YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTION
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Primary 2010: Who’s in, who’s out?
Voter’s in Cook County cast their ballot for change, electing Cook County’s
first elected African American woman president.
The following election results were obtained Wednesday, February 3 at 8:00
A.M. from the office of David Orr, Cook County Clerk.
COUNTY BOARD PRESIDENT
Preckwinkle ousts Stroger
The votes for Ald. Toni Preckwinkle overwhelmed Todd Stroger’s and two
other challengers to capture the Democratic nomination for Cook County
Board president Tuesday night.
Chosen by regular Democratic powers four years ago to replace his ailing
father John in the general election, Stroger found himself under near-constant
fire for his combative style, a controversial penny-on-the-dollar sales-tax
increase and troubled patronage hiring decisions.
By the time campaign season rolled around late last year, most Democrats
had abandoned him and declared themselves neutral - or thrown their
support to one of his three challengers, hence Danny Davis’ support of
Dorothy Brown after stepping out of the race.
With 95 percent of precincts reporting official results as of Wednesday
morning, Preckwinkle had 54 percent, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
President Terrence O’Brien had 26 percent, Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy
Brown had 11 percent and Stroger had 8 percent.
“Their message is clear. Now is the time to repeal the Stroger sales tax,”
Preckwinkle said. “Now is the time to end patronage. Now is the time to cut
waste while preserving health care, human services, public safety and our
forest preserves.”
Incumbent Todd Stroger was gracious tonight in his concession speech from
the W Hotel, pledging to work with Ald. Toni Preckwinkle, who won the
Democratic nomination for his office.
Only about three dozen supporters, campaign staff and county aides were still
at Stroger’s election night headquarters when he took the stage around 9:30
p.m.
“I am not giving up on the county,” Stroger said, his wife and son at his side. “I
am going to work with the Democratic nominee.”
GOVERNOR
Race for Governor still not settled:
Dan Hynes as not conceded to incumbent governor Pat Quinn who gained
55 percent of the vote to Hynes 45 percent. Quinn will face Republican
Andrew
McKenna with 28 percent of the vote. Scott Lee Cohen will face Republican
nominee Jason Plummer for Lieutenant Governor.
SENATE
David Hoffman, who gained 29 percent of the vote, graciously conceded to
Alexi Giannoulias, who will face Mark Kirk in the November election for
President Obama’s former Senate seat.
Giannoulias pulled a head with 39 percent of the votes with more than 80
percent of the votes counted.
COUNTY ASSESSOR
Democrats also got to nominate a new county assessor, an important but low-
profile office that sets the value of property for tax purposes.
The three-candidate field includes county Democratic chairman Joseph
Berrios with 38 percent of the vote, former county judge Ray Figueroa with
24 percent of the vote and former alderman Robert Shaw with 37 percent of
the vote having 97 percent of the votes counted.
COMPTROLLER
Judy Baar – Topinka, 61 percent, edged out William Kelly, 20 percent with
97 percent of the votes counted.
COMMISSIONER 1ST DISTRICT
Ade Onayemi of Oak Park gained 48 percent of the vote to oust incumbent
Earlene Collins who received 34 percent of the vote and two other
challengers Chris Harris of Forest Park and Derrick Smith who gained 8 and
19 percent of the votes respectively.