Stroger gives no thought to running the county

Stroger gives no thought to r
October 15, 2006
By Phil Kadner Daily Southtown columnist
In a political race between a man who can think and one who believes mental exertion is a waste of time, the two candidates are running neck-and-neck in the polls.

Sort of makes you wonder what voters are thinking about.

For the record, Tony Peraica, the Republican candidate for Cook County Board president, is the fellow who understands county government.

Todd Stroger, his Democratic opponent, is the man who doesn't have a clue.

In fact, during an editorial board interview with the Daily Southtown on Friday, young Stroger, the son of former Cook County Board President John Stroger, seemed so lacking in knowledge that I had to wonder why he is even running for the office.

Could he have been pressured into this by politicians who have a lot to gain by maintaining their stranglehold on a multi-billion dollar budget bloated with do-nothing jobs?

Maybe he's fulfilling some sort of family obligation, carrying on the legacy of his father.

Dad spent decades building up the family business, county politics, and now it's your time to run the store, Todd.

Perhaps he just feels he can waltz into office with the support of the Democratic machine.

I had heard that young Stroger was not very bright, but his inability to express himself seemed to go beyond any IQ test.

Anyone interested in running for office could reach out to other county politicians and ask some simple questions about how government is run, where cuts could be made and what reforms to put in place.

Stroger gave no indication he had done any of that.

In fact, he said he was reluctant to reach out to county employees because he didn't want to "dominate their time" while they were hard at work.

"I've gotten enough grief," he said, implying that newspaper reporters or others might criticize him for asking county employees how things run.

Peraica, on the other hand, tosses around so many figures and facts about county government that you wonder if he's making them all up.

I don't think so.

More importantly, he seems to understand what this campaign ought to be about.

Reforming county government.

I asked young Stroger what he would do with the houses owned by the Cook County Forest Preserve District.

These houses are a symbol of patronage and government waste.

They are traditionally leased to politically connected employees at below-market rates. They are perks, pure and simple.

Officially, the claim is that employees act as night watchmen. I guess anyone who decides to hug a tree after midnight is apprehended before doing any harm to the forest.

No one seriously believes that nonsense.

I asked Stroger if he would eliminate those houses.

He would have to study the issue, he said.

Peraica, on the other hand, wasted no time answering the question.

He's going to tear down the buildings. Or sell them.

Peraica doesn't believe that forest preserve employees who live in the structures are actually watching anything.

That wasn't a brilliant answer. It was an obvious one.

Both of these men are claiming their election will mean a new day in Cook County government.

Stroger obviously has the more difficult task of convincing voters because he's the front man for the Democratic organization.

But he couldn't even work up enough enthusiasm for the task to hit a softball question out of the park.

He acted as though he had never given the forest preserve houses a thought before coming to the editorial board meeting.

And you know, I believe that.

Stroger, a Chicago alderman and former state legislator, is not a newcomer to politics.

Yes, he's been accused of being handed his career on a silver platter, but even so, you might expect a fellow would develop a certain curiosity along the way about how things work.

Stroger, he wants the county board members to play nice together, like the Chicago City Council.

Maybe that's overstating the case, but only slightly.

He wants more teamwork on the county board and less arguing.

Well, the arguing has erupted because the county wastes money, raises taxes and is still having financial problems.

Democratic committeemen are handed $70,000-a-year jobs as picnic table inspectors.

It's about time someone at the county board started complaining after decades of bloat and waste.

Peraica's been portrayed as sort of a madman for ranting about this stuff.

But at least he's trying to think of ways to fix the mess.

I think Stroger would be happier contemplating cloud formations.

And you know what? He could win.

Phil Kadner may be reached at pkadner@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-6787.1PKD1-15