Stroger 'well enough to function'?
Stroger 'well enough to function'?
Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
May 25, 2006
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter
Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica on Wednesday demanded a photograph or tape recording to prove that County Board President John Stroger is "alive and well enough to function" after the stroke that has sidelined him for 2-1/2 months.
"With 165 days to go before the election, with the county budget looming on the horizon, with over 40 union contracts to be negotiated, numerous executive appointments to be made, we can't wait until the end of October when Clerk David Orr has set the deadline to decide whether or not he's going to be the candidate," said Peraica, Stroger's Republican challenger.
"Cook County taxpayers and voters need an answer now. We deserve that answer right now.
Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, Republican nominee for County Board president, leaves City Hall on Wednesday after demanding proof board President John Stroger is able to function. (AL PODGORSKI/SUN-TIMES)
"What I'm demanding is some verifiable objective message from President Stroger -- whether it's in the form of a photograph [or] a recorded voice message discussing something that's not a top secret with his chief of staff -- something that would be a confirmation that he's alive and well enough to function."
And what if Stroger is not well enough to function?
Chews out sergeant at arms
"He should take whatever time he needs to recover, and we should have the ability as the county board of commissioners to get together and replace him with someone else who can carry on the responsibility of a chief executive officer of a $3 billion-a-year corporation," Peraica said.
Peraica's demand infuriated Mayor Daley because it was made in the anteroom behind the City Council chambers with the full Council in session.
Daley is a lifelong Stroger ally; his brother John chairs the County Board's Finance Committee. The mayor was so angry about Peraica's attack, he lit into the City Council's sergeant at arms for allowing the intrusion. The tirade reportedly reduced the sergeant at arms to tears.
"We can't have all candidates coming in from all political parties into that room. They can go to your office. They can go to their own county commissioners' office. Once you set it up, then it's a stage for everyone. It's just common sense," the mayor said.
'Double standard' slammed
Daley cautioned reporters not to engage in a feeding frenzy over Stroger's health.
"I hate to see any one of you get sick because we'll be writing your obituary, I guess," Daley said.
"Everybody has illnesses in their family. Let's not already dig their graves. I know you want to dig people's graves. But I hope you would never do that to your own family."
Ald. William Beavers (7th) is the elder statesman among black aldermen and one of Stroger's most powerful political allies. Beavers characterized constant speculation about Stroger's health and possible replacements as racist.
"There's always a double standard when it comes to black folks and white folks. Old man [Richard J.] Daley had a stroke and was off for a year. Nobody said one word. They were even afraid to whisper that he was sick around here," Beavers said.
"President Stroger is alive and well. Until he decides that he don't want to run again -- it's up to him. And whoever he decides that he wants to replace him -- that's what's going to happen. ... White folks can do it. Black folks can do it -- easily. We got control of the [weighted] votes in the city and the county, so we do what we want to do. Remember that."
Stroger suffered what his doctors described as a "serious" stroke the week before the March 21 primary and hasn't been seen or heard from since. He was released from the Rehabilitation Institute last week just in time to celebrate his 77th birthday. He's now staying at a friend's downtown condo.
Rep. Danny Davis continues to lobby ward bosses behind the scenes in the event that Stroger decides to retire. Davis is supported by Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) and possible mayoral challengers Jesse Jackson Jr. and Luis Gutierrez. They are determined to stop Stroger's son, Ald. Todd Stroger (8th), from replacing his father.
Todd Stroger could not be reached for comment on Peraica's broadside.
Before the attack, the younger Stroger cautioned reporters that his father's decision to put his Pill Hill home up for sale does not mean he's about to retire. It simply means John Stroger needs a residence without stairs where it's easier to get around.
Todd Stroger insisted there's no pressure on his father to make a definitive statement about his health or his political intentions.
"The voters aren't going to be making up their minds until a long time [from now]. And John Stroger has been in county government for what -- 31 years or something. If they don't know who he is now, they'll never know."
Asked why the media have not been allowed to see or talk to his father, Todd Stroger said, "The less stress the better for a person who's trying to recover from a stroke. You don't put someone who's just had a major physical trauma out with the lions. And if you don't think you're lions, I can tell you you are."
fspielman@suntimes.com
Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
May 25, 2006
BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter
Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica on Wednesday demanded a photograph or tape recording to prove that County Board President John Stroger is "alive and well enough to function" after the stroke that has sidelined him for 2-1/2 months.
"With 165 days to go before the election, with the county budget looming on the horizon, with over 40 union contracts to be negotiated, numerous executive appointments to be made, we can't wait until the end of October when Clerk David Orr has set the deadline to decide whether or not he's going to be the candidate," said Peraica, Stroger's Republican challenger.
"Cook County taxpayers and voters need an answer now. We deserve that answer right now.
Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, Republican nominee for County Board president, leaves City Hall on Wednesday after demanding proof board President John Stroger is able to function. (AL PODGORSKI/SUN-TIMES)
"What I'm demanding is some verifiable objective message from President Stroger -- whether it's in the form of a photograph [or] a recorded voice message discussing something that's not a top secret with his chief of staff -- something that would be a confirmation that he's alive and well enough to function."
And what if Stroger is not well enough to function?
Chews out sergeant at arms
"He should take whatever time he needs to recover, and we should have the ability as the county board of commissioners to get together and replace him with someone else who can carry on the responsibility of a chief executive officer of a $3 billion-a-year corporation," Peraica said.
Peraica's demand infuriated Mayor Daley because it was made in the anteroom behind the City Council chambers with the full Council in session.
Daley is a lifelong Stroger ally; his brother John chairs the County Board's Finance Committee. The mayor was so angry about Peraica's attack, he lit into the City Council's sergeant at arms for allowing the intrusion. The tirade reportedly reduced the sergeant at arms to tears.
"We can't have all candidates coming in from all political parties into that room. They can go to your office. They can go to their own county commissioners' office. Once you set it up, then it's a stage for everyone. It's just common sense," the mayor said.
'Double standard' slammed
Daley cautioned reporters not to engage in a feeding frenzy over Stroger's health.
"I hate to see any one of you get sick because we'll be writing your obituary, I guess," Daley said.
"Everybody has illnesses in their family. Let's not already dig their graves. I know you want to dig people's graves. But I hope you would never do that to your own family."
Ald. William Beavers (7th) is the elder statesman among black aldermen and one of Stroger's most powerful political allies. Beavers characterized constant speculation about Stroger's health and possible replacements as racist.
"There's always a double standard when it comes to black folks and white folks. Old man [Richard J.] Daley had a stroke and was off for a year. Nobody said one word. They were even afraid to whisper that he was sick around here," Beavers said.
"President Stroger is alive and well. Until he decides that he don't want to run again -- it's up to him. And whoever he decides that he wants to replace him -- that's what's going to happen. ... White folks can do it. Black folks can do it -- easily. We got control of the [weighted] votes in the city and the county, so we do what we want to do. Remember that."
Stroger suffered what his doctors described as a "serious" stroke the week before the March 21 primary and hasn't been seen or heard from since. He was released from the Rehabilitation Institute last week just in time to celebrate his 77th birthday. He's now staying at a friend's downtown condo.
Rep. Danny Davis continues to lobby ward bosses behind the scenes in the event that Stroger decides to retire. Davis is supported by Ald. Richard Mell (33rd) and possible mayoral challengers Jesse Jackson Jr. and Luis Gutierrez. They are determined to stop Stroger's son, Ald. Todd Stroger (8th), from replacing his father.
Todd Stroger could not be reached for comment on Peraica's broadside.
Before the attack, the younger Stroger cautioned reporters that his father's decision to put his Pill Hill home up for sale does not mean he's about to retire. It simply means John Stroger needs a residence without stairs where it's easier to get around.
Todd Stroger insisted there's no pressure on his father to make a definitive statement about his health or his political intentions.
"The voters aren't going to be making up their minds until a long time [from now]. And John Stroger has been in county government for what -- 31 years or something. If they don't know who he is now, they'll never know."
Asked why the media have not been allowed to see or talk to his father, Todd Stroger said, "The less stress the better for a person who's trying to recover from a stroke. You don't put someone who's just had a major physical trauma out with the lions. And if you don't think you're lions, I can tell you you are."
fspielman@suntimes.com
posted by Carlos T Mock at 8:51 AM
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