The Family Business, Chicago Style

In what is not a surprise move to anyone, unless you don't live around here, the son of ailing Cook County Board President John Stroger lays claim to his "elective" office. Stroger won the Democrat primary despite having suffered a debilitating stroke just prior to the election. Winning the primary of course is tantamount to winning the election, and if Stroger senior should choose to withdraw his candidacy his successor would be appointed by Democrat leaders. Sun Times:

Last week, Todd Stroger told the Chicago Sun-Times that he's qualified to succeed his father -- and confident of victory -- if the stroke prevents John Stroger from remaining on the Democratic ticket.

The next day, black politicians started lining up behind the South Side alderman as a replacement for his ailing father. If it's OK for white politicians like Mike Madigan, Tom Hynes and Bill Lipinski to take care of, or be succeeded by, their children, the same standard should apply to African Americans, they said.

Well, you could make the argument Jesse Jackson Jr. has essentially done that already.More from Lynn Sweet here. But fair is fair. Or perhaps foul. Chicago and its surrounds invite comparisons to a Somalian warlord state, where the rule of law and good governance fall by the way side, and turf wars prevail through succeeding generations. Todd Stroger went on:

Once again, Todd Stroger stressed that he and his father have not discussed the all-important succession issue. But the alderman said he has little doubt how his father would feel about the idea of being replaced by his son.

"He'll think it's the nature of anyone in any business to want to move up. He would think that I've been through a lot of things and that this wouldn't be a bad move," he said.

Meanwhile the Chicago suburb of Rosemont is planning major development surrounding a Disney-like town square---who's in charge? Mayor Donald Stephens.....' son Bradley, a village trustee.

I'm all in favor of a family business.....in the private sector.