Promising to raise taxes if needed to maintain services for the poor and to fight for more money in Springfield, Cook County Board President John Stroger formally announced his bid for a fourth term Nov. 15, according to the Chicago Daily Southtown.
Stroger, 76, said he wants to return to the board ‘out of a passion and concern for the many people who rely on us for their most basic needs every day.’ He said he would call on legislative leaders for help with the structural reorganization of certain facets of the government. He also stated that the county board should be able to choose its own lawyer instead of relying on the separately elected state’s attorney. In addition, Stroger referred to a proposal by Commissioner Mike Quigley, D-Chicago, to combine several of the elected offices such as treasurer, assessor and clerk—a plan the president said he pushed years ago.
In the March 2006 Democratic primary, Stroger will face Quigley and Commissioner Forrest Claypool, also of Chicago. Quigley and Claypool have led the fight against Stroger’s budget and proposed tax increases. Republican Commissioner Tony Peraica of Riverside is also running for president.