That same day, challenger Peraica was supposed to debate Ald. Todd Stroger, who has been anointed by the Democratic Party as heir to the job held by his father, John Stroger, until he was disabled by a stroke, on an African-American radio station. Stroger, after agreeing to appear, suddenly had a conflict when Peraica said yes to the debate.Why should Stroger be ducking debates if he is qualified for the office and has positive plans, programs and a platform? Maybe he thinks the patronage precinct captains can still deliver the election for him and he doesn't have to have a platform or debate. If so, he should know that voters really want to determine for themselves if he is qualified to run a $3 billion Cook County government with 27,000 employees and a $300 million deficit.
Here's Peraica's campaign site. Currently a county board commissioner, Peraica won that spot in an upset. As he has advocated on the board, he's pledged to root out corruption, hold the line on taxes, and cut the budget :Peraica says 97 departments of county government can be cut to 35. He supports the 7 percent property tax cap pending in Springfield and would work for fundamental property tax reform later. He would cut the size of county government. Because 1,300 to 1,500 of the county's 27,000 employees leave each year, unnecessary jobs could be eliminated without having to fire large numbers.
There are a lot of people dissatisfied with the way Cook County is being run, as evidenced by the strong challenge mounted by Forrest Claypool in the Democrat primary. But it's difficult to achieve any kind of reform or accountability in a one-party system, where politics is the family business. Here's a chance for voters to break the stranglehold.
Related post "Schoenberg Sticker Shock".
No comments:
Post a Comment