Chicago Sun Times Editorial - County Board presidency remains the public's business
County Board presidency remains the public's business
Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
June 8, 2006
Three months after Cook County Board President John Stroger suffered a severe stroke, it seems obvious he is in no condition to handle the day-to-day running of a $3 billion government. It is perfectly prudent and reasonable -- responsible, even -- for the Cook County Board to take steps to replace the ailing Stroger until he is able to return to the job or decides he can't. But that's not how most of the board saw it Wednesday.
Stroger's family, friends, staff and self-appointed spokesman insist Stroger is able to function and still in charge. Trust us, they say. But nothing they have done or said inspires confidence. Stroger deserves some privacy, but if he is able to govern, then why hasn't he been seen or heard from since the March stroke? Why haven't we heard anything lately from his doctors? Why can't reporters see him?
"Maybe he don't want to see you, OK?" said Ald. William Beavers (7th), who is now acting as a Stroger family spokesman and may emerge as Stroger's successor.
No, that's not OK. The public deserves to know who is running their government, and we need more than the assurances of Stroger's family and friends that he is up to the task. For three months, for six board meetings, we have had nothing.
Some commissioners recognize the power vacuum and are trying to do something about it. Commissioner Tony Peraica, the Republican candidate for county board president, called for public hearings to be held on Stroger's health, with doctors and medical records to be subpoenaed. That idea goes too far -- but it is not, as Commissioner John Daley called it, a "goddamn disgrace." It is more disgraceful to continue the charade that Stroger is able to govern.
A better plan was pushed by Commissioners Larry Suffredin and Bobbie Steele. Because there is no established succession process in county government, Suffredin said he'd introduce one based on the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. That section allows for the temporary elevation of the vice president when the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet judge the president to be incapacitated. Suffredin and Steele hoped to use that process Wednesday to install Steele as interim president, but the plan stalled when Stroger's friends insisted he was still on the job.
Naming an interim leader is a separate issue from replacing Stroger on the November ballot, a spot he earned by winning the Democratic primary despite his stroke. His family says he will likely decide his political future by July. We wish him well, but if he can't go on, we hope the Democratic Party picks his replacement in an open process and gives voters enough time to judge his or her qualifications. Stroger was elected, not coronated, president and it's not for him or his loyalists to bequeath the title.
Copyright by The Chicago Sun Times
June 8, 2006
Three months after Cook County Board President John Stroger suffered a severe stroke, it seems obvious he is in no condition to handle the day-to-day running of a $3 billion government. It is perfectly prudent and reasonable -- responsible, even -- for the Cook County Board to take steps to replace the ailing Stroger until he is able to return to the job or decides he can't. But that's not how most of the board saw it Wednesday.
Stroger's family, friends, staff and self-appointed spokesman insist Stroger is able to function and still in charge. Trust us, they say. But nothing they have done or said inspires confidence. Stroger deserves some privacy, but if he is able to govern, then why hasn't he been seen or heard from since the March stroke? Why haven't we heard anything lately from his doctors? Why can't reporters see him?
"Maybe he don't want to see you, OK?" said Ald. William Beavers (7th), who is now acting as a Stroger family spokesman and may emerge as Stroger's successor.
No, that's not OK. The public deserves to know who is running their government, and we need more than the assurances of Stroger's family and friends that he is up to the task. For three months, for six board meetings, we have had nothing.
Some commissioners recognize the power vacuum and are trying to do something about it. Commissioner Tony Peraica, the Republican candidate for county board president, called for public hearings to be held on Stroger's health, with doctors and medical records to be subpoenaed. That idea goes too far -- but it is not, as Commissioner John Daley called it, a "goddamn disgrace." It is more disgraceful to continue the charade that Stroger is able to govern.
A better plan was pushed by Commissioners Larry Suffredin and Bobbie Steele. Because there is no established succession process in county government, Suffredin said he'd introduce one based on the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. That section allows for the temporary elevation of the vice president when the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet judge the president to be incapacitated. Suffredin and Steele hoped to use that process Wednesday to install Steele as interim president, but the plan stalled when Stroger's friends insisted he was still on the job.
Naming an interim leader is a separate issue from replacing Stroger on the November ballot, a spot he earned by winning the Democratic primary despite his stroke. His family says he will likely decide his political future by July. We wish him well, but if he can't go on, we hope the Democratic Party picks his replacement in an open process and gives voters enough time to judge his or her qualifications. Stroger was elected, not coronated, president and it's not for him or his loyalists to bequeath the title.
posted by Carlos T Mock at 8:24 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home