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Revision as of 14:33, 1 November 2007 by 99.166.117.86 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)| Todd Stroger | |
|---|---|
| President of Cook County Board | |
| 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 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1963-01-14) January 14, 1963 (age 61) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Height | 185 |
| Residence | Chicago |
| Occupation | Politician |
Todd "Urkel the Douchebag" 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.
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.
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.
Aldermanic career
In 2001 Stroger was appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley to replace the late Ald. 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.
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.
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.
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. He proposed budget cuts for the Cook County Sheriff, Cook County State's Attorney's Office, and Cook County Public Defender's Office, which has been widely criticized. Stroger has responded that these cuts are necessary for fiscal responsibility. Stroger has also drawn fire for perceived nepotism of his own, such as hiring his cousin Donna Dunnings as the County's chief financial officer, though Stroger has argued that Dunnings carries the necessary credentials for the position.
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.
In September of 2007, Stroger voiced his support for a proposal which would raise the county-wide sales tax to 11% (an additional 2 cents on the dollar) to remedy a $307 million budget deficit, which would force public facilities such as Stroger Hospital to cut services or even close. Critics of the plan included fellow Commissioners Claypool, Tony Peraica, and Mike Quigley who argued that decreased spending accomplish the same purpose. Peraica has additionally responded that Cook County's poorest citizens, who the tax hike is ultimately designed to serve, would find it to be the most unaffordable. Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich expressed his opposition to the plan for the same reasons.
References
- Stroger's 8th Ward Information
- Stroger's Aldermanic Biography
- "Stroger suffers apparent stroke" Steve Patterson, Chicago Sun-Times, March 14, 2006.
- "Todd Stroger expects dad to stay on ballot" Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun-Times, May 17, 2006.
- "Stroger to resign as county chief; son to run" Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun-Times, June 30, 2006.
- "Beavers on Orr: He's 'a little poop butt'" Steve Patterson, Chicago Sun-Times, July 4, 2006.
- "Signature details toll of Stroger stroke" Steve Patterson, Chicago Sun-Times, July 6, 2006.
- "Beavers: Todd Stroger a sure thing" Fran Spielman and Steve Patterson, Chicago Sun-Times, July 11, 2006.
- "Todd Stroger to replace dad on ballot" Jonathan Lipman, Daily Southtown, July 19, 2006.
- "Turmoil Hits Among Cook County Commissioners" CBS 2 Chicago.com, July 20, 2006.
- "Stroger defends decision to hire cousin as CFO" Ben Bradley,ABC 7 Chicago.com, February 6, 2007.
- "Cook County Board to vote on proposed sales tax increase" Sarah Schulte, ABC 7 Chicago.com, September 30, 2007.
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