Cook County Board President Todd Stroger is not having a very good
week. On Monday, court-appointed hiring watchdog Mary Robinson released a new report
which found that the Stroger administration is violating its own
anti-patronage policies by giving favored applicants a leg up.
(Specific practices include: providing test answers, waiving interview
requirements, and ignoring criminal backgrounds.) Things got worse last
night, when Cook County prosecutors subpoenaed
some county financial records. What started as a probe into Stroger's
controversial hiring of Tony Cole has apparently widened into what the Tribune is calling "questions about how the administration spent money and accounted for it."
As we wrote yesterday, reform in Cook County must begin at the top. To that end, board president candidate Toni Preckwinkle quickly released a statement this morning blasting Stroger and outlining how she would change the business of hiring if elected:
"Cook County government and its hiring process lack both transparency and accountability. Too often, county positions are not filled by the most qualified candidates, but by the most politically connected ones. Political influence in the hiring process has obstructed the efficiency of County government and strained the morale of County employees," said Preckwinkle. A candidate for Cook County Board President, Alderman Toni Preckwinkle (4th) has been vocal on the need to institute transparency and legitimacy in Cook County's hiring process, including all Shakman-exempt positions. [...]
"As Cook County Board President, I would work closely with hiring monitor Mary Robinson to ensure that policy practices are in place to prevent subversions of the decree." said Toni Preckwinkle. "Additionally, I will examine the hiring records over the last four years to determine if the Shakman decree has been honored."
As far as we know, none of the other Democratic candidates have statements out yet, but it is encouraging to see Preckwinkle take the lead.
Comments
Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 09/19/2009 - 14:00
I understand that there might be some problems with the hiring process of Cook County. However, What gives Alderman Preckwinkle the right to pass judgement on practices regarding the county when she has done nothing to stop corruption in the City of Chicago under the watch of Mayor Daley. Mayor Daley has continued to sell the city off piece by piece from the parking meters to the skyway and Alderman Preckwinkle stood on the side and voted for everything that that landed on her desk, so ultimately she adds to the problems with the city, so once again. How can Alderman Preckwinkle judge anyone....so until you stand up to corruption in the city your voice will not be heard in our community...
sandracandice (not verified) on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 10:25
Anomimous is wrong about Preckwinkle. In fact she is one of the only Alderman to routinely stand up to Dailey - she was one of the only ones to vote against Daley on parking meeters and has led the fight time and again for reform. The problem is that she is one of 50 Alderman and when around 45 others are lapdogs for Daley it's hard to make a difference. It would be interesting to give her a chance to be the one in charge,.let her try to lead reform from the top -.we can't be any worse off than we are now with Stroger!
Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 09/20/2009 - 12:04
I agree she is the only one to stand up against Daley and fought against Meters. Also get your facts straight. Whenever someone comes along to bring the County's crap to a halt then there is something wrong with that person. The County is a mess and yes I know I've witnessed it myself. Taxpayers are tired. Why should I with the qualifications I have get the cold shoulder for not being connected????
lisa (not verified) on Sun, 11/15/2009 - 12:25
GO TONI YOU GOT MY VOTE! It's about time someone comes along and talk about cutting from the top.
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