Stroger to retire as Cook County Board president July 31

Associated Press

July 1, 2006

By Deanna Bellandi

Paving the way for his son to replace him on the November ballot, Cook County Board President John Stroger dropped his re-election bid and announced he would retire July 31, according to a five-page letter released Friday by Stroger's office.

The powerful 77-year-old Democrat has not been seen or heard from publicly since suffering a stroke one week before winning the March primary.

"This is a personal decision that is being made because of my current physical limitations," the letter said.

Stroger, a three-term incumbent, first was elected county board president in 1994, overseeing a budget of $3 billion in a county with a population bigger than 30 states and 80 countries.

The letter, on stationery from Stroger's president's office, was unsigned but came from Stroger, according to his office. It came hours after a news conference was abruptly canceled by his family, prompting criticism from some commissioners who had urged the family for weeks to announce a decision on Stroger's political future.

Stroger is a major political figure in Chicago's black community and his illness has prompted weeks of political jockeying over his job.

Democratic County Commissioner Mike Quigley said the situation had turned into a soap opera.

"This is a movie in which you think you know where you are but the scenery keeps changing behind you," Quigley said. "This had better be the low point in the sad chapter of county politics. The government of Cook can't handle being held hostage any more."

Stroger's decision to retire is a switch from earlier in the week when Chicago Alderman William Beavers, who has been acting as his spokesman, said Stroger would serve out his term, which ends in December.

Stroger's letter said he would retire as president of the county board and of the Cook County Forest Preserve District, as well as give up his seat as a county commissioner.

Stroger's son, Chicago Alderman Todd Stroger, said Wednesday that his father wants him to take his place on the November ballot and that he hoped to convince Democratic Party committeemen to slate him to run against Republican Commissioner Tony Peraica.

The group of 80 Democratic committeemen will decide whether to put Todd Stroger or another candidate on the ballot. Commissioner Forrest Claypool, who lost the Democratic primary to John Stroger, said letting ward bosses decide who's the ballot shows "a remarkable, almost breathtaking contempt for the voters and taxpayers of Cook County."

Peraica has decried such a deal saying Stroger was trying to hand over his office "as if it was part of his estate."

Peraica, who unsuccessfully called for a hearing on Stroger's fitness to serve, said he hopes Stroger recovers.

"I hope he gets well and can enjoy his retirement. He deserves it," Peraica said.

Peraica said the wait now is to see who the board chooses as interim president and who winds up on the November ballot.

"Then the campaign will begin in earnest and I look forward to it," Peraica said.

In Stroger's absence, his office has said that his chief of staff was in contact with Stroger and running the county on his behalf.

Stroger, in his letter, said he has the "aptitude and mental abilities to make the sound decisions that I have made all my life," but he offered no details on his physical condition.

Stroger's family and friends also have provided little information.

Todd Stroger has said his father is undergoing rehabilitation therapy and the elder Stroger said in his letter that he is working hard to recover.

"On a daily basis, I will, with all of my heart and soul, continue to work to improve my physical ability so that I can continue to be an advocate and involved in making Cook County a better place for all. I have no doubt that with a little more time; I will be able to accomplish this," the letter said.

Copyright 2006, Associated Press

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