board and the public received little information from Stroger's family about his condition. John Stroger has not been seen in public since before the March primary.

Shortly after his father's stroke, Todd Stroger was noncommittal about the likelihood that his father would remain on the ballot. But in May, he reversed his previous stance, saying John Stroger would return to office.

In early June, a resolution, which would have appointed an interim president, was introduced. But at a June 6 County Board meeting, Stroger family spokesman Ald. William Beavers halted these proceedings by telling the Board that John Stroger was alert and still knew he was County Board president.

Still, on June 30, John Stroger submitted his resignation from the Board via an unsigned letter. Five days later, Todd Stroger presented a signed copy of the letter. Due to the stroke, John Stroger's signature was barely legible on the letter.

At the same time John Stroger submitted his resignation, it was announced that Beavers would assume John Stroger's County Commissioner seat while Todd Stroger, if elected, would take over the County Board presidency. This announcement came four days after the deadline for third-party candidates to file for the Board presidency race.

In the aftermath of his father's resignation, Todd Stroger emerged as the front-runner for his father's seat as president. His main opponent was U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis. Another opponent, County Commissioner Bobbie Steele, dropped out of the race shortly before party leaders chose a new candidate.

On July 18, 2006, the Cook County Democratic Central Committee (a collection of 80 county Democratic party leaders also known as "ward committeemen" or "township committeemen") overwhelmingly chose Todd Stroger to replace his father as the Democratic candidate for Cook County Board president for the Nov. 7, 2006, election.

The following day, Steele was unanimously elected by the Board as interim president.

Todd Stroger has said his nine years as a state representative in the Illinois General Assembly and five years as an alderman in the Chicago City Council means he's qualified to be County Board president. Stroger has also said the press was being unkind to his family after his father's stroke. On November 7, 2006, Stoger defeated Republican Tony Peraica to win the Cook County Board Presidency in the general election.

[edit] Career as Cook County Board President

After defeating Tony Peraica by a relatively close 55-45 margin in heavily Democratic Cook County, Stroger has been at the center of criticism. The Chicago media has criticized him for excessive personal perks like an exclusive elevator at Cook County Headquarters and 24 hour personal limousine service. He proposed budget cuts for the Cook County Sheriff, which has been widely criticized. Stroger has responded that these cuts are necessary for fiscal responsibility. These unpopular moves coupled with what was perceived as nepotism during his election has made Stroger arguably the most unpopular political figure in Cook County. At one of Barack Obama's first campaign stops in his presidential bid, at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Stroger was loudly booed by a heavily Democratic and minority crowd, despite the crowd's loud applause for every other politician in attendance.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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